Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowships

The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is pleased to invite applications for 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.

Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowships support graduate students who show promise of leading their fields in important new directions. The fellowships are designed to intervene at the formative stage of dissertation development, before research and writing are advanced. The program seeks to expand the range of research methodologies, formats, and areas of inquiry traditionally considered suitable for the dissertation, with a particular focus on supporting scholars who can build a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable academy.

Application deadline: October 29, 2025, 9:00 PM EDT

ACLS will award up to 45 fellowships in this competition for a one-year term beginning between July and September 2026 for nine to twelve months, covering the 2026-27 academic year. The fellowship may be carried out in residence at the fellow’s home institution or at any other appropriate site for the research. These fellowships may not be held concurrently with any other fellowship or grant.

The total award includes a $42,000 base stipend for the fellowship year, as well as up to $3,000 for research and travel, and up to $5,000 in professional development funds to support skills acquisition or additional research to support innovative/expansive directions. An additional $2,000 is available as a stipend for the external mentor.

Learn more and apply at https://www.acls.org/competitions/mellon-acls-dissertation-innovation-fellowship/. Potential applicants can read about the past awardees’ projects.

Last year, ACLS awarded over $25 million to more than 400 scholars working in the humanities and interpretive social sciences. Discover all ACLS fellowship and grant programs.