The 2011-2012 Visiting Scholars

Past Scholars

Research Projects

View 2012-2013 Application Guidelines.  (Requires Adobe Reader. Click here to download.)

The Visiting Scholars Program (VSP) is an interdisciplinary research fellowship housed at the headquarters of the Academy in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Its purpose is to stimulate and support scholarly work by promising scholars and practitioners in the early stages of their careers and to foster exchange between an emerging generation of scholars and Academy members with shared interests.

To accomplish these goals, the Academy offers scholars the opportunity to combine independent research and writing with active involvement in its programs and activities. Visiting scholars are invited to participate in Academy-sponsored conferences, seminars and informal gatherings. They also benefit from institutional partnerships with local universities, libraries, and research institutes in the Boston area.

The Academy seeks proposals that relate to its research areas: Humanities & Culture; Science, Technology & Global Security; Social Policy & American Institutions; and Education. Projects that address American cultural, social, or political issues from the founding period to the present are welcome, as are studies on the history of science. Scholars are chosen by means of a national competition. Applications are reviewed by Fellows expert in the candidates' fields.

The Academy conducts the Visiting Scholars Program in association with the Harvard Humanities Center, which provides access to the university’s research facilities and works with the Academy to plan joint lectures, seminars, and informal discussions.

A group of 54 academic institutions from across the country have become University Affiliates of the Academy, with a special interest in developing and supporting the VSP.