Established in honor of our longtime colleague Bill Stanley and supported by the Bill Stanley Memorial Fund, this program offers African scientists living and working in Africa a unique opportunity each year to visit the Field Museum. During their stay, awardees conduct original research in our world-class collections, build collaborations with Museum scientists, and develop new skills to strengthen their own research and training back home. Successful candidates will lead independent or interdisciplinary research projects under the guidance of one or more Field Museum scientists.
Applicants may request up to $9,000 USD to cover expenses related to travel, lodging, living costs in Chicago, and visa fees. Please note that scholarships are considered taxable income and will be subject to U.S. income tax regulations.
To assist in preparing your application, a proposal template is included to help structure your research plan and objectives. We encourage all interested graduate students and scientists to apply and take advantage of this exceptional opportunity to advance their work in a vibrant research environment.
Please read the general guidance from the Museum’s immigration attorney for foreign nationals traveling to the U.S. here.
Key Dates & Submission Info
- Submission deadline: November 3 2025.
- Submission application
Funding Details
- Award Amount: Up to $9,000 USD.
- Number of Awards: Two.
- Funding Start Date: January 1, 2026. Visits should occur in 2026 unless otherwise approved.
What We’re Looking For
- Conduct innovative research using the Field Museum’s collections, with special emphasis on specimens and data relevant to African biodiversity, culture, geology, and conservation.
- Generate new insights by building on existing collections or reexamining historic material from Africa housed at the Museum.
- Strengthen connections between the Field Museum and African institutions by contributing to collection development, conservation efforts, capacity building, or future collaborative initiatives.
Applicant’s Eligibility
- Eligible applicants include research scholars, professors, or postdoctoral researchers affiliated with an academic institution.
- Students must be enrolled in a post undergraduate program (Master's or Ph.D.); undergraduate students are NOT eligible.
- Priority will be given to applicants who have not previously received this scholarship.
Field Museum Sponsor’s Eligibility
- Must hold a current, full-time, regular staff position at the Field Museum within CC&R.
- Must hold a Ph.D. in a relevant field (preferred), or at minimum an M.Sc.
- Must have an active and strong record of peer-reviewed publications.
- Term Research Scientists are eligible to serve as sponsors.
- Postdoctoral Scientists are NOT eligible to serve as sponsors.
- To ensure a fair and focused selection process, each curator or sponsor may endorse up to two applicants per funding cycle. Sponsors who submit endorsement letters for more than two applicants will render all associated applications ineligible for this round.
Connecting with Potential Curators & Sponsors: All applicants must reach out to a Field Museum scientist to discuss mentorship and project alignment prior to applying. One letter or endorsement from a FM sponsor is required with your application.
Letters of Endorsement and Recommendation
Candidates are responsible for contacting their letter writers directly. Please share the designated submission links with your Field Museum Sponsor and external referee to ensure timely submission. Both letters must be received by November 3, 2025. Applications missing any required letters will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. Letters must be submitted through the official submission link; emailed or hard copy letters will not be accepted.
Letter of Endorsement from a Field Museum Curator or Eligible Sponsor
This letter must confirm the curator/sponsor’s commitment to support and collaborate on the proposed project. It should briefly describe how the project fits within the Museum’s research priorities and outline the sponsor’s role during the fellowship.
One Letter of Recommendation
Applicants must request one letter from an external referee (not affiliated with the Field Museum) who can speak to the applicant’s qualifications, research potential, and readiness for an independent postdoctoral project.
Application Documents
Applicants must submit the following materials as a single PDF file (items 1 to 4 only) to be considered for funding.
- Research Proposal: (2-page maximum) (A proposal template is included to help structure your ideas).
- Curriculum Vitae: Highlight academic achievements, research experience, publications, and outreach.
- CAT Communication: A brief email (provided by the Curator/Sponsor) copying all CAT members to confirm they are aware of your proposed project.
- Museum Facilities Approval Letter: If your proposal includes the use of Field Museum labs (Grainger Bioinformatics Center, Pritzker DNA Lab, Negaunee Integrative Research Center Core Labs or other specialized resources) your Curator/Sponsor must work with you to contact the appropriate facility director to confirm feasibility of the work, budgetary alignment, and permissions and logistics.
Contact Us
For more information about Visiting Scholarships or your application, email scholarship@fieldmuseum.org.