Researcher-in-Residence
Forecasted
Researcher-in-Residence supports architects, artists, and researchers through a Los Angeles residency for original research addressing pressing built-environment issues and sharing work with the public.
Funder: SOM Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): April 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: $5,000 fellowship plus a summer residency (four to six weeks in 2026)
Summary: Supports architects, artists, and researchers worldwide conducting original research on pressing built-environment issues through a Los Angeles residency.
Key Information: Currently enrolled students are ineligible, except doctoral candidates who have completed all coursework (ABD).
Description
Researcher-in-Residence is a joint program of the SOM Foundation and the MAK Center for Art and Architecture. It provides professionals with space and time for rigorous, original research addressing pressing issues related to the built environment. The annual fellowship supports work contributing to the program’s current topic, with disciplines including architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, engineering, architectural history, sociology, writing, and visual art.
The residency takes place at R.M. Schindler’s Mackey Apartments in Los Angeles. Recipients are encouraged to participate in MAK Center activities and engage with the city’s art and design communities. Each residency culminates in a public talk or program related to the recipient’s research. Projects do not need to focus directly on Los Angeles, and research may continue after the residency.
