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Q: I'm in religious studies / theology / comparative religion / another field in the humanities and social sciences. Am I eligible?
Q: I'm in religious studies / theology / comparative religion / another field in the humanities and social sciences. Am I eligible?
Yes! While the program centers Interreligious Studies (IRS), we welcome scholars from adjacent disciplines whose research or teaching connects meaningfully to IRS. We especially encourage applications from scholars who expect to **teach IRS** or integrate IRS methodologies into their work.
Q: I'm a master’s student. May I apply?
Although the program is primarily designed for PhD students, recent PhDs, early-career faculty, and independent scholars, master’s-level scholars with substantial professional, instructional, or scholarly experience (e.g., several years of undergraduate teaching or equivalent work) may be considered if they demonstrate readiness for sustained research .
Q: I'm an international student/scholar. Can I apply?
Absolutely. International scholars are welcome, provided you are:
Eligible to receive payment from a U.S. institution
Able to travel to the United States for the residency (Spring 2027)
Able to travel to Denver for AAR 2026, if selected
Stipends are subject to U.S. tax law, including any treaty-eligible withholdings.
Q: What if I can't attend AAR 2026 in Denver?
Participation in the AAR/AIIS gathering is a major component of the program. Scholars are expected to attend the 2026 AAR in Denver and use the $2,000 stipend to support travel and registration. If serious barriers arise (e.g., visa complications, family emergency), we will discuss alternative scholarly presentation options; but attendance is expected under normal circumstances. (Note: Attendance at the 2027 AAR in Washington, DC is optional and part of alumni engagement, not the fellowship year.)
Q: Will I definitely present at an AAR session?
We cannot guarantee a specific AAR venue. However, the Jay Phillips Center will work in collaboration with AIIS to help identify an appropriate opportunity** for you to share your work with a scholarly audience. Our goal is to support your scholarly visibility within the national IRS community.
Do I need to propose a collaborative project with the cohort?
Do I need to propose a collaborative project with the cohort?
No. There is no required collective capstone. Collaborative outcomes (e.g., an edited volume, special issue, or workshop proposal) may emerge organically, but the fellowship focuses primarily on:
Your individual research and dissemination
Peer exchange
Mentorship
Community building
Q: What can I use the $2,000 stipend for?
Q: What can I use the $2,000 stipend for?
The stipend is fully unrestricted. You may use it for:
AAR conference travel and registration
Professional development
Research materials
Childcare or caregiving
Rent, groceries, books, or other personal needs
No receipts are required. The purpose is to provide flexible support responsive to scholars’ lived realities.
Q: What is the time commitment per month?
The program is designed to be manageable alongside full-time work or doctoral study. Typical monthly engagement includes:
≈ 3 hours of virtual community time (cohort dialogue, peer coaching, research exchange)
Occasional small-group or peer meetings
2–3 individual mentorship sessions across the year (20–30 minutes each)
Additional fixed commitments include:
AAR/AIIS Conference (Denver, Nov 2026)
4-day residency at the University of St. Thomas (Spring 2027)
*Q: What do I need to present during the residency?
During the 4-day residency, scholars will have opportunities to:
Present their work to public, community, and academic audiences
Participate in intensive cohort workshops
Engage in pedagogy and public scholarship development
Attend the senior scholars’ lecture and community engagement event
This residency complements the scholarly presentation at AAR by emphasizing general public-facing communication
Q: How do I list my participation on my CV?
Q: How do I list my participation on my CV?
We recommend listing:
“Jay Phillips Center Scholar in Interreligious Studies (2026–2027)”
Selected by the Jay Phillips Center and the Association for Interreligious/Interfaith Studies (AIIS)
You may include details about your AAR/AIIS/UST participation and residency presentations.
Q: Is the fellowship intended only for people seeking academic careers?
No. While many applicants may be pursuing academic paths, we equally welcome scholar-practitioners, professionals integrating IRS into public, civic, or interreligious work; and those with a commitment to advancing the utility of the academic field of Interreligious Studies in any sphere, as that is what unites applicants.
Q: What is the manuscript mentorship opportunity with the Journal of Interreligious Studies (JIRS)?
Scholars who wish to develop a peer-reviewed publication may utilize mentorship opportunities with the executive editor of JIRS. This involves meetings to prepare a submission-ready article. Manuscripts then go through JIRS's standard double-blind peer review process.
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