2025–2027 curatorial fellowship

These two-year benefit-eligible positions are for those interested in a public history or curatorial career.

Curatorial Fellows are integrated as members of Institute staff and benefit from professional development, portfolio building, networking, and mentorship opportunities. Project outcomes build fellows’ resumes in the museum and library fields while advancing the Institute’s strategic goals.

Curatorial fellowships are intended for individuals with advanced degrees who are interested in a professional trajectory outside the academy. Both early career and career-changing researchers are encouraged to apply. Scholars from any relevant field with a demonstrated interest in the history of science, broadly defined, will be considered.

As part of their professional development and networking, curatorial fellows participate in relevant seminars at the Institute (approximately ten percent of the fellows’ time), including the Beckman Center’s Work-in-Progress Workshops and Fellows’ Talks.

2025–2027 Curatorial Fellow

The Science History Institute seeks a Curatorial Fellow to serve as a content creator for a rich suite of digital products. The Institute reaches a diverse global audience by offering free resources that are both carefully researched and accessibly written. We seek a Curatorial Fellow with demonstrated interest in the public history of science, who is excited by the challenges and opportunities of communicating history to non-specialist audiences in ways that are engaging, surprising, and critical. Possible outputs include articles published in Distillations magazine, entries in our Scientific Biographies web resource, or collaborations with our digital production teams on videos or digital exhibitions. Fellows interested in using our library and museum collections would also have opportunities to curate physical exhibitions. Those interested in learning how to conduct oral history interviews may also participate in the Oral History Training Institute and embark on a small guided project.

The salary for the Curatorial Fellowship is $55,000. The application deadline is January 15, 2025. Offers will be made by May 2025, with a start date of September 2025. Curatorial fellows who meet the criteria of the Institute’s Relocation Assistance Program receive a $1,500 payment upon moving to the Philadelphia area. Funds may also be available to support conference, research, or professional development travel.

This is a two-year, limited-duration staff position that will end in August 2027.