American Short-Term Research Publication Grants

• 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. at the time of application.
• Applicants must be listed as the sole author, first author, or an author of equivalent significance on their publication. 

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

• Grant Amount: $8,000, disbursed in a single tranche at the beginning of the award term.
• Allowable Activities: Drafting, editing, or modifying manuscripts; replicating research; responding to issues raised through critical review; or other work to increase the likelihood of research publication.
• Authorship Requirements: Grantees must be listed as the sole author, first author, or an author of equivalent significance.

• Scholarly excellence, as demonstrated by academic achievements, original research, 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 plans for manuscript preparation, the proposed timeline, and budget
• Applicants’ work experience, including researcher roles
• Active commitment to helping women and girls through service in their communities, professions, or fields of research
• Applicants pursuing research 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) 

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: 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. (Required)
  • 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 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.
  • 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: 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 (Required)
  • The transcript provided must correspond to the program and institution listed in the application.
  • Transcript must include the applicant’s full name, the institution’s name, the degree conferred, the list of courses taken, and grades received. Transcript 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. 

Grants 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 Short-Term Research Publication Grants are reviewed by panels of distinguished scholars and experts in Arts and Humanities, the 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 manuscript is different than envisioned at the time of application, will be disqualified.

Grantees are prohibited from pursuing a degree during their award year.

Short-Term Publication Grants are awarded with the expectation that grantees will use the funds to complete the preparation of a final manuscript. This includes drafting, editing or modifying manuscripts, replicating research, responding to issues raised through critical review, or other work to increase the likelihood of research publication. Grantees are also allowed to use funds to defray living expenses during their award term, including but not limited to housing, food, and other living expenses (including dependent care). Awarded funds may not be expended on costs incurred prior to the fellowship term start date or after the fellowship term end date.

Grant 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 grantee’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. Grantees are strongly encouraged to consult a personal tax advisor or the IRS for guidance specific to their situation.

Eligibility and Application Guidelines 

Can I still apply if my publication is not in a STEM field or if I do not meet one of the preferred selection criteria?  

Yes. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds who are conducting research and intend to publish their work in any field. Meeting all preferred selection criteria is not required to be considered for the fellowship.  

Can I apply if my publication is an extension of my dissertation?   

Yes. You can apply if your publication is an extension of your dissertation. 

Can I apply if I do not finish or publish my manuscript during the award year?  

Yes. You are not required to finish or publish your manuscript during your award year.   

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.

Award Details 

What types of expenses are considered prohibited under the American Short-Term Research Publication Grants? 

Under the American Short-Term Research Publication Grant, certain expenses are classified as prohibited and therefore may not be covered using fellowship funds. These include: 

• Field work 
• Purchase of research equipment  
• Research assistants  
• Previous expenditures, deficits or repayment of personal loans  
• Institutional (overhead) costs  
• Tuition for dependents’ education