The St. Olaf College Philosophy Department has always supported the scholarly study of Søren Kierkegaard, a philosopher dedicated to existentialism. Thanks to the Kierkegaard scholars in the philosophy department, Brian and Anna Söderquist, and the Kierkegaard Library, St. Olaf is able to offer a Junior Research Fellowship at the Kierkegaard Summer Institute (KSI).

The Junior Research Fellowship at Kierkegaard Library is an exceptional, four-week residential opportunity held during the summer of 2025 at St. Olaf College. This highly competitive program is designed to provide emerging scholars with a structured environment to significantly advance their research skills and deepen their engagement with the philosophical, theological, and literary thought of Søren Kierkegaard and related figures. The deadline for applications for the 2026 summer cohort is April 8th, 2026. Applications can be found on the Junior Research Fellowship page of the St. Olaf Website.

Typical participants are upper-level undergraduate students from various institutions who are prepared to dedicate their time to philosophical inquiry. The structured program, which runs from July 1st to July 30th, is focused on developing advanced research competencies, fostering independent study habits, and close textual analysis of primary and secondary sources within a collaborative peer setting. Key program components include formal class sessions, seminars, small reading groups, lectures and workshops delivered by Kierkegaard specialists, and guided independent research with personalized one-on-one mentoring. Fellows are granted exclusive access to the Kierkegaard Library’s extensive collections, and the program covers the cost of on-campus accommodation.

This program seeks applicants who demonstrate a strong motivation for independent scholarly work, possess prior engagement with Kierkegaard’s corpus, and express a significant interest in further research. Participants are expected to maintain attendance at all scheduled activities, utilize the Kierkegaard Library facilities regularly, and complete essential research components, including a formal research proposal, an annotated bibliography, and a final presentation. Upon conclusion of the program, Fellows will have achieved greater clarity regarding their research trajectory, enhanced confidence in autonomous scholarship, and acquired practical skills in textual interpretation, conceptual synthesis, and academic presentation.

For additional information, consult the advisors of the Junior Research Fellows, Brian and Anna Söderquist. Further details may also be found on the Junior Research Fellowship Page on the St. Olaf Website.