American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship

• Applicants must identify as a woman.
• Applicants must hold a Ph.D., Ed.D., D.B.A., M.F.A., J.D., M.D., D.M.D., D.V.M., D.S.W., or M.P.H.
• Applicants must have completed one of the above degrees on or after August 30, 2023.
• Applicants must begin their postdoctoral program on or before September 1, 2027, and complete it on or after April 30, 2028.
• Applicants must be working full-time on their postdoctoral research for the duration of the award year.
• Applicants must be pursuing their postdoctoral research at an institution: 
  • Recognized as accredited by the US Department of Education, or
  • An international institution recognized as eligible to participate in U.S. federal student aid programs, as listed on the Federal Student Aid Participating Schools list.

Citizenship & Immigration Status

Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. 

The following are not eligible for consideration:

• Members of the AAUW Board of Directors
• Employees of AAUW, including paid or unpaid, part-time or temporary employees, consultants, interns and contract employees
• AAUW Review Panelists
• Immediate families (i.e., spouses and dependent children) of individuals described in the points above
• Applicants for another national AAUW fellowship or grant, in the same year
• Previous national AAUW fellowship or grant recipients (excluding Community Action Grants or branch or local AAUW awards)
• Tenured professors

American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowships carry a stipend of $50,000. Stipends are payable to fellows only and are disbursed in two equal payments at the beginning and the midpoint of the fellowship term.

• Scholarly excellence as demonstrated by academic achievements, the strength of applicants’ research proposal, recognition from peers, professors, and/or institutions, and other forms of distinction
• Research that is original in design and will make significant contributions to the relevant field
• Feasibility of the research plans, the funding of those plans, and the proposed timeline for their completion 
• Applicants’ teaching experience
• Demonstrated commitment to helping women and girls through service in their communities, professions, or fields of research
• Applicants pursuing post-doctoral studies in science, technology, engineering, or math fields; or those researching gender issues (Preferred)
• Applicants who have demonstrated resilience in overcoming life challenges beyond their control, such as socioeconomic status, discrimination, limited academic resources or opportunities, or other adverse circumstances (Preferred)
• Applicants who were the first in their family to attain a bachelor’s degree (Preferred)
• Applicants who lead or hail from single parent households (Preferred) 
• Applicants pursuing their studies at R2 institutions or at institutions with limited research resources are encouraged to apply, and institutional context will be considered as part of the holistic review process 

To begin your application, visit the AAUW Fellowships & Grants Application Portal to create an account or log in.

For step-by-step guidance on completing your application, refer to the Application Instructions.

•  All applicants are required to submit the following with their application:
• Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must provide two letters of recommendation from advisors, professors, colleagues, or others who are academically or professionally familiar with the applicant, their work, professional qualifications, and academic background. Recommenders are encouraged to evaluate the applicant in relation to the fellowship selection criteria and support this assessment with specific examples.
  • Please provide a professional email address for recommenders, rather than a personal one.
  • It is the applicants’ responsibility to remind their recommender of the application deadline in order for the application to be completed on time. An application will not be considered complete until the recommendations have been submitted.
  • Applicants are encouraged to register their recommenders through your online application as early as possible in the application process. The application system will send each recommender a personalized link to submit the recommendation online. 
• Note: AAUW does not accept references from dossier services, such as Parment or Interfolio, and standardized or form-letter recommendations are discouraged.
• Proof of Degree:
  • Students who have completed their terminal degree at the time of application
    • Copy of a Ph.D., Ed.D., D.B.A., M.F.A., J.D., M.D., D.M.D., D.V.M., D.S.W., or M.P.H. degree OR official transcript showing conferral of degree and date of conferral
    • Applicants with an equivalent of one of the above terminal degrees (particularly if the transcript or degree certificate does not explicitly state it is a terminal degree) must provide an official explanation from the academic institution or governing body, or submit a credential evaluation report from services like WES, ECE, or any National Association of Credential Evaluation Services member that clarifies the equivalency of your qualification to a bachelor’s degree. 
  • Students who are in the final year of their doctoral program at the time of application
    • Copy of highest degree earned or official transcript showing conferral of highest degree and date of conferral
    • Dissertation Certification Form: This form can be found in AAUW’s application portal and must be signed by an institutional officer to confirm completion of all required coursework, qualifying examinations, and approval of your dissertation research proposal. No substitutions for this form are accepted. 
  • The documents provided must correspond to the programs and institutions listed in the application and must include the applicant’s full name, the institution’s name, and the degree conferred.
  • Applicants must submit translations for all degrees that were awarded in a language other than English. For the highest earned degree, a certified translation is required.
• Transcript:
  • Students who have completed their terminal degree at the time of application
    • Official transcript confirming conferral of a Ph.D., Ed.D., D.B.A., M.F.A., J.D., M.D., D.M.D., D.V.M., D.S.W., or M.P.H. degree
  • Students who are in the final year of their doctoral program at the time of application
    • Official transcript confirming conferral of highest degree received AND official current transcript
  • The transcripts provided must correspond to the programs and institutions listed in the application.
  • Transcripts must include the applicant’s full name, the institution’s name, the degree conferred, the list of courses taken, and grades received. Transcripts must also include the name of coursework and grades from transfer courses, if applicable. If transcripts reflect transfer courses without grades, a transcript from the institution where courses were taken is required.
  • Applicants must submit translations for all degrees that were awarded in a language other than English. For the highest earned degree, a certified translation is required.  
  • Applicants who studied at an institution that does not provide a transcript, or a list a of courses taken and grades received, or the degree did not require coursework, must provide an institutional letter affirming the same as well as the degree completion date.

A certified English translation is required for all materials provided in a foreign language. Translations must bear a mark of certification or official signature that the translation is true and complete.   

