University of Nebraska historian wins prestigious Guggenheim fellowship

Bedross Der Matossian recognized for scholarship on modern Middle East

Apr. 17, 2026 at 12:21am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of an open book with the University of Nebraska logo repeated in a tight grid pattern, rendered in a vibrant pop art style with bold outlines and neon colors.The Guggenheim Fellowship awarded to a University of Nebraska historian celebrates the school's reputation for groundbreaking scholarship.Lincoln Today

Bedross Der Matossian, a historian of the modern Middle East at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has been awarded a 2026 fellowship from the prestigious John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Der Matossian is among 223 fellows selected for the foundation's 101st class, representing 55 disciplines.

Why it matters

The Guggenheim Fellowship is one of the most prestigious honors for scholars and artists in the United States, recognizing individuals who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or creative achievement. Der Matossian's selection highlights the university's strong reputation for historical research and scholarship.

The details

At Nebraska, Der Matossian focuses on interethnic relations, political violence and the late Ottoman Empire. His research explores patterns of communal conflict and coexistence, offering insight into both historical and contemporary issues in the region. The Guggenheim Fellowship will support Der Matossian's latest project, 'Victims of Empires: Mass Violence in the Caucasus and Eastern Anatolia, 1774–2024,' which examines how imperial collapse and its unresolved aftermath produced recurring cycles of ethnic cleansing, deportation and genocide in the region.

  • Der Matossian was named a 2026 Guggenheim Fellow on April 17, 2026.

The players

Bedross Der Matossian

A historian of the modern Middle East at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Hymen Rosen Professor in Judaic Studies.

Pat Dussault

The interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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What they’re saying

“Professor Der Matossian's selection as a Guggenheim Fellow is a well-deserved recognition of his outstanding and impactful scholarship. His contributions elevate both the Department of History and the college, and we are proud to see his excellence recognized on a national stage.”

— Pat Dussault, Interim Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

“I am currently undertaking my most ambitious project. Drawing on sources in eight languages, it examines two historically interconnected 'shatter zones' at the crossroads of Ottoman, Russian and Persian imperial legacies.”

— Bedross Der Matossian

What’s next

Der Matossian will use the Guggenheim Fellowship to support his research project on mass violence in the Caucasus and Eastern Anatolia over the past 250 years.

The takeaway

The Guggenheim Fellowship awarded to Bedross Der Matossian highlights the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's strong reputation for historical scholarship and research, particularly in the field of modern Middle Eastern studies.