Applications are encouraged from scholars in a variety of disciplines — from practical theology to the social sciences, from history to biblical studies and contextual education — for projects that involve learning from and about living communities of faith. Fellows will explore avenues for making that knowledge available for the sake of those communities’ wellbeing, as well as developing strong academic contributions appropriate to their disciplines. Applicants should have completed their graduate work and be placed in a professional position at the time of application. We especially encourage early-career scholars to apply, but will consider applications from persons who have recently been tenured.

The application deadline is 15 February 2013. For application information and instructions, visit www.hirr.hartsem.edu or contact the Engaged Scholars project office at Hartford Seminary (engagedscholars@hartsem.edu).

*This program is supported by a major grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. and is administered by the Congregational Studies Team: Nancy Ammerman, Anthea Butler, Bill McKinney, Omar McRoberts, Larry Mamiya, Gerardo Marti, Joyce Mercer, James Nieman (project director), Bob Schreiter, and Steve Warner.

ANNUAL APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 1

The Dissertation Fellowship program is designed to support the final year Ph.D. or Th.D. dissertation writing for students engaged in research pertaining to North American Christianity, especially projects with the potential to strengthen the religious life of North American Christians and their institutions, including seminaries, while simultaneously advancing American religious and theological scholarship.

Learn more about the fellowships at:  http://www.louisville-institute.org/grants/programs/dfdetail.aspx

In order to continue attracting outstanding doctoral students who can take advantage of Notre Dame’s distinction in the study of religion, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has awarded $657,000 to ND to support an initiative in religion across the disciplines. The funding includes generous support for incoming graduate students whose records are outstanding and who will work on religious topics in their academic disciplines. Funding will be awarded to the best students in competition across eight departments, including Sociology. Strong applicants in sociology of religion will be highly competitive for fellowships.

Support for Mellon Fellows includes continuing summer stipends, research funding, and special interdisciplinary workshops. Mellon Fellows will receive a normal graduate stipend plus four years of summer funding at $5,000 each summer. Presidential Fellows who are Mellon Fellows will receive, in addition to their already higher stipends, five summers of additional support at $3,000 per summer

Nominations for Mellon Fellowship are made by departments, based on the strength of graduate school applications. Details are available at http://rmellon.nd.edu.

In addition to its notable strengths in sociology of religion, noted above, the University of Notre Dame has centers of excellence in politics and religion, law and religion, religion and international development, religion and peace-building, literature and religion, medieval studies, religious and intellectual history, sacred music, the philosophy of religion, and other related areas. Notre Dame also has one of the best theology departments in the world.

Exceptionally strong prospective graduate students interested in the sociology of religion are encouraged to apply to the Sociology graduate program at Notre Dame and to express interest in these fellowships. Prospective applicants with questions may contact Christian Smith, chris.smith@nd.edu, or the Department of Sociology’s Director of Graduate Studies, William Carbonaro, wcarbona@nd.edu.