Seminars of Interest

This summer, the Office of External Fellowships will host a four-day writing lab to help graduate students in the social sciences and humanities make meaningful progress on competitive fellowship proposals. The Lab is designed to support a productive summer of proposal writing through guided instruction, structured writing time, and individualized planning.

The Lab is most appropriate for graduate students in the social sciences and humanities who plan to apply for external fellowships with fall 2026 deadlines. Eligible students will be preparing applications for external fellowships funded by federal agencies, private foundations, or other external sponsors that require a research proposal. Students at any stage of study may apply.

The Lab will be held in person at the Graduate College from Tuesday, June 2, through Friday, June 5, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. each day. Because the Lab is structured as a cohort experience, applications will be accepted only from students who can attend all sessions in full.

Participants will benefit from a workshop on writing effective fellowship proposals and structured writing exercises focused on key components of a successful application, including audience awareness, literature reviews, and research plans. In addition, students will have dedicated time for independent writing and will develop a realistic timeline for completing proposal drafts by the end of the summer.

Participants should have the support of their faculty advisor as they prepare a fellowship application. Interested students are encouraged to discuss their target fellowship with their advisor before submitting an application by Tuesday, May 12. Participation is limited to 12 students; acceptance will be confirmed by Wednesday, May 20.