Beckman Center Fellowships
The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry hosts a community of visiting fellows. These fellows conduct historical research, interact with staff, publish academic and popular works, and establish CHF as a leading research center in the history of chemistry and related sciences, technologies, and industries.
Fellowships and Travel Grants
The Beckman Center offers several fellowships for scholars doing research in the history and sociology of chemistry and related sciences, technologies, and industries. In the 2010–11 academic year we awarded four postdoctoral fellowships, two dissertation fellowships, and ten short-term fellowships, making CHF one of the leading centers for independent research in the history of science and technology in the United States. Travel grants for short visits (less than one month) are also available to support focused research in the Othmer Library and Special Collections.
Conferences, Lectures, and More
The Beckman Center hosts a series of brown bag lectures on Tuesdays during the spring and fall terms. At these lectures CHF fellows, travel grantees, staff, and other area scholars talk on topics involving the history of chemistry, political and social issues of importance to chemists and chemical engineers, and issues affecting the future of chemical research. The center also hosts occasional academic conferences and symposia.
The Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry was started with a generous grant from the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation in 1986.
Long-term fellows are in residence at CHF for the entire academic year (September–May). All long-term fellows are provided with a private office, a computer, and a direct telephone line. There are two kinds of long-term fellowships: one for postdoctoral scholars and one for Ph.D. candidates at the dissertation stage.
The Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF) offers several short-term fellowships for researchers studying the history and sociology of the chemical and molecular sciences, technologies, and industries. Short-term fellows are in residence at CHF for periods ranging from one to six months, according to their allocated fellowship.
Financial support is available for researchers who wish to use our collections for periods of less than one month.
Access our online application for long- and short-term fellowships and get instructions on applying for travel grants.
From submitting your application to finding housing in Philadelphia, here are answers to the most common questions asked by prospective and new fellows at CHF.