ASCEND - Faculty Research Fellowship (Summer 2026)

Description

As part of the ASCEND Initiative, HBCU faculty at partner institutions may apply for summer or one-semester funded fellowships to conduct research at Yale in collaboration with one or more Yale faculty members. Fellows will be appointed to the appropriate academic department, program, institute, or center at Yale; will attend talks and seminars; participate in the vibrant co-curricular programs on campus; have access to the campus collections and libraries; and be in residence at Yale throughout the fellowship.

Research Projects

Projects are welcome from across a broad range of topics, such as academic and applied research projects, community-based research projects, public policy related projects, and arts and performance projects. Projects across all fields are encouraged - arts, humanities, social sciences, sciences, professional disciplines, their intersections, and beyond.

Timeline

• Summer 2026 fellowships: applications will be accepted beginning October 1, 2025, and are due January 2, 2026. Awards will be announced April 1, 2026.

Funding

Summer fellowships are for two months. Fellows will receive a stipend equal to 2/9ths (2 months) of their base HBCU salary, plus a stipend for housing and travel, paid directly to the fellow.

Qualifications

Eligibility

Full-time faculty appointed at an HBCU partner institution are eligible to apply for a fellowship. To be eligible to accept a fellowship award, the faculty member’s dean or provost must approve the arrangement.

Expectations For Fellows

This is a residential fellowship and fellows are expected to engage with the vibrant academic life at Yale. Fellows will be invited to university events, lectures, programs, and are expected to spend the majority of the fellowship on campus.

Application Instructions

 

Submitting The Proposal

Proposal applications should be submitted via Interfolio no later than January 2, 2026.

All application materials must be submitted through Interfolio by the deadline specified above.  Applications must include:

1. An application form
2. The applicant’s curriculum vitae (CV)
3. Letter of support from department chair or academic dean.
4. A research proposal (1500 words, maximum), including:

• Title of the research project
• Summary of the project’s goals and scope, describing the research plan, methods, and source materials that will be used to achieve the goals, and how much of the project will be completed during the fellowship.
• Relevance statement: what benefits or outcomes will this project contribute to the academic field, the community, public policy, or other human interests?
• Resources: what resources at Yale will you use to pursue this project?
• Support: what support might you need from Yale to help you accomplish this project?

Collapse Instructions    

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives.

Additionally, in accordance with this Policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions; race; color; national or ethnic origin; religion; age; disability; protected veteran status, or other protected classes as set forth in federal and Connecticut law.

Professional Conduct Review for New Faculty Hires

The final candidate, upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment/faculty appointment, may be required to disclose whether they are, or have been, the subject of any disciplinary proceeding (investigation, hearing, etc.) at previous institutions or employers, and may also be subject to a background screening. Candidates who materially misrepresent information on their resume or other application materials are ineligible for hire/appointment. Final candidates may also be required to sign a release to allow Yale to solicit information regarding any substantiated conduct violations from current and/or past employers.