Applications for the 2027 cycle will open in October 2026, and the deadline to apply will February 15, 2027.
Inquiries regarding all opportunities should be directed to fellowships@acorjordan.org
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE AMERICAN CENTER OF RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS
2027–2028
Deadline for the following fellowships is February 15, 2027.
The Amman Prize, Postgraduate: The Amman Prize supports two to four months of research and residence in Jordan, the duration of which must be specified in the proposal. Prize winners are provided with a monthly stipend, room/board, and a private workspace at ACOR. One award of up to $25,000 is expected in 2027, including $5,000 for travel and research expenses (including language training, if applicable). The award must be used in calendar 2027. This award will support someone who has completed their formal course of study (holding an advanced degree[s] is not required). The recipient may be at any stage of their career but may not be enrolled in a course of study at any level. Research may be in any field of scientific, social scientific, or humanistic research whose principal concern is Jordan or Syria. Selection criteria are the merits, impact, and likelihood of completing a major work (e.g., book) during the term of the award. The successful applicant may be of any nationality; preference may be given to Jordanians, Americans, Canadians, Syrians, and Australians. A prior record of completing significant scholarly or creative work(s) is expected. The fellow must reside at ACOR.
The Amman Prize, ABD doctoral students: The Amman Prize (ABD) supports four months of research and residence in Jordan. Prize winners are provided with a monthly stipend, room/board and a private workspace at ACOR. Two awards of $25,000 are expected in 2027, including $5,000 for travel and research expenses (including language training, if applicable). The award must be used in calendar 2027. The two awards will support Prizes to graduate students pursuing their dissertation research in any field of scientific, social scientific, or humanistic research whose principal concern is Jordan, ancient, modern, or contemporary. Scholars investigating intangible cultural heritage, women’s health, and environments or landscapes are especially encouraged to apply and compelling applications will be prioritized. Selection criteria will be limited to the merits, impact, and feasibility of the proposed research. The successful applicants will be a United States citizen enrolled in an institution of higher education located in the United States and will have completed all requirements for the PhD except for the dissertation by the start of the fellowship period. The fellow must reside at ACOR.
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.
The Davis/Creasman Distinction: The Davis/Creasman Distinction is an endowed award of $1,000 that recognizes the annual fellowship recipient with the greatest likelihood of making a major contribution to their field. The Distinction is made only as a supplement to an existing ACOR fellowship; there is no application.
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.
Douglas R. Clark and Carmen L. Clark Travel/Research Scholarship: One award of $800 to support students from outside Jordan to travel to and do research in Jordan, with a preference for archaeological research (including excavation). To encourage travel to and engagement in Jordan, the award is available to all non-Jordanians. Recipients must be actively enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate program.
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 $2,500 for educational assistance for a Jordanian graduate student enrolled in an archaeology or cultural heritage degree program in any country. For the 2027–2028 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 2025) and/or have been accepted to a graduate program for fall 2027.
Jennifer C. Groot II Memorial Fellowship: This fellowship provides financial support to help improve the preparation and qualifications of Jordanians, or residents of Jordan (especially Syrians), for future graduate-level study in Europe or the Americas. The fellowship must conclude with the submission of a qualified application for graduate study outside of Jordan or an application to a funding program that supports the same (e.g., a Fulbright scholarship). The scholarship will provide support for taking English-language courses and/or preparations for and taking required standardized tests (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, GRE), as well as support from ACOR staff. Preference is given to those studying archaeology, history, or fields related to the cultural heritage of Jordan.
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, 2027, through May 31, 2028. 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 2027–2028 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 the Department of Antiquities of Jordan. 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 $2,500 for an undergraduate student, graduate student, or postdoctoral researcher of any nationality. Proposals are accepted for support for fellowships, field projects, and events in Jordan. 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 a Jordanian 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 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.
International conflict and similar matters should be taken into consideration by all applicants. 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.).
Applications are requested based on expected opportunities. All awards are contingent on availability of funding and the results of application review. We retain the discretion to award more/less in number and/or adjust the amount(s) advertised.