The Rhodes iiD Doctoral Fellowship in the Computational Humanities is an opportunity for humanities doctoral students at Duke University to receive training in the methodology and theory of computational and digital studies. The fellowship program will introduce students to both research and pedagogical practices using computational methods. Fellows will also gain an understanding of the quickly-developing critical questions and methodologies that drive scholarship in the digital humanities.

Through workshops and mentoring, the fellowship creates a collaborative environment where PhD students can acquire the necessary skills to translate their teaching and research interests into a digital or computational project. The projects undertaken as part of the fellowship aim to advance and complement the students’ dissertation research and their teaching within their department. Because of this, the students will be required to design and create projects that reflect their core areas of research. Fellows are encouraged, though not required, to work towards a conference presentation or a publication for their project.

Structure of fellowship program:

• For Fall 2023, applications are due on June 1st, at 5:00 pm (see the application information page for details)
• Fellowship starts at the beginning of the fall 2022 semester:
  • Students are expected to continue work on their digital project during the summers.
  • The first year will focus on designing a project and, if the option is selected, carrying out the project within a course (see projects page for details).
  • Students in their second year of the fellowship will focus on completing their project, working towards the website, panel, and, if possible, conference presentation and/or publication.
  • If they participate in Data+ in the first summer of the fellowship, the fellows will be expected to mentor new fellows participating in Data+ during the second summer.
  • Students in their second year of the fellowship will be required to provide feedback and mentoring to the students in their first year.

What the fellowship gives to the students:

• $5,000 annual stipend for two years distributed as follows: $1,500 fall term; $1,500 spring term; and $2,000 summer term. Award for the second year of the fellowship is depended on satisfactory progress (both in computational/digital project and in degree requirements as determined by dissertation director).
• Opportunity to seek feedback on work from faculty and other fellows, and the opportunity to mentor new fellows during your second year in the fellowship.
• Workshops and learning opportunities around digital research, pedagogy, and presentation. During the school year, fellows will participate in a regular workshop (every three weeks) that will guide them through the process of designing a digital project, learning the relevant critical and methodological scholarship, and receive help and feedback on the implementation of their work.
• Networking opportunities with invited scholars.
• Where applicable, the Faculty Coordinator, Astrid Giugni, will visit the classroom for each fellow’s pedagogical project to provide support and to generate material for a teaching letter.
• Feedback and instruction on how to develop their projects towards a conference presentation or a publication.