The Met USA Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellowship 2026-2028 (Fully Funded)
Are you an emerging scholar looking to advance your career in museum curatorial practice? The Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellowship 2026–2028 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), New York is now open for applications. This prestigious postdoctoral fellowship in art history provides young researchers with invaluable curatorial training while engaging with one of the world’s greatest art collections.
Degree Level
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Available Subjects
For the 2026–2028 cycle, fellowships are offered in the following fields:
Egyptian Art – Specializing in Egyptology, material culture, and the study of artworks from Egypt’s earliest days to the end of the third millennium BCE.
Islamic Art – Specializing in Mughal or Persian art history, especially in textiles, carpets, and painting from the early modern period.
Benefits
Successful candidates will receive:
Annual Salary: $66,300 (before taxes and deductions)
Research Travel Stipend: $6,000 (reimbursed for travel related to research)
Full Benefits Package: Including health and dental insurance (as provided to full-time Met staff)
Professional Development: Access to The Met’s collections, libraries, curatorial mentorship, and participation in the Fellowship Program workshops and Research Out Loud presentations.
Eligible Nationalities
Open to all nationalities (international applicants must ensure they can obtain US work authorization).
Eligibility Criteria
To apply, candidates must meet the following requirements:
Hold a PhD in a relevant field by the application deadline.
Have received their PhD within five years of the deadline.
Specialization related to either Egyptology (for Egyptian Art fellowship) or Mughal/Persian Art (for Islamic Art fellowship).
Additional requirements:
Egyptian Art Fellowship: Proficiency in German and French.
Islamic Art Fellowship: Reading skills in Persian and Devanagari, and familiarity with Mughal connoisseurship.
Must have valid US work authorization for the full duration of the fellowship (September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2028).
Application Procedure
All applications must be submitted online in English. Email or postal submissions will not be accepted. The application must include:
Statement of Interest (max. 1,000 words) – Specify which fellowship you are applying for, your research goals, and relevant experiences.
Digital Interpretation Statement (max. 500 words) – Describe how you would contribute to digital interpretive research models.
Published Paper or Writing Sample.
Curriculum Vitae (CV).
Three Letters of Recommendation – At least one academic and one professional. Letters must be uploaded directly by recommenders.
Important Dates
Application Deadline: Friday, October 17, 2025, 5:00 pm ET
Notification Date: Last Friday of February 2026
Fellowship Period: September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2028
