The Queensland-Smithsonian Fellowships support a diverse range of projects, including those in the natural sciences and history, cultural heritage, arts or museum management.

The objective of the program is to enable Fellows to: benefit from working within a Smithsonian Institution accessing their expertise, collections and facilities; increase their knowledge and skills in their chosen field; and apply these to benefit their work institutions and Queensland more broadly.

Fellowships are available across a range of disciplines in the arts and sciences that will contribute to the protection, conservation, resilience, understanding, management and/or appreciation in the areas of:

• climate, and environment - marine, aquatic and terrestrial
• ecosystems and biodiversity
• human evolution and history
• planetary history and processes
• cultural heritage
• nature-based tourism
• museum services and collections.

Queensland Government funding of up to $32,600 (excluding GST) is available for the nominated fellow to travel to the USA and/or Panama for a project ranging from 8 to 16 weeks in duration.

The applicant organisation

Applications are invited from Queensland research, education and cultural agencies (the applicant organisation) that employ staff working in an area of interest to one or more Smithsonian Institution agencies.

The Queensland applicant organisation nominates the proposed Fellow (an employee of the agency) in the application. The applicant organisation must pay the Fellow’s salary while the Fellow undertakes the fellowship.

The Fellow

To be eligible for a Queensland-Smithsonian Fellowship the proposed Fellow must:

• be an Australian citizen, or have Australian residency
• reside and work in Queensland
• be employed by a Queensland-based research, educational or cultural agency—including, but not limited to, universities, schools, museums, galleries, or government research organisations
• provide evidence that the nominated Smithsonian Institution agency/agencies will accommodate the Fellow and provide basic administrative support for the duration of the Fellow’s visit.

Other conditions

• The fellowship is awarded for an individual (the proposed Fellow) to travel to a Smithsonian Institution facility. Applications seeking travel for more than one nominee will not be considered.
• Fellowship funding is not transferrable, including to other employees of the applicant organisation or persons associated with the Fellow.
• Fellows must complete the fellowship within 12 months of notification of the award.
• Incomplete applications and ineligible applications will not be considered.
• Applications to support previous recipients of a Queensland-Smithsonian Fellowship will not be considered.

The Smithsonian Institution

Proposed projects must be of benefit to the Smithsonian Institution.

• Support for a proposed project must be obtained from the Smithsonian Institution prior to applying for this fellowship.
• Applicants interested in fellowships should review the Smithsonian Opportunities for Research  web page to identify potential advisors and collaborators.

• Phone: 13 74 68
• Email: science.grants@des.qld.gov.au