Scholarships & Travel Grants

Jane C. Waldbaum Archaeological Field School Scholarship

Archaeological Institute of America


Deadline: March 1, 2024

Announced: In April

Amount: $1,000 per winner

Purpose: Established in 2007 in honor of AIA Honorary President Jane Waldbaum, this scholarship is intended to help students who are planning to participate in archaeological field work for the first time. Students majoring in archaeology or related disciplines are especially encouraged to apply. The Scholarship Fund provides $1000 each to help pay expenses associated with participation in an archaeological field work project (minimum stay one month/4 weeks).

Eligibility:

  • The scholarship is open to students who have begun their junior year of undergraduate studies at the time of application and have not yet completed their first year of graduate school at a college or university in the United States or Canada.
  • Applicants must be at least 18 years old and must not have previously participated in archaeological field work of any kind. The committee will consider both academic achievement and financial need in its deliberations.

AIA scholarships are open to students from all backgrounds. Minority and disadvantaged students are encouraged to apply.

For more information, please contact the Fellowships Coordinator at Fellowships@archaeological.org.

The Waldbaum Scholarship will be awarded to junior and senior undergraduates and first-year graduate students only.

Click here to make a gift in support of the Waldbaum Scholarship.

Fieldwork And Families

As part of the Archaeological Institute of America’s ongoing commitment to fieldwork and families, reasonable line items for the care of dependent and elderly family members are allowable expenses for AIA grants and fellowships

Contact:

Fellowship Coordinator

fellowships@archaeological.org

Application Process

The deadline is March 1 (by 12:00 midnight EST). Applicants must complete the online application form. Submissions made via postal mail, fax or any other means will not be accepted. Please review the following Guidelines and Required Information prior to completing the application form.

All applicants must complete the following:

  • Complete online application form
  • Provide names and emails of two references. Your references will receive an email with instructions for submitting their recommendations online. You are responsible for ensuring that both referees have submitted their letters of recommendation online by the application deadline.
  • All other application materials must be completed online, and received by the March 1 deadline. Send transcripts: Transcripts can be unofficial or official and should include at least two full years of completed college-level work (4 semesters or 6 quarters), not counting AP credits. If you are a transfer student and have attended your current school for less than two years, please submit transcripts from your previous school(s) in order to provide a record of at least two full years of completed college-level work (4 semesters/6 quarters), not counting AP credits. Post-Baccalaureate and first year graduate students must submit both undergraduate and post-graduate transcripts.

Unofficial or official transcripts must be sent to us electronically directly to fellowships@archaeological.org. ALL transcripts must be received by the March 1 deadline. All other application materials must be completed online, and received by the March 1 deadline.

Guidelines and Required Information

Applicants must complete the online application form that asks for the following:

  • Information about the project and your anticipated length of stay. Applicant must participate in the project for a minimum of four weeks.
  • A brief essay (300 words or less) in the applicant’s own words explaining why you want to participate in this specific project and how the experience will contribute to your current course of study and eventual career goals.
  • An outline of anticipated expenses associated with participation in the project and a statement from the applicant indicating any other financial resources available or applied for, if any, to help cover these expenses.
  • One or more official or unofficial transcripts from the applicant’s college(s) or university(ies) that account for at least two full years of completed college-level work (4 semesters or 6 quarters), not counting AP credits. Post-baccalaureate and first year graduate students should also include undergraduate transcripts.
  • The names and emails of two professors or academic advisors at the applicant’s college or university who know the applicant’s work and who are willing to provide letters of recommendation

All application materials including transcripts and letters of recommendation must be received by the March 1 deadline. Incomplete or late applications will NOT be considered by the review committee.

NOTE: All applicants must notify the Fellowships Coordinator at Fellowships@archaeological.org immediately if there are any changes in their application information (i.e. the project you applied for is changed or cancelled; you received funding from other sources; etc.)

In addition to the application, letters of recommendation and transcripts, winners of the scholarship must provide a letter from the director of the project or coordinator of the field school program indicating that the applicant has been accepted for participation. Deadline for receipt of this letter is May 10. This letter must be on letterhead and signed by the director or administrator of the field project. It must be emailed to the Fellowships Coordinator, Archaeological Institute of America Fellowships@archaeological.org.  Final determination of the scholarship winners cannot be made until this letter is received. [NOTE: if one of your letters of recommendation is from the director of the field project and he or she certifies that you have been accepted for participation, this requirement will be considered complete.]

