The Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum supports scholarship in the field of Holocaust studies; promotes the growth of Holocaust studies at North American universities and the development of strong relationships between American and foreign scholars of the Holocaust; and seeks to ensure the ongoing training of future generations of scholars specializing in the Holocaust.

The Center is now accepting applications for graduate student summer research assistants. Recipients will have the opportunity to participate with the Center’s staff scholars in cutting-edge research and publication projects relating to key areas of Holocaust scholarship. Sample projects may include writing and editing for the Museum's Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, 1933-1945; research and translating for the Center’s archival source series on Documenting Life and Destruction; and preparing in-depth studies and reports about the archival collections of the International Tracing Service (ITS), among others.

Recipients will gain experience in conducting archival and/or library-based research, translating and organizing selected archival sources for publication, and writing and editing texts under the supervision of the Center’s scholars. In addition to their involvement in these research projects, recipients will participate in the broad range of scholarly and public education programs offered by the Museum during the summer months.

Eligibility: 

Applicants must be enrolled in or admitted to a graduate program at a North American university. The Center is unable to provide visa assistance for non-U.S. citizens. Applicants must have basic knowledge of the Holocaust, experience in conducting archival or library research and the ability to work as part of a team. In addition to English, fluency in one or more of the following languages is desired: German, Russian, Polish, Romanian Hebrew, Yiddish, French, Dutch, Hungarian, Slovak, and/or Croatian. Each assistantship will last for up to three months during the May-August timeframe. Awardees will receive a stipend of $2,500/month. The Center will also provide funds for one roundtrip airline ticket to and from Washington, D.C. for travel within North America. 

Application Procedure:

Applicants should submit a resume, a personal statement of no more than two pages in length, and one letter of recommendation from a faculty member or dean at his/her institution that speaks to the applicant’s qualifications. The personal statement must explain the significance of the assistantship to the applicant’s professional and/or academic goals, and the contributions the applicant’s skills and interests could make to the Center’s research and publication projects.  Application materials must be received by March 31, 2009. All applicants will be notified of selection results by early April 2009. 

Application materials should be sent to: Dr. Lisa Yavnai, Director, Visiting Scholar Programs, Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW, Washington, DC 20024.  Inquiries may be addressed to Dorot@ushmm.org or via telephone at 202-314-7829.