The Montana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is pleased to offer the Digital Antiquities Research Fellowship. This semester-long fellowship includes a $3,000 award to graduate students enrolled at the University of Montana (UM) or Montana State University (MSU), $1,000 incentive paid to a faculty mentor, and waived tuition for credits directly associated with the fellowship. The fellow will use SHPO’s online cultural records and GIS files as part of their research under the mentorship of a MSU or UM faculty.

The Digital Antiquities Research Fellowship was developed to provide graduate students with opportunities to enhance their research by utilizing Montana’s extensive historic and archaeological records and associated geospatial data.

The digital antiquities database holds over 100,000 records including cultural resource inventory reports; records for precontact, historic, archaeological, and architectural sites; published works and gray literature specific to sites in Montana; and more. Information within the database can provide long-lens perspective to investigations into social science and anthropology, Native American studies, humanities, public history, environmental history, earth science, land resources and environmental science, agriculture, architecture, remote sensing, data science, and more.

The Fellow’s research using the digital antiquities database may complement a graduate assistantship or on-going research project. SHPO staff will provide the Fellow with training and support in navigating the online Montana Antiquities Database.

Montana SHPO holds three rounds of competitive selections for enrollment in Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Fellowship application forms must be submitted online by 11:59 pm on July 15, November 15, or March 15. Applicants are notified of the selection results in August, December, and April, respectively.

Applicants must attend a virtual information Q&A session to learn more about the fellowship and ways the Montana Antiquities Database can enhance their research. Information sessions are held in June, October, and February. See Application Timeline below.

The Graduate Schools at MSU and UM will waive tuition for up to three (3) credits for an independent study, master’s thesis, professional paper, or dissertation project for students selected for the Montana Antiquities Database fellowship. The Graduate Schools expect to receive a brief report and/or copy of any resulting publication upon completion of the project.

Montana SHPO will provide financial support through cash awards to the Fellow and faculty Mentor:

1. A three-thousand-dollar ($3,000) award to the fellow, administered by MSU’s or UM’s Office of Financial Aid, will be issued in two equal payments: the first $1,500 payment issued at mid-term/semester, and the second $1,500 payment issued upon successful completion of the independent study or thesis/dissertation credits with a minimum grade of 3.0. Fellows are responsible for their own health insurance and travel expenses.

2. The designated faculty Mentor will receive a $1,000 stipend, paid directly from SHPO, for mentorship that results in publication of the resulting research, including (but not limited to) submission of a scholarly research paper for publication in a professional academic journal or public presentation in a professional venue, such as a museum or online exhibit.

The fellow and supervising faculty are required to meet with SHPO’s fellowship committee three times during the fellowship to review progress drafts and discuss a plan for completion: (1) at the start, (2) at mid-term, and (3) prior to the fellowship’s completion. The fellow is responsible for scheduling meetings with SHPO.

The fellow is required to deliver proof of a minimum 3.0 grade for related graduate level coursework.

The fellow is expected to prepare and deliver a copy of a scholarly research paper or public history project that references and demonstrates the use of SHPO’s online cultural records and GIS files. Fellow will demonstrate in each meeting with SHPO their use of SHPO’s online cultural records and GIS files by presenting a citation for each item referenced.

The supervising faculty may work with the fellow to produce a publishable paper and/or public history project for an additional $1,000. The supervising faculty is required to deliver to Montana SHPO a copy of the research paper and proof of submittal to a scholarly publication or other evidence of the public dissemination of the project.

The Fellow and/or Mentor are encouraged to present the research in a public venue such as a conference or a Montana Historical Society lecture within one year of completing the fellowship.

Fellows are selected based on their education, experience, and demonstrated research abilities as well as their proposed project’s potential to capitalize on SHPO’s cultural records and GIS mapping resources and contribute to the study of cultural resources and preserving cultural heritage in Montana.

Applicant Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in graduate school.

• Maintains a 3.0 grade in relevant coursework.

• Completes application packet correctly and on time.

• Confirms support from supervising faculty.

• Provides evidence of experience, knowledge, and skills to complete the project.

• Provides compelling narrative project proposal with essential elements.

Project Selection Criteria

At a minimum, fellows need to effectively incorporate use of the digital antiquities database into their research, which may include a diverse range of subjects. Montana SHPO welcomes projects that transcend narrow specialties and issues of interest only within a specific academic discipline. Preference is given to projects that incorporate an interdisciplinary and long-lens perspective in examining unique insights into contemporary problems and their potential solutions. Not only should proposals demonstrate the technical know-how and ability to reach some conclusion, but that the applicant’s conclusion is not preconceived. The proposal should convince the reviewer that there is something genuinely at stake with the inquiry and that the project will yield interesting results. Proposals are evaluated based on points awarded for the following criteria.