Winners of the Scholarship must agree to submit a final report on their use of the funds and what the experience meant to them no later than 60 days after completion of the field project and to join the AIA at the student membership rate if they are not already members. Final reports will be posted on the AIA’s scholarship web page and may be featured in other AIA publications.

Application Form

Recipients


2023

Annalisa Amber

Northern Illinois University

Annalisa Amber, a first-year graduate student at Northern Illinois University, will attend a field school at the late Mississippian site: Ten Mile Creek, in Central Illinois, this May. She’s especially excited to learn about mapping techniques. She also looks forward to learning about household/community-centered archaeology from the project’s team

Read about Annalisa Amber's experience

2023

Tanichéé Cain

Cal State Northridge

Tanichéé is a first year graduate student at Cal State Northridge studying Public Archaeology with a focus in Bioarchaeology. She plans to attend Archaeotek’s Medieval Cemetery Funerary Excavation of the Lost Churches Project in the region of Transylvania, Romania.

Read about Tanichéé Cain's experience

2023

Alessandra Dominguez

University of Texas at Austin

Alessandra Dominguez is a graduating senior at the University of Texas at Austin where she is pursuing a double major in Anthropology and Art History. She has completed minors in Italian and Archaeology along with a certificate in Museum Studies. She will be attending her first field school at The Agora Valley Project at Morgantina in Sicily where she will be working with their environmental team. Alessandra is excited to enhance her field and lab skills while engaging with the Sicilian culture and practicing her Italian.

Read about Alessandra Dominguez's experience

2023

Meghan Hannum

University of Pittsburgh

Meghan Hannum is a junior at the University of Pittsburgh studying Classics and Mediterranean Art and Archaeology. She will be excavating at the Lechaion Harbor Settlement and Land Project in Corinth, Greece. She is especially excited to visit the Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth and to immerse herself in village life!

Read about Meghan Hannum's experience

2023

Hunter Omerzo

Dickinson College

Hunter Omerzo, a junior at Dickinson College, will attend the University of West Florida Combined Terrestrial/Maritime Archaeology Field School June and July of 2023. He is thrilled to get in the water and start excavating the remains of Tristán de Luna y Arellano’s 1559-1561 expedition in Pensacola, Florida. He hopes to use this as a launching point for a graduate education and career in underwater archaeology.

Read about Hunter Omerzo's experience

2023

Sarah Roberts

University of Texas at Austin

Sarah Roberts is a junior at The University of Texas at Austin studying Classical Languages and Archaeology and will be attending the Agora Valley Project at Morgantina this July. As this summer’s excavations will focus on the Roman Period, she is excited to learn about how the impact of the Punic Wars and the Roman occupation of Morgantina is reflected in the material remains of everyday life in the agora.

Read about Sarah Roberts's experience

2023

Madeline Sharp

Brown University

Madeline Sharp, a recent graduate of Brown University, will attend the Institute for Field Research’s Colombia: Providence Island Field School this June. At Brown, she studied Biological Anthropology and Applied Mathematics-Biology. She’s especially excited to be working in the Caribbean: her home region.

Read about Madeline Sharp's experience

2023

Christopher Thoms-Bauer

University of British Columbia

Christopher Thoms-Bauer is a first-year graduate student in Classics in the Department of Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies at the University of British Columbia. He plans to participate in the Apulum Roman Villa Project in Romania.


2022

Juliet Christin

Juliet Christin is a Senior at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor studying Classical Archaeology. She plans to attend the 2022 field program of the Gabii Project in central Italy.

Read about Juliet Christin's experience

2022

Bethany Deware

Bethany Deware is a Junior at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst studying Classics and Anthropology. She plans to attend Poggio Civitate Archaeological Field School (Italy) in 2022.

Read about Bethany Deware's experience

2022

Renae Dishman

Renae Dishman is a Senior at Indiana University studying Classical Civilization (Art & Archaeology). She plans to attend the American Excavations Samothrace Project.

