W-2 employees may not longer (since 2018) deduct out-of-town traveling expenses. If "stipend" mean you are receiving self employment income then a self employed person can deduct living expenses, and travel, while out-of-town, on a temporary assignement. Temporary means exepected to last (and actually does last) less than one year.
The question appears to be "are each of these 'contracts' separate 'temporary' jobs. That sounds iffy and may depend on more detail. So, maybe yes. For example, you "resign" W-2 jobs, not self employment.
