Apply for a SIMS Graduate Student Research Fellowship

2026–2027 Graduate Student Research Fellowships

Applications for the 2026–2027 fellowship year are now open.

The Graduate Student Research Fellowship has been established to encourage emerging scholars to engage with the rich physical and digital manuscript resources at the University of Pennsylvania Libraries, including the Lawrence J. Schoenberg Collection and the Schoenberg Database of Manuscripts. Working closely with SIMS staff members, fellows will have the opportunity to develop a project and gain experience working in a collaborative, digital humanities environment. Fellows will be expected to present their research at Penn Libraries either during the term of the fellowship or on a selected date following the completion of the term.

In partnership with Penn’s Global Medieval & Renaissance Studies Program (GMRS), the 2026-2027 fellowship supports the exploration of AI-driven handwritten text recognition (HTR) technologies applied to one or a group of manuscripts in Penn’s premodern manuscript collections. The collections contain handwritten books and documents representing over 60 languages and dialects preserved in copies from the pre- and early modern eras. The fellowship presents an opportunity for two fellows to dive deeply, over the course of the academic year, into how these tools can support humanities research and potentially lead to new and innovative research questions and results. No previous experience or knowledge of HTR technologies is required to apply. The fellows will be able to work directly with SIMS staff and GMRS faculty and staff to learn and apply the technologies to produce a transcription or a series of transcriptions of previously unpublished texts found in Penn’s unique manuscript collections and to develop programming to share experience with the broader Penn community.

Terms

Each fellow will receive a total stipend of $3,600 to be dispersed over a nine-month period beginning September 1, 2026, through May 31, 2027. During this time the fellow will be expected to spend 5 hours/week at the Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies at Penn Libraries and attend regular bi-weekly meetings with SIMS staff. Precise beginning and end dates and a weekly schedule will be determined in consultation with the fellows upon appointment.

Eligibility

The fellowship is available to all graduate students at Penn enrolled during the 2026–2027 academic term. International students are welcome to apply but must be work-eligible according to their visa terms. Advaned undergraduate students are also eligible.

Application Process


To be considered, applicants must submit the following by Friday, May 1, 2026:

• 2-3 page statement that 1) identifies the manuscript or group of manuscripts to be studied, 2) proposes initial research questions for the transcription project, and 3) provides an explanation of how the Fellowship relates to the applicant’s research focus and career goals.
• CV
• A letter from the applicant’s Graduate (or Undergraduate) Chair confirming departmental support of the student’s application.
• Two letters of recommendation, including one from the student’s advisor and another from an established scholar in the student’s field with expertise relating to manuscript studies. Letters of recommendation should be submitted separately by email or by post.

Applications should be sent by email to lransom@upenn.edu, preferably as a single pdf, or by post to the following address:

Lynn Ransom
Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies

University of Pennsylvania Libraries

3420 Walnut St

Philadelphia, PA 19104

Application materials must be received by Friday, May 1, 2026, to be considered.

Decisions can be expected by mid-May 2026. Please direct questions to the above contact.