Read about Renae Dishman's experience

2022

Sarah Kenton

Sarah Kenton is a Senior at Tulane University studying Classical Studies and French. She plans to attend the Pompeii 1.14 Project.

Read about Sarah Kenton's experience

2022

Sadie Pasco-Pranger

Sadie Pasco-Pranger is a Junior at Oberlin College studying Classical Civilization. She plans to attend Cosa Excavations in 2022.

Read about Sadie Pasco-Pranger's experience

2022

Emily Pihlaja

Emily Pihlaja is a Junior at Columbia University studying Archaeology. She plans to attend the NOMAD Science Mongolia Field School in 2022.

Read about Emily Pihlaja's experience

2022

Milsy Westendorff

Milsy Westendorff is a first year graduate student at Northern Illinois University studying Anthropology. She plans to attend Ka’Kabish Archaeological Research Project (Belize) in 2022.

Read about Milsy Westendorff's experience

2022

Ruzena Zatko

Ruzena Zatko is a first year doctoral student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, studying Archaeology. She plans to attend the Advanced FieldWork in Central Alaska in 2023.

Read about Ruzena Zatko's experience

2021

Lindsay Alahakoon

Lindsay Alahakoon is a Post-Baccalaueate at the University of California, Santa Cruz, studying Cognitive Science and Anthropology.  She plans to attend the Roca dels Bous Project in Spain.

Read about Lindsay Alahakoon's experience

2021

Raquel Arran

Raquel Arran is a Junior at the University of Manitoba, studying Anthropology.  She plans to attend the Slavia Field School in Mortuary Archaeology at Giecz in Poland (deferred to 2022).


2021

Claire Campbell

Claire Campbell is a Senior at the University of Arkansas, majoring in Classical Studies.  She plans to attend the Marzuolo Archaeological Project in Italy (deferred to 2022).


2021

Alexis Cutshall

Alexis Cutshall is a Junior at Drew University, studying Studio Art, Art History, Anthropology, and Museum Studies.  She plans to attend the ARCHAEOTEK Ossuary Excavation and Commingled Remains Osteology Research Workshop Lost Churches Project in Romania.

Read about Alexis Cutshall's experience

2021

Veronica Flores-Guillen

Veronica Flores-Guillen is a Senior at Texas State University, majoring in Anthropology and Geography.  She plans to attend the Aditu Arkeologia Field School in Spain.

Read about Veronica Flores-Guillen's experience

2021

Kelly Lan

Kelly Lan is a Junior at University of California, Riverside. Studying Anthropology.  She plans to attend the El Palmar Archaeological Project in Mexico (deferred to 2022).


2021

Aubree Marshall

Aubree Marshall is a 1st year graduate student in Anthropology at Michigan State University.  She plans to attend the Marco Gonzalez Archaeological Field School in Belize (deferred to 2022).

Read about Aubree Marshall's experience

2021

Isabelle Paulsen

Isabelle Paulsen is a Junior at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, studying in Anthropology, Classical Humanities, and Environmental Studies/Archaeology.  She plans to attend the Geté Anishinaabe Izhichigéwin Community Archaeology Project (GAICAP) Archaeological Field School at Red Cliff, Wisconsin.

Read about Isabelle Paulsen's experience

2021

Paige Schmitt

Paige Schmitt is a Senior at West Virginia University, studying Anthropology, Criminology, and Forensic and Investigative Science.  She plans to attend the Center for American Anthropology’s Advanced Field School in Illinois.

Read about Paige Schmitt's experience

2020

Tapanga Fagan

Tapanga Fagan is a junior at Texas A&M University, studying Anthropology.  She plans to attend the El Campanario Archaeological Project in Peru (deferred to 2022).


2020

Charlie Fischer

Charlie Fischer is a junior at Boston University, studying Health Science and Public Health, with a minor in Anthropology.  She plans to attend the Apollonia Project in Bulgaria (deferred to 2022).


2020

Charlotte Houghton

Charlotte Houghton is a senior at Macalester College, studying Classical Languages.  She plans to attend the Cosa Excavations in Italy (deferred to 2022).


