The University of Pennsylvania Libraries is accepting applications for the 2024-2025 Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies (SIMS) Visiting Research Fellowship program. Guided by the vision of its founders, Lawrence J. Schoenberg and Barbara Brizdle Schoenberg, SIMS aims to bring manuscript culture, modern technology, and people together to provide access to and understanding of our shared intellectual heritage. Part of the Penn Libraries, SIMS oversees an extensive collection of premodern manuscripts from around the world, with a special focus on the history of philosophy and science, and creates open-access digital content to support the study of its collections. SIMS also hosts the Schoenberg Database of Manuscripts and the annual Schoenberg Symposium on Manuscript Studies in the Digital Age.
The SIMS Visiting Research Fellowships were established to encourage research relating to the premodern manuscript collections at the University of Pennsylvania Libraries, including the Lawrence J. Schoenberg Collection. Proposals involving our digital projects, including the Schoenberg Database, BASIRA, and VCEditor, or those with an AI-driven, handwriting recognition or computer vision component are also encouraged.
Applicants can apply to spend 1 month (minimum of 4 work weeks) at SIMS between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. Project proposals should demonstrate that the Libraries’ premodern manuscript resources are integral to proposed research topics. Up to 3 fellowships will be awarded this year.
Recipients will be expected to conduct their research at SIMS, with the exception of short research trips in support of the proposed project to nearby institutions. Proposals with a digital component are encouraged though not required.
Fellowships are open to all scholars living outside of the greater Philadelphia area. Applicants must have completed a Ph.D. or an equivalent professional degree by the time the fellowship begins. Independent scholars with a substantial record of achievement are encouraged to apply.