Research Topic: Practice
Application deadline: Wednesday, April 1, 2026

The Wolf Humanities Center invites applications from Penn undergraduate students interested in conducting humanities research on "Practice" during the 2026–2027 academic year. Students applying for a Research Fellowship may also apply for a position on the Executive Board and/or a position as a Social Media Associate.

During the 2026–2027 academic year, Undergraduate Humanities Forum meetings will be held on Fridays between 2:00pm and 4:00pm and the Research Conference will be held on a Friday in late March or early April 2027. Interested applicants are advised to avoid conflicts in scheduling classes and other obligations during these times. 

Applicants from all of Penn's schools are welcome to apply, provided their project fits the intellectual agenda of the Wolf Humanities Center. Fellows must be in good academic standing, and must be full-time and on campus for the entirety of the academic year of the award. Proposed research may be part of a student's independent studies course, capstone seminar, or honors theses, or developed independently, but must be undertaken under the guidance of faculty specialists. Applicants should confirm a faculty advisor who will supervise their research during the fellowship year, and assist the fellow in completing the project in a timely manner for the conference presentation. Faculty advisors must submit a reference letter as part of the application process.

Beyond the merits of each project, the selection committee will prioritize proposals that engage with humanistic perspectives on Practice as outlined on the topic page. Successful projects will deeply engage with the complexities and methodological implications of the topic, using the idea of "practice" as a lens to question and re-examine research methods, underlying assumptions, and the broader intellectual framework.

Research Fellows receive $1500 awards paid in two installments (December and May).

Two Executive Board positions are available to Fellows who work closely with the Undergraduate Humanities Forum Faculty Director and the Wolf administrative staff to organize and plan meetings and outings throughout the year, as well as the spring research conference. Executive Board Fellows receive $2000 awards paid in two installments (December and May).

A Social Media Associate position is available to a Fellow who helps create content that documents and promotes the year's Undergraduate Humanities Forum Research Fellows and programs, and posts across the Wolf Humanities Center's social media platforms. The Social Media Research Fellow will receive a $2000 award paid in two installments (December and May).

Students may apply for an Executive Board position and the Social Media Associate position, but they will not be awarded both.

TO APPLY, please submit the following via the Interfolio application portal no later than Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 11:59pm Eastern. 

1. Research Plan
Please include the following: Project Title; Project Abstract (150 words max); and Project Proposal (300-500 words). In your proposal, please explain how you came up with this project, how it relates to the topic of Practice, and outline your theoretical and methodological approach. 

2. Personal Statement
Please explain why you are applying for a humanities fellowship and how participating in a humanistic research program will benefit your research. The Wolf Humanities Center is an inclusive intellectual space. (300-500 words)

3. Unofficial Transcript

4. Confidential Letter of Recommendation
A letter from the Penn faculty member who has formally agreed to act as your project advisor and is familiar with your proposed research is required. Letters must be submitted via Interfolio by the April 1 deadline.

5. Executive Board Applicants Only
Students applying for a position on the Wolf Undergraduate Humanities Forum Executive Board should also prepare 200-300 words explaining each of the following: previous experience you have had in planning events or organizing groups, why you think an Undergraduate Humanities Forum is important, ideas you have for organizing and motivating your Wolf Undergraduate Humanities Forum colleagues, and ideas for inspiring other Penn undergraduates to become involved in future years.

6. Social Media Associate Applicants Only
Students applying for the Social Media Associate position should also prepare 150-200 words detailing their experience with content curation, photography/video, and copywriting; and upload a single PDF with examples of any relevant work.