Tikvah Academic Fellowship

September 2025

• Program Orientation: Virtual welcome session introducing Fellows to program structure, expectations, and resources
• Mentor Assignment: Pairing of Fellows with distinguished faculty mentors based on disciplinary expertise and research interests
• Monthly Zoom Discussions: Inaugural session with Dean Samuel Goldman focusing on program goals and career development strategies
• Individual Goal Setting: Fellows work with mentors to establish research objectives and publication timeline

October 2025

• Required Attendance: Conference at University of Florida, Gainesville (Week of October 27th – details TBD)
• Monthly Virtual Community Meeting: Career development, discussion, and peer networking
• Individual Mentor Meetings: One-on-one sessions to refine research focus and begin proposal development
• Academic Planning: Begin publication development

November – December 2025

• Monthly Virtual Community Meetings: Continued career development discussions and review of relevant new publications in American democracy and Jewish thought
• Intensive Proposal Development: Fellows work closely with mentors to craft compelling proposals
• Peer Collaboration: Opportunity for Fellows to share research ideas and receive feedback from cohort
• Journal/Publisher Selection Strategy: Mentors guide Fellows in identifying appropriate target publications
• Proposal Submission: Submit writing proposal by December deadline

January – May 2026

• Milestone Achievement: Receive first stipend installment ($2,500) upon mentor and program approval of writing proposal
• Monthly Zoom Discussions Continue: Focus shifts to research execution, writing strategies, and publication process navigation
• Intensive Research Phase: Fellows conduct primary research, archival work, and analysis as needed for their projects
• Regular Mentor Check-ins: Bi-weekly individual meetings during the active writing phase
• Draft Development: Complete the first and revised drafts of academic work with mentor guidance
• Submission Process: Submit the final academic article/manuscript for peer review and publication consideration
• Conference Preparation: Begin developing presentation materials for the summer conference

Summer 2026

• Final Milestone Achievement: Academic article/manuscript accepted for publication by peer-reviewed venue
• Annual Academic Fellowship Conference (To Be Confirmed): Present research findings to fellow academics, program alumni, and distinguished guests
• Program Completion: Receive second stipend installment ($2,500) upon successful publication acceptance and conference participation
• Fellowship Renewal Evaluation: Assessment of individual success and potential for renewal based on publication achievement, conference performance, professional development progress, and overall program contribution
• Alumni Network Integration: Developing an ongoing relationship with the Tikvah academic community
• Career Placement Support: Continued mentorship for job market preparation and academic career advancement

Deliverables & Requirements

Primary Deliverable

• Publication Acceptance: Successful acceptance for publication of one peer-reviewed academic article, book chapter, or book manuscript in a recognized scholarly venue. Work must demonstrate original research and contribute meaningfully to the fields of American democracy, Jewish thought, or related topics.

Secondary Deliverables

• Consistent Participation: Regular attendance and active engagement in monthly virtual community discussions with Dean Samuel Goldman and fellow cohort members
• Mentorship Engagement: Sustained individual meetings with assigned faculty mentor throughout the program year, demonstrating progress and incorporating feedback
• Conference Attendance: Mandatory participation in Launch Conference at the University of Florida (October 2025) and Annual Academic Fellowship Conference (Summer 2026; To Be Confirmed)
• Presentation Excellence: Delivery of a polished academic presentation at the summer conference, showcasing research findings and scholarly contribution
• Professional Development: Active participation in career development activities and demonstration of progress toward academic career goals
• Program Completion Standards: Meeting all deadlines, maintaining academic integrity, and fulfilling program expectations for full stipend receipt and successful fellowship completion