Graduate Student Fellowship in the Language Sciences

2026-2027 Call for Applications

Published
August 17, 2026

The Center for Language Sciences (CLS) at the University of Rochester invites applications for the 2026-2027 Graduate Fellowship in the Language Sciences.

The fellowship supports a doctoral student whose research advances our understanding of language and language-related processes. As part of the interdisciplinary CLS community, the Graduate Fellow will help foster engagement across departments while receiving support for their academic and professional development.

About the Center for Language Sciences

The Center for Language Sciences brings together researchers from across the University of Rochester whose work contributes to the scientific study of language. CLS promotes interdisciplinary collaboration through lectures, workshops, research initiatives, and community-building activities that connect faculty and students across multiple departments and schools.

About the Graduate Student Fellowship 

Fellowship Term

The fellowship runs from September 2026 through June 2027.

Award

The Graduate Fellow will receive a $28,000 fellowship award for the academic year.

Eligibility

Applicants must:
  • Be enrolled in a PhD program at the University of Rochester during the fellowship period
  • Be affiliated with a CLS department or program
    • American sign language
    • Brain and cognitive sciences
    • Biomedical engineering
    • Computer science
    • Linguistics
    • Music theory at the Eastman School of Music
    • Neuroscience and neurosurgery
    • Philosophy
  • Conduct original research in the language sciences
  • Be in residence in Rochester during the fellowship period

Responsibilities

The Graduate Fellow will:
  • Serve as a liaison between CLS and their academic department
  • Promote CLS events through departmental outreach and social media
  • Support the CLS Events and Engagement Coordinator in planning CLS programs and events
  • Assist with coordination of guest speaker visits, including meeting and dinner sign-ups
  • Participate in efforts to showcase language sciences research at the University
  • Be featured in a research profile highlighting their work for the University and broader language sciences community

Application Process

Applicants should submit their CV and a one-page research statement describing:
  • Their current research
  • The proposed research focus for the fellowship year
  • The relevance of the project to the language sciences
  • How the fellowship will advance their scholarly and professional development

Submit application materials via email to cls@rochester.edu with the subject line “Application: Graduate Fellowship in the Language Sciences.”

Applications are due September 15, 2026.

All applicants will be notified of the fellowship decision by early October.

For questions about the fellowship or application process, contact cls@rochester.edu.