See the OCS guide or  similar program at Duke for detailed advice on designing your own fellowship position. In general, self-designed positions can be particularly beneficial for both the host organization, which gains a skilled employee to work on new and/or urgent projects at no cost, and for the student, who gains valuable skills, knowledge, and professional experience while furthering their academic work. Positions can be either in-person in the New Haven area or remote. 

Advising & Support

If you would like to discuss ideas for projects and potential partner organizations, or if you just want to have an initial conversation about general opportunities for gaining professional experience, don’t hesitate to set up an appointment with Suzanne Young, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Professional Development. 

For inspiration and ideas, you can read stories from Duke students who participated in a similar program (and see a full list of recent Duke internships here). The University of Chicago also provides funding for students working with organizations related to their academic research, and you can see a list of their placements here. 

Previously funded student YGI fellowships

Fall 2022

• 5th year French student – Le Bruit de monde
• 4th year History of Art student – Rivers Institute for Contemporary Art & Thought
• 7th year History of Art student – Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
• 5th year American Studies student – Working Films
• 5th year History of Art student – MoMA Publications Department
• 4th year History of Art student – Le Gallerie degli Uffizi (Uffizi Galleries)
• 7th year American Studies student – Asian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University
• 5th year American Studies stunned – Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis

Summer 2022

• 7th year History of Art student – Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
• 5th year Philosophy student – Kansas State University
• 5th year Slavic Languages & Literatures student – Department of European Paintings, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Spring 2022

• 6th year English student – Digital Cavendish
• 6th year Music student – Metropolitan Opera
• 6th year History of Art student – Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
• 4th year French student – Editions Barzakh
• 4th year History of Art student – Sir John Soane’s Museum