The AAUW Action Fund has announced an open call for its prestigious American Dissertation Fellowship, offering crucial financial support to women pursuing doctoral degrees in the United States. This fellowship aims to empower women in academia, particularly those in STEM and gender studies, by covering essential expenses during their final year of dissertation writing.
Fellowship Overview
The American Dissertation Fellowship is a long-standing program designed to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within academic institutions. It provides a significant stipend to help alleviate the financial burdens faced by women during the intensive dissertation writing phase. The fellowship is open to women across all academic disciplines, with a particular encouragement for those focusing on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, as well as research pertaining to gender issues.
Key Takeaways
- Financial Support: Recipients receive a $25,000 stipend.
- Eligibility: Open to women completing their first doctoral degree.
- Focus Areas: Encourages applications from STEM and gender studies.
- Application Deadline: September 30, 2025.
- Fellowship Period: July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
Funding and Usage
Each selected fellow will be awarded a $25,000 stipend. These funds are intended to cover a range of expenses critical for dissertation completion, including tuition, fees, necessary course materials like books and supplies, and essential living costs such as housing, food, and childcare. It is important to note that the fellowship funds cannot be applied to expenses incurred outside the designated fellowship term.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the American Dissertation Fellowship, applicants must identify as women and be in the process of completing their first doctoral degree. Key requirements include having finished all coursework, successfully passed preliminary exams, secured approval for their research proposal or have a clear plan, and be fully dedicated to dissertation writing during the fellowship period. Applicants must be enrolled at a U.S.-accredited institution or an eligible foreign institution. Furthermore, applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Individuals who are current employees, interns, consultants, or board members of AAUW, or closely related to them, are not eligible. Similarly, those who have received another national AAUW fellowship or grant in the same academic year or are pursuing a master’s degree during the fellowship term are also excluded.
Application Evaluation
Applications are assessed based on several critical factors, including the scholarly merit and originality of the proposed research, its potential contribution to the applicant’s field, and the overall feasibility and timeline of the project. The review process also considers the applicant’s demonstrated commitment to empowering women and girls through their service and research activities. Additional consideration is given to applicants who are pursuing STEM or gender-related research, have overcome significant personal challenges, are first-generation college graduates, or come from single-parent households.
Applicants are strongly advised to ensure their submissions are complete and accurate, as incomplete or incorrect applications will not be reviewed. No modifications or additional documents will be accepted after the submission deadline, and extensions are not granted. AAUW does not provide feedback on application errors or missing materials.
