African Visiting Scholars

The Science and Scholarship Funding Committee is delighted to announce Call 8 for applications to the 2027 African Visiting Scholars. Successful candidates will lead independent or interdisciplinary research projects under the guidance of one or more Field Museum scientists.

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.

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: December 30 2026.
Submission platform: Google Form

Funding Details:

Award Amount: Up to $9,000 USD.
Number of Awards: Two.
Funding Start Date: Late January, 2027. Visits should occur in 2027 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 link with your Field Museum Sponsor and external referee to ensure timely submission. Both letters must be received by December 30, 2026. 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.

Proposal Format: Proposals must use the template provided and follow all formatting guidelines. The main body of the proposal must be limited to one page and numbering should be maintained throughout the document. A second page can be used for figures, budget, schedule, and references.

Page 1

Title and Applicant’s Name
Research: Summarize the goal(s) of the project and outline your central research questions and hypotheses guiding your study.
Methodology: Describe the approaches, techniques, or analyses you will use to carry out the study.
Merit: Explain the significance of your research and its relevance to the African Visiting Scholars program.
Expected Outcomes of the Visit: Identify anticipated results, such as publications, datasets, collaborations, outreach activities, or other tangible outputs for the Field Museum.
What the Visitor Will Gain: Describe how the scholarship will advance your research skills, foster collaborations, and provide access to collections and resources.
Contingency Plan: Outline how you will address unexpected challenges, delays, or disruptions during the visit.

Page 2

Brief Schedule: Provide a timeline of the proposed visit, including key milestones.
Budget: Budgets should be reasonable, clearly justified, and aligned with the goals and duration of the proposed visit. Include travel, lodging, research, visa fees, and other expenses structured to reflect the duration of the visit.
Field Museum Collaborators: List any potential FM collaborators (beyond your sponsor) and briefly describe their role in your project (optional).
Figures: Recommended. Include diagrams or photos relevant to your proposal (optional).
References: Provide brief citations for all works referenced in your proposal (optional).

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions to scholarship@fieldmuseum.org. We look forward to seeing your exciting proposals!