Are you a budding academic hoping to progress in the curatorial field of museums? Applications are now being accepted for the Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellowship (2026–2028) at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), located in New York. Early-career academics can work with one of the most prestigious art collections in the world and receive extensive curatorial training through this prestigious fellowship.
In addition to directly participating in curatorial work, research, and exhibition planning, fellows will also contribute to the museum’s publications, interpretation, and scholarly discourse. The curriculum prepares students for future curatorial leadership by striking a mix between independent study and real-world experience.
Two areas of specialisation are available for the 2026–2028 period. The first is Egyptian art, which includes works from Egypt’s early history to the third millennium BCE, with an emphasis on Egyptology and material culture. The second is Islamic art, which focusses on Persian and Mughal customs, particularly early modern paintings, carpets, and textiles.
By fusing cutting-edge research with practical museum experience at a top-tier institution, this fellowship aims to develop the next generation of curators.
Host Country: USA
University: USA Universities
Opportunity Type: Fellowship
Subjects: Islamic Art, Egyptian Art
Eligibility Country: International Students, Domestic Students
Financial Coverage: Fully Funded
Eligibility Criteria:
- By the time of the application, have a PhD in a related discipline.
- completed their doctoral studies within five years of the deadline.
- specialisation in Mughal/Persian art (for an Islamic Art fellowship) or Egyptology (for an Egyptian Art fellowship).
Extra prerequisites:
- German and French language proficiency is required for the Egyptian Art Fellowship.
- Islamic Art Fellowship: knowledge of Mughal connoisseurship and proficiency in Persian and Devanagari reading.
- must possess a current US work permit for the whole fellowship period, which runs from September 1, 2026, to August 31, 2028.
Benefits:
- Salary per year: $66,300 (before taxes and deductions).
- $6,000 is the research travel stipend, which can be used for authorised travel linked to research.
- Benefits Package: Full-scope health and dental coverage comparable to that of full-time Met employees.
- Professional development opportunities include participating actively in Research Out Loud lectures and Fellowship Program seminars, gaining access to The Met’s holdings and libraries, and receiving curatorial supervision.
Deadline: 17 October 2025
