Request for Proposals for Patience in Adversity Summer Seminar (Philosophy & Religion)
Call for Applications:
Patience in Adversity Summer Seminar
June 22-29, 2026
Location: University of Notre Dame
Seminar Description
The Patience in Adversity Summer Seminar aims to equip doctoral students and early career scholars in philosophy and religion to explore patience in adversity. We hope participants will emerge ready to contribute to the growing research on patience as it relates to courage, anger, self-control, awe, as well as how virtues interact with personal and structural hardship.
The seminar will cover cutting-edge research in philosophy and religion and will feature senior scholars who will present their own work and advise students on their writing projects in this general area. Participants will benefit from mentoring and engagement with their own research during daily sessions.
Seminar Leaders
- Dr. Anne Jeffrey , Associate Professor of Philosophy, Baylor University
- Dr. Fannie Bialek, Assistant Professor at the Danforth Center on Religion and Politics, Washington University St. Louis
- Dr. Sarah Schnitker, Professor of Psychology, Baylor University
Logistics & Funding
Seminar main meetings will convene each day and involve discussion of invited scholars’ work, breakout sessions, and small group mentoring workshops. Seminar participants will receive a $5,000 honorarium for their participation and time. All payments will be made in US dollars.
Cost of travel and lodging for award recipients is expected to be covered by the individuals themselves.
Deadline for Applications
Applications must be submitted no later than January 9, 2026, at midnight Pacific Time.
Application Instructions
Applicants must submit the following materials at this link. Please click here to view full application instructions.
Letter of application of no more than 1 page explaining: what topics regarding patience interest you; connection of these topics with your previous or ongoing research; how research you do or plan to do impacts populations facing adversity; level of familiarity with moral psychology and virtue ethics generally.
A 250-word statement describing the scholar’s capacity for successful collaboration with scholars from diverse disciplines and backgrounds (psychology, religion, philosophy).
Curriculum Vitae
Short bio (< 200-word) for posting on a website featuring participants.
Letter of support from primary advisor (PhD mentor for graduate students, supervisor for postdoctoral researchers) stating the advisor’s supports for the advisee's participation and time commitment.
Contact information for an additional 2-3 professional references (no letter is required from these additional references at time of application.)
The Patience in Adversity Summer Seminar is part of the Patience in Adversity Grant and is generously supported by Templeton Religion Trust, Baylor University, and University of Notre Dame Center for Philosophy of Religion.