2020

Caleb Ranum

Caleb Ranum is a first-year graduate student at the University of Alabama, studying Anthropology.  He plans to attend the Piapan Archaeological Project in Peru (deferred to 2022).


2020

Jason Silvestri

Jason Silvestri is a first-year graduate student at the University of California at Berkeley, studying Egyptian Archaeology and Art History.  He plans to attend the el-Hibeh Project in Egypt (deferred to 2022).


2019

Caroline Ammon

Caroline Ammon is a junior at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, studying anthropology. She will attend the Boncuklu Project in Turkey.


2019

Allison Howes

Allison Howes is a junior at Carleton University, studying Earth Sciences and Archaeology. She will attend Doclea Excavations–Romans in Illyricum, Montenegro.


2019

Brandie Johnson-Valdez

Brandie Johnson-Valdez is a senior at Portland State University studying Anthropology. She will attend the Oregon Chinese Diaspora Project Field School.

Read about Brandie Johnson-Valdez's experience

2019

Greta Koshenina

Greta Koshenina is a junior at the University of Mississippi studying Classics (Classical Civilizations/Italian and Math. She will attend the Poggio Civitate Field School in Italy

Read about Greta Koshenina's experience

2019

Samuel Powell

Samuel Powell is a junior at Columbia University studying Classics. He will attend the Advanced Program of Ancient History and Art at Hadrian’s Villa at Tivoli, Italy

Read about Samuel Powell's experience

2019

Laura Smith

Laura Smith is a first year graduate student at North Carolina State University studying Ancient History. She will attend the Cyprus Archaeological Field School.

Read about Laura Smith's experience

2019

Elisha Valleley

Elisha Valleley is a junior at Boston University studying Archaeology and Remote Sensing. She will attend the Belize Valley Archeological Reconnaissance Project.

Read about Elisha Valleley's experience

2019

Isabell Villasana

Isabell Villasana is a senior at the University of California, San Diego studying Anthropology/Global Health. She will attend the UCSD/La Posta Band of Mission Indian Archaeology Field School in San Diego.

Read about Isabell Villasana's experience

2018

Caroline Beatrice (Wellesley College; Eastern Boeotia Archaeological Project), Elena Bowen (UCLS; Peru: Corral Redondo field school), Sean Cantrell (University of Michigan; Gotland Archeological Field School), Ty Catello (Rutgers University; Rutgers University Archaeological Field School), Brent Christianson (Washington State University; Kissonerga-Skalia Excavations), Lauren Clark (University of Montana; Crow Canyon Archaeological Center Field School),  Shannon Conley (George Mason University; Astypalaia Bioarchaeology Field School), Susan Crane (University of Texas Austin; American Excavation at Morgantina: Contrada Agnese Project), Cannon Fairbairn (Brigham Young University; ad-Deir Monument & Plateau Project), Adriana Feely (University of Texas; Belize Summer Field School in Archaeology), Jason Gren (University of Winnipeg; Roman city of Aeclanum through The Apolline Project/Underwater Survey of Portus Iulius project), Alexander Huaylinos (City College of New York; NSF REU Site: Exploring Evidence of the Anthropocene project), Mary Maisel (American University; Gateways Project), Rose Moir (McMaster University; Stélida Naxos Archaeological Project), Rachel Murray (University of Arkansas; Marzuolo Archaeological Project), Johanna Najera (University of California Santa Barbara; Settecamini Archaeological Project), Abbey Perez (Rice University; Rice Archaeological Field School’s Horrea Agrippiana Project), Courtney Roark (University of Virginia; Colonial and Native Worlds Field School), Samar Sydeda (Stony Brook University; Origins Summer Field School), Madeleine Trinco (College of DuPage; Czech American Field School), Tara Wells (Oberlin College; American Excavations at Morgantina: Contrada Agnese Project), Andrew Welser (The King’s College; Upper Sabina Tiberina Project), Crae Wilkins (Binghamton University; Hågerup Cemetery Excavation), Helen Wong (Brandeis University; Kastrouli Project)


