University of Oregon assistant professor Vera Keller has received a fellowship for her research and writing on the European scientist who made the first submarine. 

Keller won a Charles A. Ryskamp Fellowship from the American Council of Learned Societies, a U.S.-based nonprofit that focuses on promoting scholars in the humanities.  

“The Ryskamp Fellowship affords exceptionally promising early-career scholars the time and flexibility to pursue significant new projects,” said John Paul Christy, director of public programs at .

The Ryskamp fellowships support assistant professors and untenured associate professors working in the humanities, and Keller fits as an assistant professor of history in the Clark Honors College.

Keller won the fellowship by combing through the history of Cornelis Drebbel, a Dutch scientist who worked as an artist, wonderworker, inventor, alchemist and philosopher before making the first submarine in 1620.

“I realized I really needed the dedicated research and writing time the fellowship offers in order to achieve the work I'm hoping for,” Keller said.

Keller is currently working on two books, one of which is in the editing process, and she believes the fellowship will help her finish the second.

“Without this fellowship, the book would have to wait even longer. With the time the Ryskamp gives me, I feel confident that I can finish it up this year,” she said.

—By Nathan Stevens, Public Affairs Communications intern