Apply to the Academic Fellowship

The Center for Black, Brown, and Queer Studies (BBQ+) is an independent Center dedicated to interdisciplinary research, pedagogy, and mentorship in critical race, Indigenous, postcolonial, and queer studies. Our annual fellowship brings together a diverse group of scholars from undergraduates to postgraduates working across these fields in a collaborative and supportive environment.

We are now accepting applications for the 2024-25 Fellowship cohort. See below for details and to apply!

Our committee is currently reviewing applications and will announce final selections later this summer. Please contact fellowships@bbqplus.org with any questions.

Eligibility

The Fellowship space is designed for underrepresented scholars, broadly and intersectionally defined. It is open to:

  1. College students (including students in community colleges):

    •  Early college students (Sophomores and Juniors) interested in developing independent research skills in the humanities.

    • Seniors and recent graduates interested in developing their research and/or applying to graduate programs.

  2. Master’s students and recent Master’s degree holders (3 years post-degree).

  3. Ph.D., Ed.D., and other doctoral students

  4. Recent postdoctoral scholars (up to 8 years post-degree)

Please note: The fellowship is open to undocumented and international applicants.

In all cases, parental leaves, family leaves, sick leaves, and any similar circumstances will not be counted within years-post-degree. For circumstances or other related considerations that are not documented, applicants are encouraged to write to fellowships@bbqplus.org.

Benefits

The fellowship offers:

1. Research stipend: Depending on funding, fellows may be offered a research stipend of up to $1000. They can also apply to reimburse other research or professionalization expenses. If you have another source of funding and can waive the research stipend, please indicate so in your application.

2. Mentorship and professionalization: Each cohort of fellows works closely with a mentor to develop their research project and prepare for a professional career. Fellows also have access to the broader network of the Center and the Senior Fellows.

3. Community: The Center aims to foster a tightly-knit and supportive intergenerational and interdisciplinary community of scholars around shared academic interests.

Expectations

The fellowship runs approx. mid-September through the end of April, with several holiday breaks throughout the year. Exact dates are determined each summer after final acceptance decisions are made. Fellows are expected to attend the regular weekly fellowship meeting (Fridays, 12-2pm ET) where they will work on writing, reading theory, and engaging the Center’s intellectual community.

BBQ+ is a fully virtual organization, and all fellowship meetings are conducted remotely via Zoom with closed captioning.

Fellows are assigned to one of four cohorts, determined by academic level:

  • Undergraduate level (including recent college graduates). Advisor: Prof. Eli Nelson

  • Master’s and Early Doctoral level (including recent Master’s graduates). For those in a doctoral program, this generally means up to prospectus or proposal approval, or before candidacy. Advisor: Dr. Caitlin Gunn

  • Advanced Doctoral/Dissertation level. In most doctoral programs, this refers to candidacy, the period following prospectus/proposal approval, and/or the period of dissertation research and writing. Advisor: Prof. Soha Bayoumi

  • Postdoctoral level – up to 8 years post-degree. Doctoral candidates finalizing their dissertation, graduating in the coming year, or planning to be on the job market may also choose this category. Advisor: Prof. Ahmed Ragab

The weekly fellowship meetings alternate among the Writing Clinic, Theory Clinic, Colloquium, and Fellows Circle. Writing Clinics and Theory Clinics are conducted within individual cohorts, and all cohorts come together for Colloquia and Fellows Circles.

1. Writing Clinic: During the fellowship year, Fellows develop one or more research projects, including, but not limited to, junior or senior papers, Master’s theses, dissertation or book chapters, proposals, and articles. Fellows workshop different drafts of their projects in the Writing Clinic with their cohort.*

2. Theory Clinic: Within each cohort, Fellows engage in close readings of theoretical texts, as well as practical discussions of how theory and research methods relate.*

3. Colloquium is a work-in-progress talk with a guest speaker with pre-circulated work.

4. Fellows Circle: The Circle is a space dedicated to discussing various topics related to professional development, academic labor, emotional health, and other issues selected by Fellows.

*For undergraduate students, the writing and theory clinics will also include specifically designed exercises to work on research skills.

Apply to the Fellowship

Thank you for your interest in the fellowship! The 2024-25 application period is now Open.

Applications submitted by May 13th, 2024 at midnight EDT will receive full consideration

Please fill out the application form below. You will be asked to upload the following materials within the form:

  1. Cover letter (1 page) explaining how the fellowship year will impact your work

  2. Research proposal (1-2 pages, double-spaced, not including citations/references) explaining your research interests and the project that you anticipate you will be working on during the fellowship year. Please explain what stage the project is at:

    1. If the project is part of a larger work (e.g., dissertation or book chapter), please describe the full project and explain which chapter(s) or part(s) you intend to work on during the fellowship.

    2. For undergraduate students: please indicate your interest or plans for graduate studies, if applicable, and research areas of interest..

  3. Curriculum Vitae.

  4. A writing sample: Academic writing of continuous prose of at least 8 pages (no maximum)