The Jackman Humanities Institute hosts a Circle of Fellows each year who are chosen for the relevance of their projects to the annual theme. These residential fellows hold space on the 10th floor of the Jackman Humanities Building and meet weekly to share their research.
The JHI also supports non-residential fellowships for fellows working on projects that are not tied to the annual theme: 6-month Fellows and the JHI-UTSC DH Fellow.
NOTE: The 2025-26 JHI Faculty Research Fellowship application is now open until Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 4:00pm. Check out our announcement that provides detailed information and a link to the application form.
JHI Faculty Research Fellowship applications are accepted in August and early September for the following year’s Fellowships with a deadline of mid-September.
JHI Faculty Research Fellowships are open to University of Toronto faculty only. No external applications will be considered.
- 12-month Faculty Research Fellows are residential and take a leadership role in the Circle of Fellows. Four 12-month awards are offered. Each fellow supervises 1-2 Undergraduate Fellows.
- 6-month Research Fellows are non-residential; and are expected to share their research with the wider U of T community in the year following fellowship. Six 6-month awards are offered.
In each case, fellowship includes research support and a full release from teaching and service duties for the duration of the fellowship.
For up to date information about the Faculty Research Fellowships, check our Announcements, follow us on Twitter or Facebook, or subscribe to our newsletter.
Frequently Asked Questions About the JHI Faculty Research Fellowships (JHIFRF)
Q: Who is eligible to apply for the JHIFRF?
A: Research-stream professors (full or part time) who will have reached at least the rank of Associate Professor by 1 July of the fellowship year.
Please note: JHI Faculty Research Fellowships are open to University of Toronto faculty only. No external applications will be considered.
Q: Which disciplines are eligible to apply?
A: JHI will consider all proposals from the humanities and qualitative social sciences, as well as from the faculties of Music, Information, Law, Architecture, and Education. Applicants may be located at any of the University of Toronto’s three campuses.
Q: Am I eligible to apply if am retired?
A: No. This fellowship cannot be held by retired faculty members.
Q: Am I eligible to apply if I have entered phased retirement?
A: Yes. If you have entered phased retirement but will not have completed that process before the end of the fellowship year, you are eligible to apply. You will need to work out how to count the fellowship as a component of your retirement package with your HR Advisor.
Q: Can I apply again if I have already held the JHIFRF?
A: Yes. You must wait for at least five years (starting from the end of your previous fellowship and ending at the beginning of your second fellowship) before you apply again for the JHIFRF. It does not matter which length you held the first time, or which length you plan to apply for the second time. You may not hold the JHIFRF more than twice.
Q: Does my research proposal need to respond to the JHI Annual theme for my fellowship year?
A: 12-month fellowship: YES. Relevance to the theme is a factor in the selection process. 6-month fellowship: NO. Relevance to the theme is not a factor in the selection process.
Q: Should I propose a project already in progress, or come up with a new idea?
A: You are welcome to propose any project, existing or new. New ideas may be easier to frame in terms of possible outcomes.
Q: Can I be considered for both kinds of fellowship in the same application?
A: No. You must declare which fellowship you are applying for, and you can only be considered for one.
Q: Is there a standard template for the curriculum vitae?
A: No. Please provide your current full-length academic CV.
Q: Is there a required/preferred format for the upload document in my application?
A: Required: your documents must be formatted as a single pdf file. Preferred: 12-point type and 1-inch margins; 1.5 or double-spaced.
Length (preferred):
- Project Proposal – no restrictions; 5-7 pp is normal.
- CV – whatever length it is. No restrictions.
- Brief biography – 100 words.
- Brief project description – 100 words.
Q: May I provide all or part of my application in another language?
A: Application materials will be considered in either English or French. Applications in other languages cannot be considered because the selection committee will be in place before your application is submitted and selection committee members may not have ability in other languages.
Q: Why does JHI need to contact my Chair/Director?
A: JHI will contact your Chair/Director for signoff on this application to ensure that it is understood that if your application is successful, you will be away for 6 or 12 months. JHI also requests the names of two additional external referees from your Chair/Director.
Q: What is the Do Not Contact option for?
A: If there are potential external referees whom you would prefer not to involve in the selection process, you may name one or two persons. No explanation is required, and the use of this option will not be a negative factor in the selection process.
Q: Should my external referees be anticipating your request?
A: Maybe. As a part of the application process, we also request two additional external referee names from your Chair/Director. We may contact any of the five resulting names. JHI may also request references as suggested by members of the selection committee.
Q: Are my application materials confidential?
A: Yes. Staff and selection committee members who handle application materials do so with confidentiality measures in place. Application materials submitted through the competition website are deleted after the competition is completed.
Q: May I see examples of previous successful applications?
A: No. JHI will not share application materials. You may approach colleagues who have held a JHIRF, and they may opt to share their materials if they wish to do so.
Q: How many fellows are normally selected in each competition?
