Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowships

ACLS invites applications for the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowships, which provide a year of support for doctoral students preparing to embark on innovative dissertation research projects in the humanities and interpretive social sciences. This program is made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation.

📖 About Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship

The Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowships aim to support graduate students who demonstrate the potential to lead their fields in new, innovative directions. The program intervenes at the formative stage of dissertation development, encouraging diverse methodologies, formats, and areas of inquiry. It seeks to promote inclusivity and diversity in academia by supporting scholars who can contribute to building a more equitable academic environment.

ACLS values projects that engage with historically underrepresented communities and topics, expand scholarly perspectives, and employ innovative methodologies. Applications from all eligible fields of humanistic inquiry are encouraged, with support for research grounded in any historical period, community, or region of the world.

📅 Opportunity Details

• Date Published: August 02, 2025
• Application Deadline: October 29, 2025
• Category: Fellowship
• Opportunity Location: United States
• Eligible Locations: United States

🎁 Benefits

The fellowship offers:

• $42,000 base stipend for the fellowship year.
• Up to $3,000 for research and travel expenses.
• Up to $5,000 for professional development funds to support skills acquisition or additional research.
• An additional $2,000 stipend for the external mentor.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be a PhD student in a humanities or social science department in the United States.
• Be able to dedicate 9-12 months to specialized research and training, free from coursework, assistantships, and teaching responsibilities.
• Have completed at least two years and all required coursework in their PhD program by the start of the fellowship term.
• Not have advanced to PhD candidacy/ABD status prior to January 1, 2025.
• Not have previously applied for this fellowship more than once.

Note: The program does not accept applications from students pursuing professional or applied PhDs, terminal degrees (e.g., EdD, MFA), or PhDs outside humanities and interpretive social science departments.

📜 Evaluation Criteria

Reviewers will evaluate proposals based on:

1. Originality and significance of the project in advancing the field of study.
2. Innovative approaches that challenge scholarly conventions, expand norms, or engage interdisciplinary/community partnerships.
3. Feasibility of the project and likelihood of completion within the proposed timeframe.
4. Engagement with underrepresented communities and its potential to shape research and scholarly practices.

📝 Application Process

Applications must be submitted online and include:

1. Completed application form.
2. Proposal (maximum seven pages, double-spaced, Arial/Helvetica 11-point font):
   • Describe research aims and how they will be advanced during the fellowship.
   • Outline training, workshops, travel, and research permissions needed.
   • Detail innovative approaches to the dissertation project.
   • Provide a timeline for fellowship activities and post-fellowship trajectory.
   • Include information about external mentorship (if applicable).
3. Optional: Up to two pages of supporting non-text materials (e.g., images, musical scores).
4. Timeline (one page, using the ACLS-provided template).
5. Bibliography (maximum two pages, single-spaced).
6. Personal statement (maximum two pages, double-spaced):
   • Describe your journey as a scholar and how your work intersects with personal experience and research interests.
7. Work sample (maximum fifteen pages, double-spaced):
   • Include context and relation to the proposed project.
8. Letter of recommendation from the dissertation advisor or eligible faculty member.
9. Institutional statement attesting to:
   • Pausing multi-year financial awards during the fellowship.
   • Waiving tuition and fees during the fellowship year.
   • Supporting non-traditional approaches to scholarship.

Note: Applicants must have an ORCID iD.

📅 Application Deadline

October 29, 2025

🌐 Application Portal

• View details of the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship.
• Apply for the fellowship via the ACLS Online Fellowship Application Portal.

📧 Contact Information

For inquiries about eligibility or other details, email: fellowships@acls.org

This fellowship offers a unique opportunity for doctoral students to explore innovative approaches to dissertation research while contributing to a more inclusive and diverse academic landscape.

• $42,000 base stipend for the fellowship year.
• Up to $3,000 for research and travel.
• Up to $5,000 in professional development funds.
• An additional $2,000 stipend for the external mentor.