Lemelson Center Fellowship Program
Lemelson Center Fellowship Program supports graduate researchers, scholars, and professionals studying invention and innovation through Smithsonian collections to document their role in American society.
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Funder: Smithsonian Institution
Due Dates: October 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. EST (Application) | October 15, 2026 (Reference letters)
Funding Amounts: $900/week (pre-doctoral) or $1,140/week (post-doctoral/professional), for 4–10 weeks
Summary: Supports creative research and documentation exploring invention and innovation in American society using Smithsonian expertise and collections.
Key Information: Fellows must reside temporarily in the Washington, DC area, participate in Center activities, and present their work at the Museum.
Description
The Lemelson Center at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History (NMAH) supports creative approaches to studying invention and innovation in American society. Fellowships fund historical research and documentation that can lead to dissertations, publications, exhibitions, educational initiatives, documentary films, or other multimedia products. Fellows gain access to Smithsonian research staff and extensive invention and technology collections, including archives, historical technology serials, and trade literature.
The program welcomes research across the history of technology, invention, and innovation. Priorities include inventors and technologies associated with under-represented groups; the individuals and institutions supporting inventors; sports innovation and technology; research-based invention education, educational psychology, and learning theory; and connections between art, invention, and human experience. Art is broadly defined to include visual art, photography, music, and dance.
