For Academics

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Smithsonian fellowships are offered to individuals who design and develop proposals to conduct independent research using the resources, including the collections and facilities, of the Institution. Hundreds of graduate students and holders of doctorates come to the Smithsonian to do independent research under the guidance of a member of our world-class research staff. Fellows have the opportunity to study and work intensively with Smithsonian collections and experts in their fields and beyond.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact potential advisors from the Smithsonian Opportunities for Research and Study (SORS) Guide, then apply for one of the fellowships on the Fellowship Opportunities page.

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Smithsonian Opportunities for Research and Study Guide

The SORS Guide can help you see the scope of possibilities for advisors and research topics in your field of study. The Smithsonian Institution encourages access to its research staff, collections, and reference materials by visiting scholars, scientists, and students.
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Fellowship Opportunities

The Smithsonian offers a world of research opportunities for graduate, pre-doctoral, or post-doctoral students, as well as for visiting professionals, students, scientists, or scholars conducting independent research. The Office of Fellowships can guide you through the process.
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Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

The network of 21 specialized research libraries that make up the Smithsonian Libraries provide the Institution’s museums and research centers with resources and services that are as diverse and deep as the collections, exhibits, and scholarship they support. They span the range of scientific and cultural pursuits of humanity from aerospace, anthropology, and art history to business history and botany, cultural history, design, philately, zoology, and much, much more.
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Smithsonian Learning Lab

The Smithsonian Learning Lab puts the treasures of the world's largest museum, education, and research complex within reach. The Lab is a free, interactive platform for discovering millions of authentic digital resources, creating content with online tools, and sharing in the Smithsonian's expansive community of knowledge and learning.
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Research Centers and Programs

The Smithsonian is one of the world’s foremost research centers in science, the arts, and the humanities.
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Latest Research

Visit Smithsonian Research Online where you can learn about and explore the active, ongoing research in the Smithsonian world.