Research Assistantship in Willa Cather Studies
Are you interested in earning an M.A. in English? Are you interested in Willa Cather or closely related areas, such as early twentieth century women’s writing, LGBTQ literature, or Western American literature? Do you have a developed interested in digital humanities, or are you interested in acquiring skills in DH? Then apply for an M.A. in English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, designating your interest in the Research Assistantship in Willa Cather Studies!
Applications are due December 1st.
The Willa Cather Project and the Willa Cather Archive are pleased to offer one Research Assistantship to an incoming MA student in English each year. This assistantship provides students with full funding for two years—stipend, benefits, and tuition remission—at the same level as other funded M.A. students in the department.
Those selected will be welcomed to the collaborative research team behind the digital humanities project, the Willa Cather Archive. Recently, the team has been creating a scholarly edition, The Complete Letters of Willa Cather, and work on this project will continue into at least 2022. The student may also be assigned to duties in support of the work of the Cather Project, which produces the Willa Cather Scholarly Edition and Cather Studies and supports research and teaching on Cather.
Here are what current graduate students working as research assistants for the Willa Cather Archive have to say about this opportunity:
At the Willa Cather Archive I have developed an intimate relationship with Willa Cather, one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century, while immersing myself in the craft of digital humanities, one of the greatest academic advancements of the 21st century.
Since starting this research assistantship this year, the people at the Willa Cather Archive have taught me so much about the intricacies of conducting research through resources available at the UNL library. This knowledge has enabled me to excel in my graduate courses and other research endeavors. As an added bonus, Willa Cather just so happens to be a fascinating woman to learn about. The Cather Archive is an excellent place to be during your time in UNL’s graduate program.
Working at the Cather Archive has given me the opportunity to pursue my research interests in a highly collaborative environment, which really sets this experience apart from so much of the work I've done in graduate school.
No prior experience is necessary as extensive training and mentoring will be provided, but we welcome applicants with experience in digital humanities, textual studies, and historical research. Applicants who wish to be considered for this Research Assistantship in Willa Cather Studies should check the designated box on the on-online application form for M.A. in English, as well as indicate their interest in their application statement.
For more information on the UNL graduate program in English and the graduate application process, visit go.unl.edu/english-grad.