In Spring 2025, ACLS will place up to 16 PhD humanists as ACLS Leading Edge Fellows with social justice organizations for two-year fellowships. This year, our host organizations include Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC (Remote), Coalition for the Homeless (New York, NY), Disability Rights North Carolina (Raleigh, NC) and more.

Leading Edge Fellowships support recent PhDs in the humanities and interpretive social sciences as they work with social justice organizations across the country. Hosting organizations provide professional development opportunities and employee benefits to fellows, and draw on fellows’ scholarly perspectives and broad set of skills. Fellows receive stipends: for remote positions, $70,000 in year one, and $72,000 in year two; for in-person positions, $72,000 in year one, and $74,000 in year two. Relocation funds are available for in-person positions. All awardees receive access to health insurance and professional development funding, mentoring, and opportunities for professional development through ACLS and our alumni network. This initiative is made possible through the support of the Mellon Foundation.

ACLS is now accepting fellowship applications, with submissions due by 9:00 PM EDT on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

Applicants for the Leading Edge Fellowship competition must have a PhD in the humanities or interpretive social sciences officially conferred by their university on or after September 1, 2020, and no later than August 31, 2025. All scholars must be authorized to work legally in the United States.

Applications will be accepted only through the ACLS online application system. Please visit https://www.acls.org/LeadingEdge for complete position descriptions, eligibility criteria, and other helpful information for applicants, including registration information for upcoming applicant webinars on February 10 and March 5. Applicants should not contact any of the hosting organizations directly, but can write to [email protected] with further questions.