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The Jefferson Fellowship

Established in 2001, the Jefferson Fellowship is the premier graduate fellowship offered at the University of Virginia. Based solely on merit, the Jefferson Scholars Foundation and the University of Virginia seek to attract to the University those Ph.D., M.B.A., and J.D. candidates who show outstanding achievement and the highest promise as scholars, teachers, public servants, and business leaders in the United States and beyond. Jefferson Fellows interact with leading fellows across the Grounds of the University. They enhance the quality of the undergraduate learning experience, play a pivotal role in the recruitment and retention of superior faculty, and make a contribution to the University’s intellectual vitality in a unique manner.

PROGRAM FEATURES

Jefferson Fellows Symposium

Open to the University, the Jefferson Fellows Symposium is designed to provide each Fellow with experience presenting original work for critical feedback in a public setting. The Symposium challenges Jefferson Fellows to present aspects of their research to members of the University community who are outside of the Fellows’ chosen discipline.

Forum for Interdisciplinary Dialogue

The Forum for Interdisciplinary Dialogue provides Jefferson Graduate Fellows the opportunity to discuss topics common to each of their fields. Each forum considers a particular theme from the diverse perspectives inherent to the group. The Forum will be a site for discussion of current research as well as a collective sketchpad for mapping future work and collaboration on jointly authored papers.

Engagement with Undergraduates

Throughout the year special opportunities exist for Jefferson Fellows to collaborate and work with their undergraduate Jefferson Scholars counterparts. The Foundation hosts enrichment events geared toward bringing Fellows and Scholars together both socially and academically. The enrichment events provide time for conversation, reflection, and exploration.