Michael J. Budds Summer Post-Doc Fellowship Fellowships and Scholarships

The Michael J. Budds Summer Fellowship, in honor of Michael J. Budds, is given to support an emerging scholar whose research area pertains to music from the United States. Special consideration will be made for projects that connect to Missouri’s musical traditions. Eligible candidates must have received a Doctoral degree within the field of music (or related discipline) during the last 5 years. Preference will be given to applicants who do not have institutional funding elsewhere. The maximum award is $7,500.

Completed applications must be submitted via email by 5 pm CST on March 1, 2026, to the Budds Center Director, Dr. Megan Murph (megan.murph@missouri.edu). Late applications will not be considered.

Applications will be evaluated by the Budds Center’s Board of Directors, and applicants will be notified of the results by May 1, 2026. The fellowship will be awarded based on the potential impact of the project, the extent to which the project aligns with the mission of the Center, and the clarity and thoroughness of the information provided.

Research funded through this fellowship should ultimately lead to a scholarly outcome with significant impact in the discipline of American music, such as a conference presentation, submitting a peer-reviewed article or book proposal, and/or other related outcome. The summer project will culminate with a virtual or in-person research presentation for the University of Missouri faculty/students during the following Fall semester. All funded projects must acknowledge the Budds Center, to the extent possible, in any printed materials, announcements for performances or presentations, news releases, or social media.

Fellows may receive the fellowship only once, but are eligible to apply for research funding through other Budds Center grants in subsequent years.

Application should include: 

1.  Cover Letter and CV

2.  Proposal (less than 1000 words):

·       Outline the justification and scope of the summer project. Include both the process you will follow and the end result. If this project is only a part of a large or long-term activity, please explain and clearly delineate the scope of your project.

·       Provide a detailed timeline for completion of the project and tangible outcomes (i.e., which conferences or publications that you intend to submit to).

·       Describe any work or preparations you have made to successfully complete this project. List any individuals or institutions, besides yourself, who might be involved in this project and describe the role they would play.

·       Explain the relevance of this project as it contributes to American Music and describe who will be impacted by this research, as well as how this impact might be assessed.

·       Finally, explain how your project aligns with and supports the mission of the Budds Center.

·       Please include a reference list or bibliography as needed.

3.  Budget: This should detail all expenses and all anticipated funding for this project. Please include any funding (internal or external grants, institutional research/creative activity funds, personal funds) you have received, applied for, and/or plan to apply for. Anticipated expenses should equal anticipated funding.

4.  List any funds you have previously received from the Budds Center (title or brief description of activity), date(s) of activity, and amount of funding.

5.  Applicants must have two references to submit a letter of recommendation to the Director of the Budds Center, Dr. Megan Murph (megan.murph@missouri.edu) by the March 1 deadline.