2017

Blair Betik (Southern Methodist University; IFR Global: Mohegan Archaeology Project), Shyiesha Carson (University of West Florida; Luna Settlement Expedition), Jonas Chang (Truman State University; University of Wyoming Archaeology Field School), Amanda Chen (University of Maryland, College Park; Dig Umbria Coriglia/Orvieto Project), Donavon Cooper, Brandi Delp (Western Carolina University; Medieval Cemetery Funerary Excavation), Philippe Depairon (University of Montreal; Argilos Excavation), Roger Foster (University of Texas at Tyler; Blue Creek Archaeological Project), Nathan Katkin (Columbia University; Hadrian’s Villa Project), Flora Kirk (University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Roman Provincial Villa Excavation), Yusi (Katie) Liu (University of Wisconsin-Madison; Archaeological Field School at Nemea and Mycenae), Kevin McKain (Temple University; American Excavations at Morgantina: Contrada Agnese Project), Rodrigo Moscoso (University of California, Berkeley; Marzuolo Archaeological Project), Novella Nicchitta (University of Victoria), Nicole Oster (University of Georgia; Colonial and Native Worlds Field School), Eleni Pitses (Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Polis Region Prehistory Project), Alexis Ruark (Drew University; Vicus Martis Tudertium Project), Claire Seidler (New York University; Yeronisos Island Expedition), Aimee Weber (University of Arizona; Boncuklu Project)


2016

Jeanelle Augustin (Fordham Universtiy, Bandafassi Archaeological Survey; AIA New York Society Scholarship), Chloe Bergstrand (Carleton College, Mazi Archaeology Project), Emily Candell (University of Victoria, Eastern Boeotia Archaeological Project), Sana Chowdhry (University of Pittsburgh, NCSU Archaeological Field School), Sophie Cushman (Tulane University, Azoria Project), Rebecca Deitsch (University of Dalas, Gabii Project), Ned Fischer (Cornell University, Programme for Belize Archaeological Project), Leigh (Cole) Furrh (Emory University, Gournia Excavation Project), Alexandra Noël Grisanti (Amherst College, American Excavations at Morgantina


2015

Thomas Banghart (University of California, Berkeley, Fort Davis Archaeological Field School); Kelli Breeden (Bryn Mawr College, Chan Chich Maya Archaeological Field School); Michael Chapman (College of Charleston, Field School Pozzeveri); Talia Chicherio (University of Maryland, College Park, Gabii Project); Elena Ferrero (New York University, Yeronisos Expedition in Cyprus); Dillon Gisch (Stanford University, Poggio Civitate Archaeological Field School); Sarah Gorman (Old Dominion University, American Excavations at Morgantina); Tiffany Momon (Middle Tennessee State University, Cloverbottom Planation Project); Marvin Morris (University of California, Berkeley, Nemea Center for Classical Archaeology); Sean O’Rourke (University of Lethbridge, Yukon Field School); Joshua Schnell (Michigan State University, Maya Culture History Field School); Bryn Schockmel (Boston University, Caere Project); Emilie Uemura (Humboldt State University, Belize Archaeology Field School); Mieka Van Scoyoc (University of North Carolina, Asheville, UNCA Archaeological Field School)


2014

Emily Bair (Kalamazoo College, Bioarchaeology Field School at St. Valery-sur-Somme); Kiaya Charlton-Grant (Humboldt State University, Belize Archaeology Field School); Emily Durham (University of Pittsburgh, Tanana Basin Subarctic Archaeological Field School); Elena Gittleman (Southern Methodist Univeristy, Huqoq, Israel); Emily Hails (University of British Columbia-Vancouver, Central Coast British Columbia Field School); Sarah Janesko (Towson University, Archaeology in Annapolis); Shitong Kang (Colgate University, China Yangguanzhai Archaeology Field School); Michelle Martinez (University of Cincinnati, Kea Archaeological Research Survey); Caitlin Miller (Columbia University, Astypalaia Bioarchaeology Program); Tiffany Montgomery (University of Arkansas, Azoria Project); Isabel Morris (Hope College, Saint Anselm College Archaeological Excavation Project); Kay Nelson (Washington State University, Baruun Mukdagiin Am Archaeological Project); Jonathan Rocha (University of Texas El Paso, UTEP Archaeology Field School); Gabriel Sanchez (University of Oregon, Connley Cave Excavation); Crystal Stevens (Oregon State University, Cooper’s Ferry Archaeological Field School); Arielle Suskin (Tulane University, Upper Sabina Tiberina Poject); Henry Upton (Kenyon College, Gabii Project)


