Each year, the ISM brings a group of long-term and short-term fellows from around the world to join its community of scholars and artists. Long-term fellows are in residence for one year and pursue interdisciplinary projects and teach at Yale. Short-term fellows are in residence for a period of one to three months and pursue research in Yale’s collections. All fellows work in a variety of academic and artistic disciplines, including, but not limited to, anthropology, architecture, art history, composition, African American studies, area studies, art, creative writing, ethnomusicology, film studies, history of art or architecture, languages and literatures, Latinx studies, literature, liturgical studies, musicology, Native American and Indigenous studies, religion and literature, religious studies, ritual studies, sociology, theater studies, and theology. Contact us.
Apply to be an ISM fellow
Now accepting applications for long- and short-term fellowships
Long-Term Fellowships
Long-term fellowships fall into two categories. Full-time regular faculty or those with more than six years of related experience following the terminal degree may apply to be a long-term fellow. Candidates with fewer than six years of related experience following the terminal degree may apply as a postdoctoral associate. In both cases, fellows undertake a substantive and original project that relates to the ISM’s mission.
Short-Term Fellowships
Short-term fellows are in residence at Yale for a period of one to three months throughout the course of the year to research the aural, material, visual, ritual, and textual features of religious thought and practice. These fellowships are restricted to projects in Yale’s non-circulating collections.
Reflections on ISM Fellowships
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Dr. Martin Jean
Arrow Up Right (link is external)Director Martin Jean speaks about the ISM’s exceptional fellows program.
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Dr. Claire Pamment
Arrow Up Right (link is external)A former fellow shares her experience teaching a class in South Asian Islamic performance.
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Dr. John A. Graham
Arrow Up Right (link is external)Hear about a former fellow’s research in early 4th century Georgian Orthodox music.
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Dr. Ashton Crawley
Arrow Up Right (link is external)Hear about one fellow’s project during his ISM fellowship, Made Instrument: Polyphonic Intention.
Fellows’ Podcasts
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Ryan Darr and the Ethics of Apocalypse
ISM Fellow and religious ethicist Ryan Darr pulls no punches in talking global climate crisis.
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Into the Valley: Indigenous Artistic Rituals in Southwest China
Katie Dimmery’s work focuses on the ways in which communities and identities are shaped by artistic ritual in the southwest region of China.
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Time in Byzantium, Peter Boudreau
Dr. Peter Boudreau sheds light on time in Byzantium through his work on Byzantine calendar icons.
Fellows’ Bookshelf
Fellows’ News
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ISM welcomes new long-term fellows
The ISM is excited to introduce ten new long-term fellows for the 2024-25 academic year.
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Sacred Practices and “Environmental Joy”
ISM fellow Ryan Darr was recently invited to join the planning team for a conference held at Yale in October on “Environmental Joy.”
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Dr. Barbara Crostini offers a glimpse into the ISM’s short-term fellows program
Dr. Barbara Crostini, who is working on a book project titled, City of Stars: The Dura Europos Synagogue as Performative Space answers 3 questions.
Fellows’ Events
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Past Event: The Golden Threads of Orthodoxy: Revisiting the Materiality and Function of Early Palaiologan Epitaphioi
This event is part of the Late Antique and Byzantine Art and Architecture lecture series
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Past Event: Love Songs of South India: Spirit and Sensuality in the Tamil Kirtana and Padam
All are welcome to a lecture, performance and reception co-sponsored by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music and the Yale South Asian Studies Council.
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Past Event: "In all and for all”: who is included in Orthodox Christian liturgy?
Orthodox Christian liturgy seems to be one of the most “traditional” traditions. This workshop looks beneath the surface of Orthodox liturgy.
Resources
ISM Fellows have access to countless resources at one of the world’s foremost research universities.
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Divinity Library Special Collections
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The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library
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Collection of Musical Instruments
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Yale Art Gallery
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Irving S. Gilmore Music Library Collections
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The Robert B. Haas Family Arts Library
Arrow Up Right (link is external)