UMass Amherst Undergraduate Honors Student Fellowships

Fall 2026 Call for Applications

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.

About Slavery North
Founded in 2022, Slavery North is a one-of-a kind academic and cultural destination where scholars, thinkers, artists, and cultural producers build community and produce research and cultural outcomes that transform our understanding of the neglected histories of Transatlantic Slavery in Canada and the US North. Slavery North seeks to advance social justice by recuperating and interrogating the complex histories of Transatlantic Slavery and European colonization of the Americas, thereby recovering and centering the cultures, experiences, lives, and resistance of enslaved peoples in Canada and the US North. At the heart of Slavery North is a fellowship program that will welcome national and international students, artists, and scholars, providing them with the space, funding, time, and community to produce transformative research outcomes.

Job Summary
Slavery North undergraduate fellowships are open to UMass Amherst honors students in the Humanities and Fine Arts who are writing a thesis or major research paper or creating a major research project. Undergraduate Honors Student Fellows must actively participate in both the scholarly and social environment of the Slavery North. Undergraduate Honors Student Fellows, with support of Slavery North leadership, will conduct their independent research and create original research/works in one or more of the five mandate areas of Slavery North which include: 1) Canadian Slavery, (2) slavery in the US North, (3) the comparative study of slavery in Canada, the US North, and other northern or temperate regions, (4) the study of the inter-connectedness of slavery in Canada and the US North with Caribbean Slavery, and (5) Black-Indigenous relations in Canadian Slavery or US North Slavery. Furthermore, the research must center on the enslaved and/or adopt an anti-colonial, de-colonial, post-colonial, and/or anti-racist methodology/approach which challenges the nature of European and Euro-American imperialism and colonialism and interrogates the racist logic of the institution of Transatlantic Slavery.

Essential Functions

• Self-directed research and production of original works with the support of Slavery North leadership in one or more of the five core mandate areas of Slavery North as described
  above.
• Actively participate in the life of Slavery North including working in our shared office space, attending and contributing to Slavery North and relevant UMass Amherst and
  regional activities.
• Contribute to a culture of conversation, support, and the sharing of ideas, resources, and knowledge.
• Present at least one public paper, exhibition, or workshop on your research project while in residence.
• Write social media content about your research outcomes and provide and provide suitable biographical information for use on Slavery North website and in promotional and outreach materials.

Other Functions
Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
Current student enrolled in an Honors program with a thesis or major research project component in the Humanities or Fine Arts at UMass Amherst.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience):

• Knowledge of field of Transatlantic Slavery Studies.
• Demonstrated proficiency in independent academic research or research-creation.

Additional Details
Honors Student fellows must credit Slavery North Initiative-UMass Amherst in all outcomes derived from their appointment.

Successful fellows will be hired and paid through the UMass payroll system and are subject to all terms, conditions, and policies of employment at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. This will require a completed I-9 form indicating one is eligible to work in the United States. International students who may be studying on an F-1 visa are eligible; however, this appointment will count as a 20 hour per week work obligation and not allow for further employment during periods classes are in session.

Work Schedule
Flexible schedule, not to exceed 20 hours/ week. Honors Student fellows are expected to work in the shared office and actively contribute to the Slavery North community.

Salary Information
This is a maximum one-semester non-benefitted fellowship. Fellowships will be awarded according to the following schedule:
Rate: $20/hour x 20 hours per week x 16 weeks = $6,400.00 total

Duration
Fall Semester 2026: September 8 – December 23, 2026

Special Instructions to Applicants
Please submit the following materials for consideration by Thursday, May 14, 2026 (Eastern Daylight Time) to: [email protected]
Applications will not be considered complete until all materials are received.

1. Current CV (maximum 3 pages) which addresses education/training, related course work, work experience, awards, scholarships, and grants, event/exhibition/conference
organization and participation, extracurricular activities, other creative outcomes, and relevant community contributions and engagement.

2. Project Statement (Maximum 5 pages): Applicants must demonstrate that their entire thesis or creative production, or a significant part thereof, focuses on at least one of the Slavery North Mandate Areas. The project statement must be written in full sentence form and include the following areas:

a) Page 1: Project Summary (avoid jargon and write for non-specialist audience)
b) Pages 2-4: Objectives; Context; Importance and Originality; Literature Review; Theoretical and Methodological Approach; Archival or Primary Sources; Impact and Outcomes.
c) Page 5: Timeline (point form); indicate desired semester(s) for appointment (maximum 2) and plan to complete all or a significant portion of your research

3. Photographs, Weblinks, or Writing Sample: Five photographs of completed artworks or creative output OR film stills OR link to applicant’s website OR writing sample (maximum 12 pages).
4. List of 3 professional references (include name, position, email, and phone number for each reference)

The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.

Advertised: April 17, 2026, Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: May 14, 2026, Eastern Daylight Time

Questions can be directed to: [email protected]