2013

Anna Elise Barnes (Eckerd College, Promtin Tai Project), Jenna Franklin (University of Montana, Gotland Archaeological Field School), Stephen Guerriero (Via Appia Antica Excavation), Ashlee Hart (University of Idaho, Balkhan Heritage Project), Peter Johnson (Brown University, Tell Satu Qala Excavations), Tyler Johnson (University of Arkansas, Gabii Project), Kyle Lee-Crossett (Stanford University, Catalhoyuk Research Project), Elizabeth Neill (Dartmouth College, Aigeira Project), Quentin Pharr (New York University, Yeronisos Island Expedition), Victoria Yuskaitis (Lycoming College, Tel Gezer Excavation and Publication Project), Zannan Zhang (University of Pittsburgh, Astypalaia Bioanthropology Field School)


2012

Ethan Aines (Las Positas College; Gotland Archaeological Field School), Morgan Albertson (Brown Univ; Grand Teton National Park Cultural Resource), Patricia Caddy (Vancouver Island University; Slavia Field School), Stephanie Chan (Stanford University; Amache Research Project), Robin Dubin (Scripps College; Kaman-Kalehöyük, Turkey Project), Hailey Duecker (Texas State University San Marcos; Slavia Field School), Raymond Hunter (Iona College; Proyecto de Investigación Arqueológico Regional), Benjamin Jones (Brown University; Liman Tepe Underwater Excavations), Susan Larsen (Western Washington University; Fort Rock Cave Fieldschool), Lauren Ledin (University of Wisconsin-Madison; Archaeological Field Training in China), James Oliver (Fort Lewis College; Achill Archaeological Field School), Jessica Rodkey (Purdue University West Lafayette; Zooarchaeology and Field Ecology Program Eagle Lake, CA), Mahmoud Samori (Columbia University, Stabiae Field School), Ann Vassar (Central Washington University; Mount Rainer Archaeology Field School); Rachel Wall (Proidence College; Chan Chich Archaeology Project)


2011

Ianna Angelo (University of California, Santa Cruz


2010

Amanda Flannery (Ripon College; Kincaid Mounds excavation, Illinois), Jessica Galea (University of Illinois; Amarna Project, Egypt), Katie Murtough (California State Polytechnic University; Slavia Field School, Poland), Colleen O’Shea (University of Michigan; Khovd Project, Mongolia), Sarah Newman (Brown University; Landscape Succession Project, Guatemala), Jess Senjem (University of Wisconsin; Troy Project, Turkey), Robin Watson (Florida State University; Cetamura excavations, Italy)


2009

Eric Mentges (Ohio State University; Isthmia, Greece), Kaitlin Moleen (Rutgers University; Gabii Project, Rome), Max Price (University of Chicago; Misti Archaeological Project, Peru), Margaret Stack (University of South Florida, Tampa; Project Roatan, Honduras), Alexander Zarley (University of Wisconsin, Madison; Petra, Jordan)


2008

Jacqueline DiBiasie (Washington and Lee University; San Felice in Puglia, Italy), Jacob Morton (University of Colorado at Boulder; Villa of Maxentius in Rome), Renee Pascouau (Central Michigan University; Copacabana, Bolivia), Emily Stevens (Bryn Mawr College; Cycladic Islands, Greece), Sarah Trabert (Kansas State University; Stranger Creek Valley, Kansas)


2007

Sean Burrus (UNC Chapel Hill; Yotvata, Israel), Emily Button (Williams College; Mitrou, Greece), Susan Kooiman (University of Wisconsin-Madison; San Ignacio, Belize), Hillary Pietricola (Bowdoin College; Torano di Borgorose, Italy), and Allen Rutherford (Northern Illinois University; Huaricanga, Peru)


support Us

The AIA is North America's largest and oldest nonprofit organization dedicated to archaeology. The Institute advances awareness, education, fieldwork, preservation, publication, and research of archaeological sites and cultural heritage throughout the world. Your contribution makes a difference.

Application Form