Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship

The Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship supports early-stage doctoral students in the humanities and interpretive social sciences who are pursuing unconventional and forward-thinking approaches to dissertation research. Administered by the American Council of Learned Societies and funded by the Mellon Foundation, the program encourages innovation in research methods, project formats, and engagement with underrepresented communities. It offers a one-year fellowship intended to help students shift the trajectory of their dissertation work before it is significantly underway. This program provides a $42,000 base stipend for the fellowship year, plus up to $8,000 for research, travel, development, and training expenses. Additionally, fellows receive a $2,000 stipend designated for external mentorship. The award period spans 9 to 12 months and must begin between July 1 and September 1, 2026. Projects may be conducted at the fellow’s home institution or at any appropriate research site, and may not be held concurrently with other fellowships or grants. Applications are due by 9:00 PM EDT on October 29, 2025, via the ACLS online fellowship portal. Required materials include a detailed project proposal, timeline, bibliography, personal statement, work sample, one letter of recommendation from the dissertation advisor or equivalent, and a formal statement from the applicant’s institution. Applicants must have completed all required coursework by the fellowship start date and must not have advanced to candidacy (ABD) status before January 1, 2025. The program is especially intended for students in the exploratory or early proposal stages of their dissertation and seeks to support projects that challenge disciplinary conventions. Proposals may involve digital scholarship, interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary methods, community-based collaborations, non-traditional deliverables, or public-facing outputs. ACLS emphasizes inclusive excellence and encourages applications from diverse students, institutions, and perspectives. Up to 45 awards will be granted in the 2025–26 competition cycle. Fellows are encouraged to engage with scholars from other institutions or fields and build meaningful mentorship relationships outside their dissertation committees. The program promotes sustained innovation, community engagement, and scholarly transformation through expanded advisory networks and financial and professional support during a key developmental period.

Highlight how your project challenges disciplinary norms. Address innovation clearly and align proposal with career stage. Select a mentor who adds meaningful external perspective.