The IRH runs a variety of programs as part of its mission to stimulate interdisciplinary and collaborative research in the humanities. We also frequently co-sponsor programs and events with the Center for the Humanities and other humanities departments, centers, and programs on campus.
The IRH sponsors some 40-45 internal (UW-Madison) and external fellowships each academic year, and welcomes fellows to extend their residency through the summer. Internal competitions for stipendary fellowships include Senior Fellowships (8-9), open-topic Resident Fellowships (6), Race, Ethnicity, and Indigeneity Fellowships (2-3), and Dissertation Fellowships (4-6). External stipendiary fellowships include Solmsen Fellowships (4-5), Kingdon Fellowships (1-2), the Birutė Ciplijauskaitė Fellowship (1), and UW-System Fellowships (3-4). We also offer non-stipendiary residencies for ACLS and SSHRC Fellows. See Fellowships for application information.
IRH Fellows present their work to other fellows and interested UW-Madison faculty and students at the weekly Monday seminars. Consult the events calendar for specific topics and speakers. Because of space restrictions, seminars are open only to current IRH fellows and the presenters’ guests. Please contact info@irh.wisc.edu if you are interested in attending one of the Monday seminars to get on the attendance wait list.
Each year, the IRH sponsors 1-2 Burdick-Vary Symposia. These are organized by Senior Fellows on topics related to their research or on issues of broad significance to the humanities. The IRH also organizes conferences and lectures on topical issues in the humanities. Consult the Events page for details on upcoming conference events.
The IRH sponsors a number of annual lectures. The Germaine Brée Lecture honors the scholar of French literature and former director of the IRH. With the Center for the Humanities, we also co-sponsor the Focus on the Humanities Distinguished Lecture Series. Consult the Events page for details on upcoming lectures.
Humanities Grant Writing Camp for Graduate Students
The Humanities Grant Writing Camp is a new initiative from the Graduate School, led by Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Florence Hsia. Hosted by the Institute for Research in the Humanities and facilitated by the UW-Madison Writing Center, the 4-day camp provides participants with a structured introduction to the nuts-and-bolts of writing funding proposals to support a wide range of humanities work, from research travel and dissertation writing to public humanities projects. Applications to the Humanities Grant Writing Camp are due during the spring semester.
IRH welcomes departments, centers, and programs in the humanities to hold events with IRH co-sponsorship in the institute’s seminar room (212 University Club Building). The seminar room (212), conference room (211), and library (231) are available for other groups in the humanities to hold discussion sessions, seminars, and meetings. Room 212 is equipped with basic AV equipment available after a quick training meeting. Contact IRH Director Steven Nadler regarding co-sponsorship and/or Katie Apsey for room reservations.
The IRH maintains a general library (231) and a library of current and past fellows’ publications (211). In addition to substantial research holdings in a variety of humanities disciplines (especially classics, medieval studies, and early modern studies), the library collection includes select periodicals, books related to IRH projects, and books donated from the libraries of former fellows. Contact Katie Apsey for access.