SAS Faculty Fellowship

Penn Faculty Fellowships

The Katz Center offers an opportunity aimed at Penn faculty in the School of Arts and Sciences who want to become involved in the Center’s annual fellowship program but cannot commit to the full-time participation that the regular fellowship requires. 

SAS faculty may now apply for a course release from the Katz Center, made possible with support from the Office of the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. Recipients of the course release will be expected to participate in the Center’s weekly seminars on Wednesday afternoons and weekly lunches on Mondays from 1:00 pm–2:00 pm, and to make a presentation of their research. Participation in other fellowship activities is strongly encouraged but not required.

Faculty may apply for a single course release per semester for one or both semesters during the year (one course per semester). The fellowship runs from September to the end of April. Please note that the Katz Center is off campus, at 420 Walnut Street

Eligibility

Any School of Arts and Sciences faculty member with regular teaching responsibilities within or beyond the tenure track is eligible to apply. Applicants’ proposed research should be related to the fellowship’s annual theme. 

Interested applicants should secure the support of their department chair and are advised to consult well ahead of time with their departments to avoid conflicts in scheduling classes and other obligations. In partnership with SAS, the course release will be paid to the faculty’s department and used solely for course replacement. We regret that we cannot offer this opportunity to faculty beyond SAS, but interested faculty from other schools are welcome to be in contact with the Katz Center director Steve Weitzman (wsteve@upenn.edu) to explore other ways to get involved in the fellowship year.

How to Apply

Before applying, please review the Katz Center’s fellowship details to confirm your research is relevant to the annual theme.

To submit an application, send an email directly to Katz Center director Steve Weitzman at wsteve@upenn.edu, with the following information in Word or PDF format:

  • A 1–2-page (max. 1000 words) project proposal that briefly explains how your research relates to the theme of the fellowship year, details relevant academic background that prepares you to work on this subject, and envisions what you intend to accomplish by participating in the program. Please also specify whether you seek a course release in the fall, the spring, or for both semesters.
  • A recent CV.
  • A brief letter from your chair indicating support for your application.

We will confirm receipt of your application and reserve the right to seek additional information if needed.

Applications are accepted through February 3, 2025 with award notifications in early April.