A: JHI normally selects four 12-month and six 6-month fellows in each competition.
Q: Who is on the selection committee?
A: The identity of selection committee members and the process of selection remains confidential. One will be a former JHI Faculty Research Fellow; one will be a senior researcher at the University of Toronto; one will be a senior researcher at an external institution. The selection committee is chaired by the Director of the Jackman Humanities Institute. Selection committee members are chosen by the Director in consultation, with a preference for range across the disciplines and relevance to the annual theme.
Q: How will the JHI support me if my application is successful?
12-month fellows:
- 12 months of full release from all teaching and service obligations in your home unit(s) plus $5,000 CAD provided as research funding. (It is also possible to provide these funds as a part of your taxable stipend, but the after-tax portion will be less than $5,000.)
- Office on the 10th floor of the Jackman Humanities Building with administrative support and 24/7 access.
- Membership in the JHI Circle of Fellows, an engaging cohort of around 20 people selected for relevance of their research to the annual theme (faculty, external faculty, artist in residence, postdocs, senior graduate students, senior undergraduate students).
- The opportunity to present your research to the Circle of Fellows.
- The opportunity to develop an event related to the annual theme during the year, which the JHI will support: an invited speaker, a symposium, a book launch, a film night, etc. We welcome your ideas.
6-month fellows:
- 6 months of full release from all teaching and service obligations in your home unit(s) plus $5,000 CAD provided as stipend or research funding.
- In the year after your fellowship, JHI will support and organize an event for you to publicly present your research.
Q: How will JHI support my home unit(s) during my fellowship?
A: JHI will provide $55,000 to the home unit(s) of each 12-month fellow and $35,000 to the home unit(s) of each 6-month fellow to defray the costs of teaching replacement. If you are cross appointed, this funding will be split according to the percentage split of your appointment. If you are a member of the Continuing (part-time) research faculty, this funding will be provided according to the percentage of your appointment.
Q: What are my obligations to the JHI if my application is successful?
A: 12-month fellows
- Before your fellowship year begins, you will assist with the selection processes for other fellows in your cohort year.
- When your fellowship year begins, you will move office to the JHI.
- During your fellowship year, you will supervise 1-2 undergraduate fellows in their independent study fellowship projects.
- During your fellowship year, you will attend weekly fellows’ meetings on Thursdays 12-2.
- During your fellowship year, you will assist with programming relevant to the annual theme.
- At the end of your fellowship year, you will submit a report on your fellowship experiences and accomplishments.
- In the year after your fellowship year, you will teach a senior undergraduate course in your home unit based on your fellowship research.
6-month fellows
- There is no residence requirement or JHI office provided.
- At the end of your fellowship year, you will submit a report on your fellowship experiences and accomplishments.
- In the year after your fellowship year, you will be invited to share your research with the University of Toronto community in a public event.
Q: What are my obligations to my unit while I am a JHIFRF?
A: You are released from all undergraduate and graduate teaching obligations, and from all departmental service requirements during the period of your fellowship. You must continue to work with your doctoral supervisees.
Q: Does holding the JHIFRF interfere with scheduling my next leave of absence?
A: No. The JHIRF does not interrupt your normal scheduling for leaves of absence.
Q: Can I combine a JHIFRF with another leave of absence?
A: This is up to your Chair/Director and may depend on the needs of your unit. JHI does not restrict its selections in relation to previous or future leaves of absence.
Q: May I continue to provide service at university (not unit) level during my fellowship?
A: You are not required to do so, but you may choose to do University-level service while you are a JHIFRF.
Q: May I postpone my fellowship?
A: 12-month fellowships: No. Your selection was dependent on the relevance of your proposal to the annual theme for your fellowship year. 6-month fellowships: Perhaps. Depending on the nature of your request, postponement may be granted for up to one year. You will need to discuss this with your Chair/Director and the JHI Director.
Q: Can I get some feedback on my application if I didn’t receive the award?
A: No. Because the Director is a member of the selection committee, post-competition comments are not available to maintain confidentiality. We recommend that you consult with JHI Research Officer Amy Ratelle for assistance with your application well before the deadline.
Q: Can I correct an error in my application before I submit it?
A: Yes. Until the application deadline has passed, you can choose to SAVE your application. You will be given a code for re-entry. Record this code and use it to go back into your application. If you upload a second copy of your application document, the first version will be deleted. Please review your application. When you are satisfied with your application, choose SUBMIT. After you have submitted your application, you will not be able to re-enter. Please submit your application before the deadline.
Q: When is the deadline for this application?
A: For fellowships to be held in 2024-25: Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. Toronto time.
Q: Who can I contact for technical support with the application form?
A: Email JHI Communications Officer Sonja Johnston
Q: Who can I contact if I have any other questions about the fellowship?
A: Email JHI Director Alison Keith
Q: When will I know if my application was successful?
A: For fellowships to be held in 2025-26, the selection process will be complete by November 30, 2024.