The Posen Society of Fellows

The Posen Society of Fellows is a unique international fellowship for junior scholars and emerging fiction writers. Each member of the Posen Society of Fellows receives a $40,000 award over two years, as well as a special opportunity to collaborate with peers and learn from seasoned scholars and writers. The first cohort of Fellows was announced on April 1, 2013.

The Fellows

Eligible scholars should be completing a doctoral dissertation on a topic related to modern Jewish history or culture. Eligible fiction writers should be working on a Jewish-themed novel or short story collection, and should not yet have published their first book.

The Society

The Society will include eight scholars and two fiction writers, who will convene each summer to share work, discuss progress, participate in workshops, and attend lectures by senior scholars and writers. Fellows will be expected to attend two annual gatherings, and to submit a report on their progress and adapt their work for a public audience.

Criteria for Selection

To be considered for the Society, scholars must submit a dissertation prospectus, a writing sample of no more than 15 pages, a letter of recommendation from a major advisor, and a curriculum vitae. U.S. scholars must have completed their comprehensive exams or have commenced writing their dissertations by April 1 of their application year.

Writers should submit a writing sample (for novelists: 30-40 pages of prose; for short story writers: two or three completed stories), curriculum vitae, a description of the work in progress, and an explanation of how the writing sample fits into the larger work.

The Posen Society of Fellows is not restricted to any religion or nationality. Participants from outside North America should be in possession of valid visas.

Guidelines for the Class of 2014-2016 will be released later this year with the deadline for applications on January 1, 2014.