2025-2026 Applications for the Morvarid Guiv Graduate Fellowship in Zoroastrian Studies Open

Call for Applications for the Morvarid Guiv Graduate Fellowship in Zoroastrian Studies

The Pourdavoud Institute for the Study of the Iranian World announces a call for applications for the Morvarid Guiv Graduate Fellowship in Zoroastrian Studies. This fellowship is awarded to outstanding graduate students whose works encompass different facets of Zoroastrian studies, that is, the Zoroastrian religion, its ancient history, languages, and scriptures.

Up to six successful applicants will be awarded with a Morvarid Guiv Graduate Fellowship in Zoroastrian Studies in the amount of $3,000, which shall be disbursed in $1,000 increments over the course of Fall Quarter 2025, Winter Quarter 2026, and Spring Quarter 2026.

Eligible recipients are any full-time, UCLA-enrolled graduate students in good academic standing whose work pertains to Zoroastrian studies. To apply, students should submit in a single, succinct PDF document the following as part of their application package:

1. A cover page containing the student’s full name, UID, department, program of study, year of study, and email address;
2. A paragraph explaining how this fellowship will support the student’s education and research for the upcoming academic year (2025–2026)—including courses the candidate proposes to take in Old Iranian and Zoroastrian studies;
3. If the applicant has been the recipient of a Guiv Graduate Fellowship before, a short description of research supported by the Fellowship, including courses taken in Old Iranian and Zoroastrian studies;
4. If applicable, a short summary of the student’s anticipated or current dissertation topic, including research plans and progress;
5. A current CV.

This PDF application package should be submitted to Dr. Marissa Stevens, Assistant Director of the Pourdavoud Institute, at stevensma@humnet.ucla.edu (mailto:stevensma@humnet.ucla.edu) by Friday, August 29, 2025 at 5:00pm. Recipients shall be notified by Monday, September 15, 2025.

Recipients of this Fellowship will be required to submit to the Pourdavoud Institute a one-page summary describing how this award benefited their research and education during the academic year 2025–2026, and detail, if applicable, dissertation progress made during the Fellowship tenure.