Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Fellowship — Fellowship

The Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Fellowship supports advanced research in The New York Public Library’s holdings on the Arab world, Africa, Turkey, Iran, South Asia, Central Asia, and their diasporas in the United States. Those holdings run from the Ancient Near East to recent current events and sit across the Library’s manuscript, rare book, photograph, print, map, newspaper and journal divisions. One fellow a year spends three months in residence with full access to the collections and to the curators and librarians who know them, working from a dedicated place in the Vartan Gregorian Center for Research in the Humanities inside the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on Fifth Avenue.

The fellowship was established with the support of Mahnaz Ispahani Bartos and Adam Bartos, and the Library has committed to offering it annually through 2029. The 2027 fellow works during the January to June 2027 term.

Benefits & funding

Stipend of US$25,000 for the three-month fellowship.
A dedicated place to work in the Vartan Gregorian Center for Research in the Humanities, a quiet shared study room on the second floor of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.
Full access to the Library’s research collections and sustained access to expert staff for consultation and guidance.
One fellow supported each year, with the programme committed through 2029.

Eligibility

Open to Ph.D. candidates, post-doctoral scholars and independent researchers.
Applicants must have the legal right to work in the United States; anyone who would need sponsorship for an employment visa is asked to indicate that in the application.
The project must draw on the Library’s Middle Eastern and Islamic studies holdings, including material on the Arab world, Africa, Turkey, Iran, South Asia, Central Asia and their United States diasporas.
Projects requiring access to original materials — manuscripts, archives, books, photographs, prints, maps, newspapers and journals — are given preference.
The fellow works on site at the Gregorian Center and is required to take part in a public programme or supply content for a Library blog post.
No nationality, age or work-experience requirement is set.

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Residence required
USA

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Application process

1
Confirm the work-authorisation condition, and be ready to flag it in the form if employment-visa sponsorship would be needed.
2
Prepare an updated CV, a project proposal of no more than 1,500 words, and two professional letters of recommendation that speak to why the Library’s collections are essential to the project.
3
Complete the application form on the NYPL Fellowship Portal (Submittable).
4
Submit by 3 August 2026.
5
An external selection committee of scholars, librarians, curators and creatives reviews the applications.
6
Applicants are notified in October 2026; the fellowship term runs January to June 2027. Questions go to fellowships@nypl.org.

Program timeline

Application deadline
3 August 2026
Applicants notified of the decision
October 2026
Fellowship term begins
January 2027
Fellowship term ends
June 2027