International Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

International Postdoctoral Research Fellowships are available for the following Natural and Physical Science discipline areas:    

• Agriculture 

• Architecture 

• Biology  

• Chemistry  

• Earth and Environmental Sciences  

• Engineering  

• Geology 

• Health and Medicine 

• Mathematics/Statistics  

• Materials Science and Physics  

• Psychology and Psychiatry  

• Technology, Data, and Computer Science 

• Zoology 

• Applicants must identify as a woman.
• Applicants must be admitted to their first postdoctoral research experience by the application deadline.
• Applicants must begin their program on or before September 1, 2026, and complete it on or after May 30, 2027.
• Applicants must hold an academic or professional doctoral degree (earned in the U.S. or abroad) with a minimum CGPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale at the time of application. Examples of academic and professional doctoral degrees include but are not limited to D.B.A., Ed.D., J.D., M.D., or Ph.D.
• Applicants must pursue their research in the U.S. on a full-time basis at an institution accredited by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Applicants must reside in the U.S. or country of their studies for the duration of the fellowship period.
• Applicants intending to do their postdoctoral research in another country other than their own or the U.S. must be members of Graduate Women International and pursue their research project at 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 Federal Student Aid Participating Schools list.(Foreign branches of U.S. institution are considered outside of the U.S.)

Citizenship & Immigration Status

Fellowship recipients must be non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

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 

• Review Panelists  

• Immediate families (i.e., spouses and dependent children) of individuals described in the points above  

• Previous AAUW fellowship or grant recipients (excluding Community Action Grants or branch or local AAUW awards)  

• Hold an academic or professional doctoral degree (earned in the U.S. or abroad) with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale  

• Scholarly excellence, as demonstrated by academic records and 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  

• Demonstrated commitment to 1) applying their expertise, professional skills, and leadership in the context of their home countries, and 2) supporting other women and girls through service in their communities, professions, or fields of research    

• Feasibility of the research, the funding of those plans, and the proposed timeline for their completion      

• Fellow’s position on return to home country  

• Applicants hailing from countries that have a notably low presence among AAUW award recipients (Preferred)  

• Applicants pursuing their first international experience (Preferred) 

• Applicants residing in their home country at the time of application (Preferred)  

AAUW is currently transitioning to a new awards management system to better serve our applicants.  At this time, instructions for applying are not yet available.  

What You Can Do Now 

While the application portal is not yet open, here’s how you can prepare: 

1. Stay Informed
   We recommend regularly checking the AAUW Fellowships & Grants page for updates.  
2. Review Program Information
   In the meantime, review AAUW’s program eligibility criteria, funding priorities, and previous awardees. This will help you prepare a strong application when the time comes. 
3. Prepare Materials in Advance
   Review the Application Requirements Section for supplemental documentation that is required for submission along with your application.  
4. Contact Us with Questions
   If you have immediate questions or concerns, please contact our team at awards@aauw.org. 

We are committed to delivering a fair, accessible, and streamlined process. Our new awards system is part of this commitment. While we finalize setup and instructions, we appreciate your patience and understanding. 

Information Coming Soon

In addition to a narrative application, all applicants are required to submit the following:    

• 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. Note: AAUW does not accept references from dossier services, such as Parment or Interfolio, and standardized or form-letter recommendations are discouraged. 
  • 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.  

• Proof of Degree: Copy of an academic or professional doctoral degree. Examples of academic and professional doctoral degrees include but are not limited to D.B.A., Ed.D., J.D., M.D., or Ph.D. 
  • 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. 
  • If the original is not in English, you are required to submit certified translation. 

• Transcript: Official transcript confirming conferral of an academic or professional doctoral degree. Examples of academic and professional doctoral degrees include but are not limited to D.B.A., Ed.D., J.D., M.D., or Ph.D. 
  • 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.  
  • If a transcript is not written in English, applicants must provide a certified translation.  
  • 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.  

• Copy of cumulative grade point average (CGPA) calculation on a 4.0 grading scale  
  • Applicants must upload proof that the CGPA of their doctoral degree is at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.  
  • If applicants’ educational institutions do not use a 4.0 grading scale, they must provide supplemental official documentation that indicates the CGPA on a 4.0 scale based on the grades or points awarded by the academic institution. Alternatively, they may upload a CGPA equivalent calculation using a GPA/credential conversion tool, such as  Scholaro’s GPA Calculator, or submit a credential evaluation report from services like WES or ECE (General with GPA), both of which should include a detailed list of all grades.   
  • If the CGPA was calculated on a 4.0 scale, applicants may submit a transcript page that clearly shows this.   

