The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Broadening Academia Initiative Research Grants open one of the world’s most significant Holocaust archives to scholars who have historically been shut out of academic funding. The program exists specifically for Holocaust researchers working without the institutional safety net of tenure or a full-time faculty position, ensuring that precarious career circumstances do not determine who gets to produce serious scholarship.
About the Broadening Academia Initiative Research Grants Program
Administered by the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies at the USHMM, and made possible through the support of The Marcus Foundation, the program funds a one-week research visit to the David and Fela Shapell Family Collections, Conservation and Research Center in Washington DC. The Shapell Center houses the Museum’s permanent collection and archive, one of the most comprehensive Holocaust collections in the world. Library staff are available for virtual research consultations before the visit to help researchers prepare. Access is currently limited to paper archival collections, microform materials, digital materials, and published holdings; material culture items such as objects, textiles, and paintings cannot be accommodated at this time.
Funding Size
- Reimbursement of up to $3,000 covering travel, lodging, and miscellaneous expenses for one research week
- Recipients have one year from the award date to complete their funded visit
Who Can Apply
- PhD holders only
- North America-based Holocaust scholars who are untenured, contingent faculty, or working entirely outside academia
- Applicants must propose an original research project in the field of Holocaust studies
Geographic Eligibility
- North America-based applicants only
- Research visit takes place at the Shapell Center in Washington DC, United States
Sector or Thematic Focus
- Holocaust history and Holocaust studies
- Archival research using primary collections held by the USHMM
- Original scholarly contributions to Holocaust research and documentation
Application Process
Applications are submitted in English through the USHMM online application portal at ushmmfellowships.smapply.io. All components must be submitted together as a complete package.
Required Materials
- Completed online application form
- Current curriculum vitae
- Research project summary of no more than four double-spaced pages explaining the project and its contribution to the field
- A specific list of Shapell Center collections the applicant intends to access
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Key Dates
- The current application cycle is closed
- Check www.ushmm.org for updates on the next open call
Selection Notes
- Competitive applications must demonstrate a clear understanding of existing scholarship and articulate where the proposed project fills a genuine gap
- The program is designed for scholars with limited access to other research funding; applications from tenured or fully employed academics are not eligible
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