The Center’s fellowships vary in scope and length. They are awarded to doctoral candidates, USC undergraduate and graduate students, USC faculty, faculty at the Visual History Archive's access points, and senior scholars who use the Visual History Archive or other genocide-related resources at USC for innovative research projects across academic disciplines. Selected projects advance understanding of the cultural and societal dynamics that precipitate or deter genocide, offering knowledge that has practical application and benefit.
Research Fellowships
Center Research Fellowship
The Center Research Fellowship enables the recipient to spend one semester in residence at the Center. It goes to an outstanding senior international scholar from any discipline who will advance genocide research through use of the Visual History Archive and other USC resources. The recipient will be expected to bring the Center fresh research perspectives, play a role in Center activities and deliver a public talk during his or her stay.
Center Graduate Research Fellowship
The Center Graduate Research Fellowship is awarded to an outstanding advanced-standing Ph.D. candidate from any discipline for dissertation research focused on testimony from the USC Shoah Foundation Visual History Archive and other USC resources. The fellowship enables the recipient to spend one month in residence at the USC Shoah Foundation Center for Advanced Genocide Research during the academic year and to deliver a public lecture about his or her research.
Center Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
The Center Postdoctoral Research Fellowship will be awarded to an outstanding postdoctoral scholar from any discipline who will advance digital genocide research through the use of the USC Shoah Foundation Visual History Archive (VHA). The Center welcomes proposals from researchers who use innovative digital methodologies to approach the testimonies of the Visual History Archive. For this postdoctoral fellowship, the Visual History Archive itself, its interface and/or its digital testimonies can be seen as research objects.
Margee and Douglas Greenberg Research Fellowship
The Margee and Douglas Greenberg Research Fellowship, the first endowed fellowship for the Center, enables an advanced standing PhD candidate to spend up to a month in residence at the Center every year. The result of a generous gift from Margee and Douglas Greenberg, the fellowship is bestowed by a panel of USC researchers and professors who vet proposals for their originality and potential to make advancements in the field through the use of testimonies in the Visual History Archive.
Robert J. Katz Research Fellowship in Genocide Studies
The Robert J. Katz Research Fellowship in Genocide Studies enables an advanced standing PhD candidate to spend up to a month in residence at the Center every year. This new fellowship is named after long-time volunteer and former Board of Councilors Chair Robert J. Katz in recognition of his service to the Institute. Award decisions for this fellowship will be based on the originality of the research proposal and its potential to advance research with testimonies in the Visual History Archive.
Breslauer, Rutman, and Anderson Research Fellowship
The Breslauer, Rutman, and Anderson Research Fellowship enables an advanced-standing PhD candidate to spend up to a month in residence at the Center every year. The result of a generous gift by Gerald Breslauer, Mickey Rutman, Tammy Anderson and Sharon De Greiff, the fellowship will be awarded to a Ph.D. candidate from any discipline for dissertation research focused on testimony from the USC Shoah Foundation Visual History Archive and other USC resources.
Beth and Arthur Lev Student Research Fellowship
The Beth and Arthur Lev Student Research Fellowship provides $1,000 support for USC undergraduate students or $3,000 support for USC graduate students doing research focused on the testimonies of the USC Shoah Foundation Visual History Archive and/or other related USC resources and collections during the summer. The fellowship is open to USC undergraduate students and graduate students of all disciplines.
Summer Research Fellowship for USC Faculty and USC Graduate Students
Summer Research Fellowships provide support for USC graduate students and USC faculty doing research focused on the USC Shoah Foundation Visual History Archive and/or other unique USC resources and collections during the summer. The fellowship is open to USC faculty and USC graduate students of all disciplines. Award decisions for this fellowship will be based on the originality of the research proposal and the centrality of USC resources to the research project.
Summer Research Fellowships for USC Undergraduate Students
The DEFY Undergraduate Research Fellowships provide support for USC undergraduate students doing research focused on the USC Shoah Foundation Visual History Archive and/or other unique USC resources and collections during the summer. The fellowship is open to USC undergraduate students of all disciplines. Award decisions for the DEFY fellowships will be based on the originality of the research proposal and the centrality of USC resources to the research project.
Scholars in Residence
The Sara and Asa Shapiro Scholar in Residence program brings in one leading international scholar per year for a 1-2 week residency at the Institute’s offices at USC for consultation and conversation with our directors, staff, and the USC community, to enrich the community’s understanding of the causes and consequences of genocide.
One Time Research Fellowships
These fellowships are offered once only.
Teaching Fellowships
Teaching Fellows
The Teaching Fellows program provides financial support and staff assistance to faculty members at USC Shoah Foundation Visual History Archive (VHA) access sites to integrate testimonies from the Visual History Archive into new or existing courses. The fellowship is open to all disciplinary and methodological approaches. Following the fellowship course, the fellows give a public presentation of their course experience. Final course syllabi will be posted to the Center's website.
Interdisciplinary Research Week
Interdisciplinary Research Week
Each year, the Center hosts an interdisciplinary team of scholars from different universities and countries for one week so that they can meet in person and work together intensively to address a particular challenge within the field of genocide studies.