Our long-term fellowship provides a deep learning experience, following a project or two over the course of one to two years.
The long-term fellowship is another path in the Native American Fellowship Program, currently funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Our long-term fellowships provide one to two years of real-world work experience, contributing to PEM's teams, researching and producing world-class exhibitions and providing other programmatic support.
This extended placement in the PEM community offers Fellows the time to more fully realize the museum's resources and support, and to network as they refine their strategic and creative thinking skills. Long-term Fellows provide support on smaller and larger-scale projects to senior staff, curators and team members, working independently and collaboratively. Fellows have access to NAF summer experience workshops, supplemental field trips, museum events, designated professional development funding and mentorship opportunities throughout the program.
Fellows are matched according to personal interests, professional development needs and available projects. They can expect to fully integrate into one of PEM’s many departments, such as Collection Services, Curatorial or the Phillips Library. Long-term Fellows are full-time employees of PEM and eligible for the museum’s employee benefits program, including medical and dental coverage.
How to apply
No long-term fellowship positions are currently available at this time. Please check back here soon for future updates on the program.
To sign up for future notifications regarding long-term Native American Fellowship opportunities, please email nafellowship@pem.org to join our recruitment list.
Program benefits
Growing Beyond
Committed cultural heritage and museum professionals with a clear focus on the work they want to do receive additional experiential training and support for relevant scholarly research to enhance their qualifications for permanent hiring in the field.
Immersing Fully
Like summer fellowship placements, long-term Fellows are matched according to personal interests, professional development needs and available projects. Long-term Fellows can expect to fully integrate into one of PEM’s many departments with duties comparable to those of full-time employees.
Unlike other post-grad, pre-doc, or post-doc fellowships, our long-term fellowships provide one to two years of solid, real-world work experience succeeding as part of PEM's teams, researching and producing world class exhibitions, and providing other programmatic support.
As full-time workers at PEM, long-term Fellows are eligible for the museum’s employee benefits program, including medical and dental.
Honing a Vision
Long-term Fellows provide support on smaller and larger-scale projects to senior staff, curators and team members, working independently and collaboratively. Fellows have access to NAF summer experience workshops, supplemental field trips, museum events, designated professional development funding and mentorship opportunities throughout their stay, and actively help cultivate the spaces where Indigenous voices can be expressed and heard in the field.
Leading the Way
Long-term Fellows interact across many PEM departments, including Collection Services, Curatorial, Marketing and the Phillips Library. This model of collaboration equips alumni with the skills needed to drive real change at other museums and institutions.
FAQ's
We accept one long-term fellow for each position posted.
We usually offer one long-term fellowship position every two years, but it can vary. Long-term fellowships are 12- to 24-month positions. NAF staff work with specific departments to assess potential projects, identify term length and determine placement.
Depending on available projects, postings for long-term fellowships are department-specific. Applicants with particular interest in the current posting will have an opportunity to share how PEM, the department and the long-term fellowship will benefit the focused work they want to do.
Different academic institutions refer to this in different ways: credit for experience, experiential learning, independent study, etc. Fellows should contact their respective institutions for details. Fellows who are set to receive academic credit must provide their PEM supervisor with a copy of the paperwork and necessary requirements for credit prior to arrival.
Since the requirements and paperwork for credit come directly from your school and program, it will be up to the individual institution to decide whether the Native American Fellowships are viable for credit. It’s best to start by asking your university for details on what is needed to make our fellowship an option for credit.
No. Receiving credit through your college or university does not affect the stipend amount.
NAF program staff work with summer Fellows to coordinate travel arrangements. Some Fellows pay for their travel upfront and submit receipts for reimbursement. Others prefer for the NAF program to arrange travel on their behalf. Fellows who wish to travel by personal vehicle are reimbursed according to PEM's travel policy and program guidelines.
Reaching new program applicants is essential. PEM’s Native American Fellowship program staff attend professional conferences and gatherings where they often talk about the program both formally and informally. If your institution is interested in a more individualized presentation for your students, community members or in-service professionals, please contact us at nafellowship@pem.org to get informational materials, set up a dialogue with interested applicants or arrange for a presentation.
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