Applications for the below awards are open. The deadline to apply is February 15, 2025.
Applications should be submitted online: https://orcfellowships.smapply.org/
Inquiries regarding all opportunities should be directed to fellowships@acorjordan.org
ACOR-CAORC Post-Doctoral Fellowship: Two or more two- to six-month fellowships for postdoctoral scholars and scholars with another terminal degree in their field, pursuing research or publication projects in the natural and social sciences, humanities, and associated disciplines relating to the Middle East. U.S. citizenship is required. Maximum award is $34,200. Awards must be used between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026, and fellows must reside at the American Center of Research. Funding for this fellowship is provided by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
ACOR-CAORC Graduate Student Fellowship: Two or more two- to six-month fellowships for master’s and doctoral students. Fields of study include all areas of the humanities and the natural and social sciences. Topics should contribute to scholarship in Middle East studies. U.S. citizenship required. Maximum award is $27,600. Awards must be used between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026, and fellows must reside at the American Center of Research. Funding for this fellowship is provided by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Bert and Sally de Vries Fellowship: One award of $2,500 to support a student for participation on an archaeological project or research in Jordan. Senior project staff members whose expenses are being borne largely by the project are ineligible. Open to enrolled undergraduate or graduate students of any nationality except Jordanian citizens.
Burton MacDonald and Rosemarie Sampson Fellowship: One award either for a four-week residency at the American Center of Research for research in the fields of ancient Near Eastern languages and history, archaeology, biblical studies, or comparative religion, or for a travel grant to assist with participation in an archaeological field project in Jordan. The residency fellowship option includes room and board at the American Center of Research in Amman and a stipend of $1,500. The travel-grant option provides a single stipend of $2,500 to help with any project-related expenses. Both options are open to enrolled undergraduate or graduate students of Canadian citizenship or landed immigrant status.
Donald O. Henry Fellowship: One award of $500 for a field project, publication, or related event in support of archaeological research in or about Jordan. The fellowship has a preference for the support of archaeological efforts related to prehistory and/or work in southern Jordan, but proposals involving all periods and locations are eligible, welcome, and encouraged. The most compelling proposal will receive the award. Undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers of all nationalities are eligible to apply.
Frederick-Wenger Memorial Endowment: Two awards of $2,000 to assist a Jordanian student with the cost of their education. Eligibility is not limited to a specific field of study, but preference will be given to study related to Jordan’s cultural heritage. Candidates must be Jordanian citizens and currently enrolled as undergraduate or graduate students in a Jordanian university.
Harrell Family Fellowship: One award of $2,500 to support a graduate student for participation on an archaeological project or for research in Jordan. Senior project staff members whose expenses are being borne largely by the project are ineligible. Open to enrolled graduate students of any nationality except Jordanian citizens.
James A. Sauer Fellowship: One award of $1,500 for educational assistance for a Jordanian graduate student enrolled in an archaeology or cultural heritage degree program in any country. For the 2025–2026 cycle, the Sauer Fellowship is open only to enrolled graduate students of Jordanian nationality.
Jennifer C. Groot Memorial Fellowship: Two awards of $3,000 each to support beginners in archaeological fieldwork who have been accepted as team members on archaeological projects in Jordan. The fellowship is intended to help defray the costs of participation in excavations. Open to undergraduate or graduate students of U.S. or Canadian citizenship, with a preference for individuals who graduated in the past 12 months (i.e., January to December 2024) and/or have been accepted to a graduate program for fall 2025.
Jordanian Graduate Student Scholarship: One award of $3,000 to assist a Jordanian graduate student with the annual costs of their academic programs during the period June 1, 2025, through May 31, 2026. Candidates must be Jordanian citizens and currently enrolled in either a master’s or doctoral program in a Jordanian university. Eligibility is limited to students in programs related to Jordan’s cultural heritage (for example: archaeology, anthropology, linguistics/epigraphy, history, conservation, museum studies, and fields related to cultural resource management).
Kenneth W. Russell Fellowship: One award of $2,500 to support a graduate student participating in an ACOR-approved archaeological fieldwork or research project in Jordan. For the 2025–2026 cycle, the Russell Fellowship is open to enrolled graduate students of any nationality except Jordanian.
Lawrence T. Geraty Travel Scholarship: One award of $1,250 for an undergraduate or graduate student from an accredited institution to conduct in Jordan excavation and/or research approved by ASOR’s Committee on Archaeological Research and Policy (CAP). The award is intended to assist in travel costs and/or accommodation at the American Center of Research, based on need. Funding may be combined with other fellowships and must be spent within a calendar year.
Pierre and Patricia Bikai Fellowship: Two awards for one month each, or one two-month award, for residency at the American Center of Research in Amman. The fellowship is open to enrolled graduate students of any nationality, except Jordanian citizens, participating in an archaeological project or conducting archaeological work in Jordan. The fellowship includes room and board at the American Center of Research and a monthly stipend of $800.
S. Thomas Parker Memorial Fund: One award of $1,750 for an undergraduate student, graduate student, or postdoctoral researcher of any nationality. Proposals are accepted for support for fellowships, field projects, and events. Preference is given to archaeological fieldwork or publication efforts, but proposals in all areas of academic inquiry are welcome and encouraged. The most compelling proposal will receive the award.
Conference Travel Award for Jordanians: This award is intended to assist Jordanians resident in Jordan participating in and delivering a scholarly paper at an international conference held in the United States or Canada. One award of $3,500 will be made for an in-person paper presentation and one award for a paper presentation in a virtual conference (i.e., conference registration, membership when required) will be available annually. Awards are eligible in any field of study related to ACOR’s mission. Poster presentations are not eligible.
Applications should be submitted online at orcfellowships.smapply.org/.
Inquiries should be directed to fellowships@acorjordan.org.
Applications for the below awards are now closed.
NEW (see https://acorjordan.org/2024jordangrants/ for more details):
Excavation Grant for Jordan: We expect to provide one grant for work to occur in 2024 and one grant for work to occur in 2025. Each grant of up to $25,000 will be made to a Jordanian scholar for the purpose of conducting an archaeological excavation in Jordan that: 1) supports Jordanian student participation and 2) is considered salvage excavation by the Department of Antiquities. More details can be found at: https://acorjordan.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Excavation-Grant-for-Jordan-1.pdf
Online Course Development Grant for Jordan: We are pleased to offer a grant in the amount of $3,000 to a Jordanian scholar to prepare and record a generously illustrated “History of the Middle/Near Eastern Region” course. The course should cover the Bronze Age to present but may cover a greater depth of history. ACOR will assist with the consistency and format of the visuals (i.e., provide a PowerPoint format), the recording of the course, and the addition of English subtitles, but the course content and design are solely the responsibility of the grantee. More details can be found at: https://acorjordan.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Online-Course-Grant.pdf
International conflict, Covid-19/variants, and similar matters should be taken into consideration by all applicants. ACOR’s covid-19 procedures (e.g.,https://acorjordan.org/overview/) change from time-to-time depending on the caseload and regulations in Jordan, and as advised by the U.S. CDC and others. While ACOR makes diligent efforts in regard to such external factors, fellows and awardees assume all the risks and liabilities inherent in taking up these fellowships (e.g., international travel, conducting research, working with subjects, etc.).