If the name on any of the above documents differs from the one provided in the application, an explanation must be provided — such as a marriage certificate or a court-issued name change document.   

Applicants are responsible for the submission of all required documents. Incomplete applications will not be considered.   

Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis based on recommendations by AAUW’s independent review panels and funds available in a given fiscal year. To ensure fairness and consistency in the review process, only complete applications that meet all eligibility criteria will be considered. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to confirm that all materials are accurate and complete prior to submission. 

Review Panels  

Applications to the American Postdoctoral Research Fellowships are reviewed by panels of distinguished scholars and experts in Arts &and Humanities, Natural and Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences fields. Review panels meet once a year to review applications for funding. Panel funding recommendations are subject to final approval by AAUW.

Review Process  

Prior to the American Fellowships panel review, AAUW’s Fellowships & Grants team reviews the applications for completeness and ensures compliance with eligibility requirements. Each eligible and complete application is then reviewed by a panel of reviewers, who evaluate applications based on the selection criteria outlined above.

Applicants selected as awardees must complete the full award acceptance process, including submission of all required materials as outlined by AAUW. Award status is not considered final until all acceptance materials have been received, reviewed, and approved.

Applicants recommended for an award, but whose research or institution of study is different than envisioned at the time of application will be disqualified.

Fellowship funds may be considered taxable income, depending on how they are used and the recipient’s individual circumstances. In many cases, funds used for purposes of non-tuition-related costs or living expenses are subject to taxation under U.S. tax law. 

It is the Fellows’s responsibility to understand and fulfill any tax obligations associated with their award. AAUW does not provide tax advice, issue tax forms, or report grants to the IRS. Fellows are strongly encouraged to consult a personal tax advisor or the IRS for guidance specific to their situation.

American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellows are prohibited from pursuing a degree during their fellowship year.

American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellows are required to devote 100% of their working time and intellectual effort to their research.

Fellowship awards may be used for research expenses and publication fees, as well as housing, food, and other living expenses (including childcare). Awarded funds may not be expended on costs incurred prior to the fellowship term start date or after the fellowship term end date.

Fellows are expected to begin their research, or continue their research if already working, by September 1, 2027. Fellows must complete their postdoctoral research no earlier than April 30, 2028. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate any exceptions.

Eligibility and Application Guidelines 

Can I still apply if I am not completing postdoctoral studies in STEM or if I do not meet one of the preferred selection criteria?  

Yes. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds who are pursuing postdoctoral studies in any field. Meeting all preferred selection criteria is not required to be considered for the fellowship.  

Can I apply if I may become eligible for a tenured position during my award year?  

Yes. You may apply if you expect to become eligible for a tenured position during your award year. However, if you accept a tenured position at any point during the fellowship period, you will no longer be eligible for fellowship support from the effective date of your tenure. If you have already received your stipend, you will be required to return any unused portion of the funds that corresponds to the period after your tenured position begins.  

Can I still apply if another postdoctoral position overlaps with the start of the AAUW award year?  

Yes. There may be some overlap with another postdoctoral research, however, awardees must work full time on the research project at the institution listed in their application, from September 1 through April 30. They may not concurrently engage in any other postdoctoral research during this period.  

I have applied to several postdoctoral positions but have not yet received an offer or decided which one to pursue. Can I list more than one postdoctoral research in my application?  

Yes. Applicants may list up to five programs and institutions in their application. However, if awarded a fellowship, you must begin your postdoctoral work at one of the institutions listed and conduct the research as described in your application. Choosing to pursue research at an institution not included in your original application will result in disqualification from the fellowship.  

I am an AAUW American Dissertation Fellowship alumna but my research is not on the same topic as my dissertation, am I still eligible to apply? 

Yes. American Dissertation Fellowship alumnae are eligible to apply under a different research topic than their dissertation.  

Do I need to be an AAUW alumna to apply? 

No. The program supports both new applicants and alumnae of the American Dissertation Fellowship, providing continued funding for their research beyond the doctoral program. 

I am in my final year of my Ph.D., Ed.D., D.B.A., M.F.A., J.D., M.D., D.M.D., D.V.M., D.S.W., or M.P.H program at the time of application. Am I still eligible to apply? 

Yes. Applicants in their final year of a Ph.D., Ed.D., D.B.A., M.F.A., J.D., M.D., D.M.D., D.V.M., D.S.W., or M.P.H are welcome to apply. Applicants who are selected for the fellowship will be required to submit proof of conferral of their degree during the award finalization process. 

I completed my Ph.D., Ed.D., D.B.A., M.F.A., J.D., M.D., D.M.D., D.V.M., D.S.W., or M.P.H before August 30, 2023. Am I still eligible to apply? 

No. Applicants must have completed their terminal degree on or after August 30, 2023.

Award Details 

Can my award be extended to cover the entire duration of my postdoctoral research?  

No. AAUW funding is limited to one year of postdoctoral research and cannot be extended beyond that period.  

Can I work during my fellowship year?   

American Postdoctoral Research Fellows are expected to devote full-time effort to their postdoctoral research. While part-time employment, either within or outside their academic institutions, is permitted, it must not interfere with steady progress toward completing the research. 

Fellows may engage in full-time employment during the summer months, if it does not hinder their postdoctoral research work. Any full-time roles must end or be reduced to part-time by September 1 of the fellowship year to ensure compliance with the fellowship’s full-time commitment to postdoctoral research work.      

What types of expenses are considered prohibited under the American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship?   

Under the American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship, certain expenses are classified as prohibited and therefore may not be covered using fellowship funds. These include:  

• Research assistants  
• Previous expenditures, deficits, or repayment of personal loans  
• Tuition for dependents’ education