Terms of the Groot II Fellowship
In April 2025, the trustees of the American Center of Research were honored to establish a new award: the Jennifer C. Groot II Memorial Fellowship.
The endowed “Groot II” fellowship seeks to enhance access for students, just as its namesake, the original Groot fellowship, does for fieldwork. It provides financial support to help improve the preparation and qualifications of Jordanians, or residents of Jordan, 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. In years where no viable candidate applies or is selected, funds may be used in support of the Jennifer C. Groot Memorial Fellowship.
- Application requirements will be announced in fall 2025.
- Deadline for applications will be announced in fall 2025.
Background of the Groot II Fellowship
Jennifer C. Groot (1951-1987) was a field archaeologist who worked on many excavations in Jordan between 1974 and 1987. She began as a square supervisor at Tell Hisban, and later worked on the Limes Arabicus Project with S. Thomas Parker (1950-2021) and at the Umm el-Jimal excavation under Bert de Vries (1939-2021). In 1987, she published major articles on the barracks of the legionary fortress at el-Lejjun.
She is remembered as a precise and careful archaeologist and as a gifted and inspiring teacher for her students. She made significant contributions to archaeology in Jordan in her limited time. Jennifer Groot died of cancer at the age of 36 in 1987 and was survived by her husband Bruce Gould. Her colleagues on the Limes Arabicus Project and at ACOR were grieved that that such a young, gifted and loved person could pass away, and a group of family, friends, and colleagues decided to perpetuate her memory with a small fellowship to assist North American students with little or no field experience to join a dig in Jordan. The first fellowship in her name was given in 1989.
To donate to this fellowship, please click here and write “Groot II” under the “Additional Details” section of the donation form.
Click here to apply for this fellowship. (Applications for this cycle are currently closed).