Significance and originality of the proposed research project (25 POINTS)

• Relevance of the project to contemporary issues, the programmatic work of SHPO, or the study of cultural resources in Montana.

• Proposals should describe what the reviewers will learn from the project, why it is important, and how the reviewer will know conclusions are valid.

Project’s potential to capitalize on SHPO’s cultural records and GIS mapping resources. (25 POINTS)

• Describe the methodology and how and why the approach is the best way to deal with such a problem. Since each field has different methodologies that the reviewer may not know, tell the reader what archives, sources, and techniques will be used.

Quality of the proposal in definition, organization, clarity, and scope. (25 POINTS)

• A clear hypothesis or step-by-step argument of a central problem helps capture the essence of the work for the reviewer.

Capabilities and achievements of the applicant and the likelihood that the applicant will accomplish the proposed project. (25 POINTS)

Application Timeline

SHPO accepts applications for each semester according to the table below. Prior to applying, students must participate in a virtual information Q&A session to learn about the Montana Antiquities Database and its potential to enhance their research project.

Fall Semester

• Virtual Info Q&A Session - June

• Application Deadline - July 15

• Award Notification - August 10

Spring Semester

• Virtual Info Q&A Session - October

• Application Deadline - November 15

• Award Notification - December 10

Summer Semester

• Virtual Info Q&A Session - February

• Application Deadline - March 15

• Award Notification - April 10

1. Register for an information / Q&A webinar

SHPO will host virtual information Q&A sessions four to six weeks prior to application deadlines. Candidates will learn from cultural resource professionals and researchers about the potential for digital antiquities database information to enhance investigations across a broad range of disciplines.

When you register, you can provide a brief summary of your research and how you think access to the database might enhance your project. You will then receive a link to register for a virtual information session with SHPO and other faculty and fellow candidates.  Use the link at the top of this page to be notified of the webinar.

2. Secure a Letter of Support from a Faculty Mentor

Applicants are required to secure the support of at least one supervising faculty (Mentor). Your Mentor should be familiar with you and your work, and you should send them a copy of your project description so that they can comment specifically upon your proposed study, your qualifications for undertaking it, and how you and/or your work is relevant.

Letters of support must be submitted by the supervisor via email to mtshpo@mt.gov by 11:59 pm on July 15, November 15, or March 15. The Applicant is responsible for ensuring that SHPO receives support letters. Applications missing support letters will be considered incomplete. Applicants are strongly encouraged to follow up with their supervisor to confirm that they have sent their letters. Do not send letters written for another purpose, such as those for a job application.

3. Prepare a Project Proposal Narrative PDF

The two components of the fellowship application—the proposal narrative and the online application form—are designed to capture essential information about you and your project. Our intent is to facilitate a simple and streamlined application process.

Before you begin the online application form, prepare your project proposal narrative and scope of work following the guidelines and tips below. The proposal narrative will be uploaded in PDF format after completing and submitting the online form, but you will want to prepare the PDF ahead of time.

A narrative for your proposed project and scope of work should be clear to individuals outside of your own field and explain its broader implications. Be sure to include the following elements:

1. Description of the topic and its importance

2. Originality of the proposed study (explain what makes the project distinctive)

3. Basic ideas and hypotheses

4. Methodology to be used (including the activities you will undertake to gather the data you need for your project and the techniques that you will use to analyze the data in order to prove your thesis)

5. Present status of your research, including how much has already been done in relevant collections and archives, and what you would hope to accomplish using SHPO’s digital antiquities database

6. Relevance of the project to contemporary issues

7. Relevance of the project to the programmatic goals of SHPO (if applicable)

8. Relevance of the project to the study of cultural resources in Montana

9. Project proposals must clearly describe how the digital antiquities and GIS data will contribute to your research project.

Application content should not exceed 3 pages (1,200 words or less), 12 pt standard typeface, single-spaced.

TIPS!

• Follow instructions carefully – incomplete applications will not be accepted.

• Start your proposal early, and have friends or colleagues review it. Debate over your proposal will help you answer questions reviewers may have.

• Sharpen your language and style, especially your opening paragraph. Be to the point so that the reviewer knows exactly what you mean – make sure that your proposal is clear and concise.

5. Submit the Fellowship Application Form and Upload Proposal Narrative

When your project proposal narrative is ready to upload in PDF format, complete and submit the form below. You will be prompted to upload the PDF after clicking “Submit Form.”