• Proof of English proficiency: Applicants must upload one of the following:  
  • Official report of an acceptable and valid TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge assessment score. Scores are valid for two years. Institutional TOEFL scores and other English proficiency test scores will not be accepted.   
  • Minimum acceptable scores are as follows:   
    • TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based Test): 79   
    • TOEFL Essentials: 8.5   
    • Revised TOEFL Paper-Delivered Test: 60   
    • IELTS: 6.5   
    • Cambridge Assessment: 176   
    • Duolingo English Test (DET): 120 
  • Written statement verifying the applicant’s native language is English   
  • Academic transcript or diploma confirming one of the following:   
  • Secondary diploma or undergraduate degree is from an English-speaking institution   
  • One semester of full-time study in the applicant’s discipline at an English-speaking institution  

• Proof of admission to a postdoctoral research program an applicant plans to pursue  
  • Applicants must upload a copy of the official admission/offer letter that indicates the anticipated start and end date of their postdoctoral research 

•  Proof of Graduate Women International membership if pursuing research outside of the U.S. during the fellowship year  
  • Official letter from the GWI affiliate confirming the applicant’s membership;  
  • Official membership certificate; or 
  • Any other official documentation that confirms the applicant’s membership status.  

 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 differs from the one stated in the application, an explanation must be provided, such as a marriage certificate or a court letter of name change.  

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 and include all required documentation will be considered. Applications are reviewed as submitted, and it is the sole responsibility of the applicant to confirm that all materials are accurate and complete prior to submission. 

Please keep the following in mind: 

• Incomplete or incorrect applications will not be reviewed. 

• AAUW does not provide feedback on missing or incorrect materials. 

• Once submitted, applications cannot be edited or updated. 

• Additional documentation will not be accepted after the deadline. 

• Requests for deadline extensions will not be accommodated. 

Review Panels 

Applications to the International Postdoctoral Research Fellowships are reviewed by panels of distinguished scholars and experts in the Natural and Physical 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 International Fellowships panel review, AAUW’s Fellowships & Grants team review the applications for completeness and ensure compliance with eligibility requirements. Each eligible and complete application is then reviewed by a panel, 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.

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

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

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

Fellowship awards may be used for tuition, fees, and course-required expenses like books and supplies, 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 arrive in the United States (or the country of their study) and begin their research, or continue them if already enrolled, by September 1, 2026. Fellows must complete their postdoctoral research no earlier than May 30, 2027. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate any exceptions.

Responsibility for securing visas and other documents, and following policies associated with visas, rests solely with the fellow.

In most instances, the fellowship stipend is subject to a tax rate of either 14% or 30%, depending on relevant tax statuses and treaties. AAUW will withhold the necessary taxes from stipends.

AAUW provides general tax guidelines to facilitate awardee compliance with United States tax law. However, AAUW strongly recommends that recipients consult a tax professional. AAUW does not provide any tax advice. Personal tax situations differ, and recipients are responsible for determining their AAUW award’s taxability in accordance with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, state laws, or in any country where they reside. Additional resources include the U.S. IRS (including the U.S. IRS Classification of Taxpayers for U.S. Tax Purposes) and the Social Security Administration, as well as campus admissions, financial aid, and international student offices.

Disclaimer: These guidelines are provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or legal advice. AAUW encourages students to seek advice from a qualified tax or financial advisor if needed.  

The U.S. tax year runs from January 1 to December 31, with an annual tax filing deadline of April 15.

  AAUW awardees can have one of the following tax statuses:  

1. Foreign persons conducting their AAUW fellowship year in the U.S., residing inside or outside the U.S.  
2. Foreign persons residing and conducting their AAUW project/fellowship outside the U.S.  
3. U.S. Persons (U.S. Citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents, and U.S. Resident Aliens) 

Awardees must:  

• Follow the guidelines that reflect their immigration and tax status at the time of each stipend payment

• Notify their program officer as soon as they anticipate a change in tax status

• Submit the appropriate information upon the change of status

1. Foreign persons conducting their AAUW fellowship year in the U.S., residing inside or outside the U.S.: Foreign persons, including nonresident aliens, who are conducting their AAUW project in the U.S. during the award year must submit a Form W‐8BEN. This includes recipients who are conducting their AAUW project at a U.S. institution (e.g., pursuing research or a degree at a U.S.‐based institution), even if they are residing outside the U.S.
2. Foreign persons residing and conducting their AAUW project/fellowship outside the U.S.: Foreign persons, including nonresident aliens, who reside outside the U.S. and who are performing their AAUW project plan outside the U.S. do not need to submit a tax form. 
3. U.S. Persons (U.S. Citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents, and U.S. Resident Aliens): U.S. persons, including U.S. resident aliens, must submit a Form W9. The form must include a U.S. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number or U.S. Social Security Number.

