ICJS Fellowship Cohorts

ICJS Fellowship Cohorts

Application portal open for the 2027 fellowship program.

 Applications close October 1, 2026.

About the ICJS and Fellowship Cohorts

Established in 1994, Monticello's Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies (ICJS) is a multidisciplinary research center that leads the study of Thomas Jefferson and his world and supports the ongoing work of preservation and education at Monticello. To date, the ICJS has awarded more than 600 fellowships to researchers from around the country and globe. 

ICJS offers two cohorts of fellows: the Semester Cohorts and Yearlong Hybrid Cohorts.

Applicants must select which fellowship type they wish to be considered for.

Semester Cohorts 

Description: Monticello’s ICJS will be hosting Semester Cohorts of fellows each fall and spring. Fellows are expected to be on site in Charlottesville, to utilize resources at ICJS, where they will have access to Monticello’s expert staff and holdings at the Jefferson Library as well as the resources at nearby institutions, including libraries at the University of Virginia. Fellows are also expected to be active and engaged members of Monticello’s community. Fellows in Semester Cohorts receive a stipend of $4,500 per month for four months, paid biweekly.  Funding for this fellowship has been provided by our generous donors.   

Duration: The Fall Semester Cohort will last 4 months from August 25, 2027 to December 17, 2027. The Spring Semester Cohort will last 4 months from January 24, 2028 to May 19, 2028.

Eligibility: Open to all applicants, especially artists, civic leaders, journalists, graduate students, public historians, researchers, early career scholars, and teachers from any country. Successful applicants will be working on Jefferson Studies (broadly defined), the founding of the United States, and its legacies. See FAQs below for more eligibility information. 

Residency: During the fellowship, fellows must reside in Central Virginia to ensure access to Monticello’s staff, collections, and the Jefferson Library. See FAQs below for housing information.  

Expectations: Active participation in Monticello’s community; attend regular events at Monticello and ICJS upon request and participate in cohort gatherings; participate in a roundtable panel for staff during residency; significant progress on a major project. 

Transportation: ICJS is in a rural setting with no public transit—fellows need their own vehicle, a rental car, or other arrangements. 

Stipend: $4,500 per month, paid in biweekly installments.  

Yearlong Hybrid Cohorts

Description: Monticello’s ICJS will be hosting Yearlong Hybrid Cohorts of fellows, beginning in the summer and lasting 12 months. This low-residency fellowship cohort will be primarily virtual, with fellows conducting their research offsite, with occasional visits to Monticello. Fellows receive a stipend of $5,000 for the year. Fellows in the Yearlong Hybrid Cohorts will actively participate in their cohort gatherings hosted online and in-person. Funding for this fellowship has been provided by our generous donors.   

Duration: 12-month term from July 1, 2027 to June 30, 2028.

Eligibility: Open to all applicants, especially artists, civic leaders, journalists, graduate students, public historians, researchers, early career scholars, and teachers from any country.  Successful applicants will be working on Jefferson Studies (broadly defined), the founding of the United States, and its legacies. See FAQs for more eligibility information. 

Format: Primarily remote work with two onsite gatherings.

Stipend and Support: $5,000 total stipend; 7 nights of hotel lodging, meals, and local transportation provided during visits.  

Expectations: Participation in hybrid fellowship gatherings; completion of one major project per fellowship; participation in roundtable panel for staff during residency.

Contact 

For application questions, please contact Nicole Brown at [email protected] or (434) 984-7014.  

Fellowship cohorts are underwritten by endowments established for this purpose by the Batten Foundation and First Union National Bank of Virginia.