Women@MIT 2026 Fellowship, MIT Libraries’ Department of Distinctive Collections, (Cambridge, MA)
Posted February 25, 2026
Description
MIT Libraries’ Department of Distinctive Collections (DDC) is seeking applicants for its 2026 Women@MIT Fellowship. We invite artists, activists, musicians, writers, and scholars who are engaged in the expansion and expression of knowledge to help inform the understanding of women in MIT’s history and the history of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. We are particularly interested in those who will apply the interdisciplinary lenses and methodologies of women’s studies, gender studies, and/or race and ethnic studies to their work.
Responsibilities
The selected Fellow(s) will work with the Women@MIT project archivist and other staff within the MIT Libraries’ Department of Distinctive Collections. Successful candidates must be willing to engage in archival research either in person or in a remote environment. The fellowship is supported by a stipend of $5,000 for each project. Up to two projects will be selected per year.
Fellows will focus on the creation and sharing of knowledge and history present in the Women@MIT collections in informative and engaging ways within the scope of the interdisciplinary fields of women’s studies, gender studies, and ethnic studies. Participants will help inform the narrative of women’s history at MIT and contribute to the greater understanding of the history of women at the Institute and in STEM.
Qualifications
The Fellowship is open to applicants of all backgrounds aged 18 years or older.
In order to make the archives more accessible to researchers from a wide range of interests and practices, we encourage people to apply regardless of their gender, sexuality, educational, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Hours and Compensation
Types of Projects
- Fellows are encouraged to produce work in fields outside of traditional academic research and publication. A few examples of possible projects include
- Artistic performance (musical, theatrical, etc.)
- Comic book, graphic novel, or zine
- Develop a video game prototype
- Essay, group of poems, or work of fiction
- Sculpture, installation, or other artwork
- Short film or podcast
- Curation of digital exhibit
Expectations
- Participants will spend 10 to 15 hours a week engaged in research (either in person or using digital copies of materials) or other work related to their project
- Participants will spend 1 to 3 hours a week taking part in meetings, programs, and opportunities for collaboration with other MIT Libraries staff
- All participants must complete a project that will be shared with the public within 60 days of the completion of the fellowship
Stipend and Benefits
- Each Women@MIT Fellowship project will receive a stipend in the amount of $5,000.
- Other benefits include extensive research support from DDC staff as described above, with opportunities to build connections with librarians, archivists, and curators in other local libraries and museums.
How to Apply
Visit the following web address to see the full listing and apply: https://libguides.mit.edu/c.php?g=991573&p=10064824
The deadline for proposals is March 31, 2026.