Cathleen A. Baker Fellowship in Conservation
Spend time working with paper-based collections in our Conservation Lab in this paid fellowship for conservators at any stage of their career.
About the fellowship
This fellowship based at the University of Michigan Library’s Ann Arbor campus is intended for professional conservators or current graduate-level conservation students. Fellows engage in a learning or research project focused on the conservation of paper-based collections or of related non-paper materials, such as papyrus or parchment.
The lab treats materials from the library's Special Collections Research Center, as well as rare materials in the Clark Library, the Music Library, the Art, Architecture, and Engineering Library, and the Museums Library. Fellows work with staff conservators and have access to a rich array of examination, treatment, and analytical equipment.
This fellowship was established through a gift by Cathleen A. Baker, conservation librarian emerita at the library and esteemed author and publisher of scholarship related to paper, printing, and bookbinding. You may donate to the fellowship to help sustain the program.
What it covers
- A stipend for the period of residence
- Project work ranging from 6 weeks to 12 months
The award does not include health, dental, and retirement benefits.
The application form provides details on the amount of funding available for the current year. Awards are based on the proposed project budget.
Eligibility
You may apply for this fellowship if you are a:
- Student in good standing who has completed at least one year in a graduate-level conservation program
- Recent graduate with an advanced degree from a conservation program
- Mid-career conservator who has at least 5 years experience in conservation or a related field
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or hold a permit to work in the United States.
The fellowship only supports projects at the U-M Library Conservation Lab. It does not support projects conducted elsewhere or projects on materials from other collections.
How to apply
Applications are due in January for proposals to take place at some time in the 12-month period from May through the following April. The current application deadline is January 25, 2027.
Make a copy of the 2027–2028 application form
You will be asked to submit a completed application form that includes details on your proposed project, budget, and professional references, along with your curriculum vitae or résumé. See developing your proposal for more information.
Questions? Get in touch with us at CABfellowship@umich.edu.