Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship 2026–27
The Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship provides a $42,000 base stipend and comprehensive funding for early-stage PhD students pursuing innovative dissertation research in the humanities and interpretive social sciences.
Overview
The Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship is designed for early-stage doctoral students whose research projects move beyond conventional academic methods, formats, disciplines, or approaches. Supported by a grant from the Mellon Foundation, the program aims to give doctoral researchers dedicated time away from regular coursework and assistantships to focus on specialized training and project development. Up to 45 fellowships are awarded for the academic year, with tenures lasting nine to twelve months starting between July 1 and September 1.
Benefits
- $42,000 base stipend for the fellowship year.
- Up to $3,000 for research and travel expenses.
- Up to $5,000 in professional development funding.
- A $2,000 separate stipend provided for an external mentor.
- An optional opportunity to spend time in residence at selected Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes (CHCI) member organizations.
Eligibility
- Must be a PhD student in an eligible humanities or interpretive social science department in the United States.
- Must have completed at least two years of the PhD program.
- Must have completed all required doctoral coursework by the start of the fellowship.
- Must not have advanced to PhD candidacy or ABD status before January 1, 2026.
- Must intend to complete the dissertation after May 31, 2029.
- Must not have applied for this fellowship more than once previously.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit their applications online through the ACLS fellowship administration system. The complete application package includes:
- Completed online application form.
- A research proposal of no more than seven pages.
- A one-page project timeline using the ACLS-provided template.
- An unannotated bibliography of key sources spanning no more than two pages.
- A personal statement of no more than two pages.
- A work sample of up to 15 pages with contextual explanation.
- One letter of recommendation from the dissertation advisor or an eligible faculty member.
- An institutional statement confirming enrollment status, tuition waivers, and temporary suspension of existing institutional support.
Transcripts are not required for this application.
Deadline
The deadline for the competition is Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET).