Women@MIT fellowship

Overview

We invite scholars, activists, artists, musicians, and writers who are engaged in the expansion and expression of knowledge to help inform the understanding of women in MIT’s history and the history of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. We are particularly interested in those who will apply the interdisciplinary lenses and methodologies of women’s studies, gender studies, and/or race and ethnic studies.

Fellows will work with the Women@MIT project archivist and other staff within the MIT Libraries’ Department of Distinctive Collections. Successful candidates must be willing to engage in archival research and collaborations with other MIT Libraries colleagues. The fellowship is supported by a stipend and resourcing to carry out the project.

About the fellowship

Scholars, activists, artists, musicians, and/or writers will focus on the creation and sharing of knowledge and history present in the Women@MIT collections in informative and engaging ways within the scope of the interdisciplinary fields of women’s studies, gender studies, and ethnic studies. Participants will help inform the narrative of women’s history at MIT and contribute to the greater understanding of the history of women at the Institute and in STEM.

A few examples of possible projects (this list is by no means exhaustive):

• Educational initiatives
• Documentary films
• Create a performance, such as an opera or play
• Produce a podcast series
• Create a comic book series
• Create and illustrate a short form tv series
• Write poetry or a fictional autobiography
• Develop a video game

Expectations

• Participants will on average will spend 10 to 15 hours a week engaged in research, study, collaboration, writing, or creation.
• Participants will spend 1 to 3 hours a week for meetings, programs, and opportunities for collaboration with other MIT Libraries staff.
• All participants must complete a project and/or products that can/will be shared with the public within 60 days of the completion of the fellowship.
• Scoping and resourcing the final projects/products will commence, in consultation with the Women@MIT Project Archivist, once a fellow is selected. Project proposals should be seen as pitches and prototypes for the final focus.

Proposals should include

Applicants must provide a detailed description of the proposed research and the resulting project. The description should address the following elements:

• A statement that outlines the major question, problem or themes to be explored;
• A summary of the plan for carrying out the project, including an estimated timeline;
• A description of methods;
• A summary of how this proposal intersects with the applicant’s work and area of expertise;
• A discussion of how this project or creation will inform a greater understanding of women in STEM and/or MIT’s history;
• A discussion of how this project and new knowledge or expression will be disseminated, such as plans for lectures, exhibitions, teaching, public art, etc.
• A summary of how you are equipped to complete this project and what unique experience or skills you bring to it
• Estimate of resources and funds that are needed to complete the final project.

About MIT Libraries’ Distinctive Collections

Distinctive Collections collects, preserves, and fosters the use of unique and rare materials such as tangible and digital archives, manuscripts, ephemera, artists’ books, and more. With these collections the Libraries seek to cultivate an interest in the past, present, and future; the humanistic and the scientific; and the physical and the digital in order to inspire and enable research, learning, experimentation, and play for a diverse community of users.

The Women@MIT archival initiative seeks to add the records of women faculty, staff, students, and alumnae to the historic record by collecting, preserving, and sharing their life and work with MIT and global audiences. Extending from this initiative we are also making efforts to acquire, preserve, and make accessible the papers of gender non-binary and non-conforming individuals at MIT to help share their stories and contributions.

MIT is strongly and actively committed to diversity within its community and particularly encourages applications from qualified women and minority candidates. People who enthusiastically embrace the empathy, courage, self-reflection and respect of a multi-cultural, diverse and inclusive workplace, and who strive to incorporate those values in their work and interactions are encouraged to apply.