1. Foreign persons conducting their AAUW fellowship year in the U.S., residing inside or outside the U.S.: The U.S. IRS requires tax filers to provide a U.S. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number or U.S. Social Security Number to file taxes. Certain recipients requesting tax exemptions must submit a tax number in their W‐8BEN. Others do not. However, as the process to obtain one of these numbers can be lengthy, AAUW strongly recommends that recipients apply for the appropriate number as soon as possible and submit it within their Form W‐8BEN. 
2. Foreign persons residing and conducting their AAUW project/fellowship outside the U.S.: Foreign persons, including nonresident aliens, who reside outside the U.S. and who are performing their AAUW project plan outside the U.S. do not need to submit U.S. taxpayer identification number. 
3. U.S. Persons (U.S. Citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents, and U.S. Resident Aliens): U.S. persons, including U.S. resident aliens must provide a U.S. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number or U.S. Social Security Number.   

1. Foreign persons conducting their AAUW fellowship year in the U.S., residing inside or outside the U.S.: Under U.S. law, fellowship awards to foreign persons conducting their fellowship year in the U.S. are taxable. AAUW is required by law to withhold the following amount to meet these tax obligations:

• 14% for recipients who have an “F,” “J,” “M,” or “Q” visa and related immigration status, or the tax withholding rate specified in any relevant tax treaties between a recipient’s home country and the U.S.  
• 30% for recipients with any other immigration status or if no tax ID is provided.  

2.  Foreign persons residing and conducting their AAUW project/fellowship outside the U.S.: AAUW does not withhold any amount for payment of taxes.   

3.  U.S. Persons (U.S. Citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents, and U.S. Resident Aliens): The determination of whether there is a tax obligation associated with the receipt of an AAUW fellowship is the sole responsibility of the applicant. Specific questions regarding income tax matters should be addressed with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, the applicant’s financial aid office or a personal tax adviser.    

Certain countries have tax treaties with the U.S. that may exempt part or all the AAUW award from taxation or specify a unique U.S. tax rate for citizens of that country. Please review the U.S. IRS’s U.S. Income Tax Treaties—A to Z and consult your embassy to determine if your country has a tax treaty with the U.S. and if so, use the tax withholding rate that applies to you to appropriately record this information in your form W‐8BEN. Please note you must complete Part II of this form and submit it to AAUW. If you do not have a U.S. taxpayer identification number and are requesting an exemption, you may enter a foreign tax identifying number.

Eligibility and Applications Guidelines 

I am a permanent resident of the United States and a citizen of a foreign country. Am I eligible to apply for the International Fellowship?  

No. Individuals who hold permanent residency status of the United States are not eligible to apply for the International Fellowship, even if they are citizens of another country.  

My GPA is 3.49, am I eligible to apply?  

No. To be eligible for International Postdoctoral Fellowship, applicants must hold an academic or professional doctoral degree (earned in the U.S. or abroad) with a minimum CGPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale at the time of application.  

How do I calculate my cumulative grade point average (CGPA)? 

If your academic institution uses a 4.0 grading scale, submit an official transcript that clearly indicates your CGPA on this scale. If your institution uses a different grading system, you must provide official documentation that converts your CGPA to a 4.0 scale. This can be done using a GPA conversion tool, such as Scholaro’s GPA Calculator, or by submitting a credential evaluation report from a service such as WES or ECE, which must include a detailed breakdown of your grades. 

Am I eligible to apply for an International Postdoctoral Research Fellowship if I already have postdoctoral research experience? 

No. The International Postdoctoral Research Fellowship is specifically designed to support individuals who are pursuing their first postdoctoral research experience. Applicants who already have postdoctoral research experience are not eligible for this fellowship. 

I have been admitted to several postdoctoral positions but have not yet 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.  

Can I conduct my postdoctoral research part-time?  

No. Recipients of the International Postdoctoral Research Fellowship are expected to engage in their research on a full-time basis throughout the fellowship year.   

Award Details 

Is it possible to extend my award to cover the full duration of my postdoctoral research?  

No. The International Postdoctoral Research Fellowship provides financial support for only one year of postdoctoral research and cannot be extended to cover the entire duration of a postdoctoral program. 

Can you assist me in obtaining a student or research visa? 

AAUW does not provide visa sponsorship or support services. However, successful applicants may use their award letter as part of their visa application materials. 

Can you assist with the J-1 visa waiver process? 

No. We do not provide assistance with obtaining a J-1 visa waiver. 

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

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

• Research assistants  

• Pervious expenditures, deficits, or repayment of personal loans 

• Publication costs  

• Institutional (overhead) costs  

• Tuition for dependents’ education