Regional Faculty

Questions? Please email or call Sara Varney (215.746.5940), the Center's Associate Director.

Regional Faculty Fellowships

The Wolf Humanities Center offers several $5000 fellowships annually for standing faculty (Ph.D. level) in the humanities from colleges and universities in Philadelphia and the surrounding region. Interested candidates should be conducting work related to the Center's theme for the year in which the award is granted. The fellowship includes access to the University of Pennsylvania library for the term of the award.

Fellows are required to attend the Wolf Humanities Center's Mellon Research Seminars, held weekly on Tuesdays from noon–1:30pm. Fellows present their research at one session and respond to a colleague's paper at another session during the academic year (early September – early May). In addition to regional faculty, seminar members include Penn faculty fellows, Mellon postdoctoral fellows, advanced doctoral fellows, and others. Interested applicants are advised to check well ahead with their department/s to avoid conflicts in scheduling classes and other obligations.

There is no requirement that a regional fellow's home institution be within a specified distance of the University of Pennsylvania. However, regional fellows are expected to participate n the Center’s weekly seminar in person, and to attend other activities. As such, the regional fellows program is open to scholars from any institution as long as they are residing within commuting distance of the University of Pennsylvania.

Call for Applications, 2025–2026 (Coming soon) 

Research Topic: Truth
Application deadline: February 14, 2025

Applications are now being accepted for research on the topic of Truth, the Center's topic for 2025–26. Please apply via the Interfolio application portal (coming soon).

Applicants are required to submit an up-to-date CV and a single PDF including the following:

  • Project Title
  • Project Abstract (125 words maximum)
  • Project Proposal (approx. 1000 words)

Also required:

  • One confidential letter of recommendation from your department chair, another administrator, or senior scholar in your field. Letters must be uploaded to Interfolio no later than the February 14 deadline.

Questions? Please email or call Sara Varney (215.746.5940), the Center's Associate Director.

Regional Fellows

The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks talented students, postdocs, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds. The University of Pennsylvania does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected class status in the administration of its admissions, financial aid, educational or athletic programs, or other University-administered programs or in its employment practices. Additional information can be found online at Penn: Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs: Policies, Handbooks and Procedures.