Dear open GLAM community,

On February 25, 2020, Smithsonian Open Access went public making available 2.8 million 2D and 3D collections, 173-years of staff created metadata for all records online, and interdisciplinary research data sets all with the CC0 dedication. We are looking for four(4) postdoc fellowships to investigate the Smithsonian’s diffusion mission with 21^st-century technology.  Applications are due March 20, 2020 with a start date of September 14, 2020/

Full details and application instructions can be found here:

https://www.smithsonianofi.com/fellowship-opportunities/james-smithson-fellowship-program/

Please share!

Effie Kapsalis, Senior Digital Program Officer, Smithsonian

2020 James Smithson Fellowship

Theme for 2020: Open Access

The Smithsonian Institution is a trusted knowledge organization with 155 million objects reflecting culture, history, art, and science of the world. While the Smithsonian has an active scholarly and research staff, there are many discoveries and insights left to be made. The goal of the 2020 James Smithson Fellowship is to help the Smithsonian in fulfilling its “diffusion” mission with 21^st century technology, to engage the world in creating new knowledge. Post-docs interested in pursuing research and improving the public’s access to the Smithsonian are encouraged to apply.

In no particular order, independent research through the 2020 James Smithson Fellowship might relate but not be limited to topics such as:

• Empirical Analyses of Program Data
• Application of Machine Learning/A.I. in Cultural Organizations
• Data Improvement At-Scale
• Cultural Responsibilities in an Open Knowledge Landscape
• Accessibility Responsibilities in an Open Knowledge Landscape
• Marketing and Advertising for Public Audiences
• Artists/Designers
• K12 Teachers and Students
• University Students
• Digital Humanities Scholars
• Science Researchers
• Computer Scientists
• Solving issues in Digitization and Data Quality
• Policy Aspects of Making Collections Accessible
• Citizen Science
• Crowdsourcing Research
• The Economics of Open Knowledge
• Increasing Gender Representation in Collections
• Making Discipline Focused Research More Accessible
• Solving Environmental Challenges with Historic Scientific Data

Purpose:

The James Smithson Fellowship Program was created to offer early career opportunities for post-doctoral researchers interested in gaining a better understanding about the interplay between scholarship and public policy through a Smithsonian lens.  While this fellowship provides an immersion experience working with Smithsonian researchers and relevant collections, it also affords fellows a hands-on opportunity to explore relationships between research and public policy through direct interaction with Smithsonian leaders, and with policy leaders throughout the Washington, DC network.

The program is designed for a new generation of leaders, who seek an experience that leverages both scholarly and practical expertise in an environment of innovation like no other. The goals of the James Smithson Fellowship Program provide fellows with the opportunity to:

• Conduct scholarly research at the Smithsonian
• Strengthen understanding of the interplay between research and public policy
• Gain skills at leveraging research to inform conversations about public policy

The 2020 James Smithson Fellowship Application is now OPEN

Application Deadline: Extended! New application deadline is 11:59 pm EDT on Friday 3/20/2020

Start Date: Monday 9/14/2020

End Date: Friday 9/13/2021