Dissertation Fellowships 2018-2019

This page is for dissertation fellowships for 2018-2019 (including research fellowships, dissertation completion fellowships, and other predoctoral opportunities).


 * Last year's page: Dissertation Fellowships 2017-2018
 * See also previous years' pages: Dissertation Fellowships 2013-14, Dissertation Fellowships 2014-15, Dissertation Fellowships 2015-2016 and Dissertation Fellowships 2016-2017.

See also fellowship discussions at theGradCafe: The Bank


 * This is an initial post to start the page as in years past - please add calls and information!

RECENT ACTIVITY on Dissertation Fellowships 2018-2019 Wiki
Recent Edits

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AAUW American Dissertation Fellowship

 * Applied x6

ACLS / Mellon Dissertation Completion Fellowships

 * Applied x17

Carter Manny Award
Applied for writing award x1

CASVA Pre-Doctoral Fellowship of the National Gallery of Art
Why is this page so quiet?! Has anyone got a call from CASVA? (Jan 19)


 * I have not received one! I'm on tenterhooks here! (I applied for Ittleson) (Jan 19)
 * Received call today (01/20) for interview. Interviews taking place Feb. 8-9. (Nominated for Paul Mellon)


 * Congratulations on the call! I guess that’s it for this cycle then.
 * Do calls for all fellowships usually go out on the same day?

Usually calls are made on the same day I think. At least that’s what’s recorded in previous years’ wikis. Has anyone else been called for an interview, or does anyone else know of a colleague who has been nominated? No news in my peer group.
 * Le sigh...thanks for the response.

Has anyone received their rejection letter yet?

For the record: interviews took place on Feb. 8-9; the committee met to finalize their decision on Feb. 10; the chosen fellows were notified over the weekend; alternates were notified via email on Feb. 15

Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship

 * Applied (x9)


 * Does anyone know when finalists will be notified? On the previous pages, notifications came out on Feb 16 and Feb 21.
 * Looking at past years, it seems as if they almost always notify sometime the third week of Feb. So any day now...
 * Yeah, they seem to favor beginnings of the week, so if not today, then probably next week. I haven't heard anything yet, but the day is young.
 * I was certain today was the day. Just glad to check this and find that others also haven't heard yet.
 * Also, doesn't 4 applicants on this wiki seem unusually low? ACLS numbers also seem down.
 * That could mean 1 of 3 things: 1) fewer applicants this year (so better odds for us! Good luck everyone!); 2) people have realized that obsessing over the wiki leads to madness (though I doubt we've realized this because... we're here reading this); 3) people have given up. Cheers!  I'm hoping for #1.
 * I didn't even apply to this grant and I'm reading this thread. It leads to madness. x2
 * Got the email--not a finalist! Good luck everyone!
 * Got my rejection email today - at 3:02 PM EST February 23, 2018. The email stated that "almost 500" applications were received for 21 available awardsx2
 * Got the rejection at 2:59p EST. Shucks. Best of luck to the finalists! And for the rest of us: hang in there. Applying to this thing was a bear-- you're still super awesome! x2
 * Finalist letter said there was a 14% rate of acceptance for finalists, which would be about 70 finalists. (x3)

CLIR-Mellon Fellowship
Applied (x3)

Consortium for Faculty Diversity (Dissertation and Postdoctoral Fellowship Fellowships)
Applied (x3)

They extended the deadline to the end of March. Does anyone know if they will be looking at these before then?


 * --Interesting. How did you learn about the extention? I don't see it on the site. Wonder what it means for those who made the 1st deadline.

Do you think it's necessary to contact the department's directly? 1) to ask if they're even taking fellows and 2) to bring their attention to their application? I just don't understand how this works. It's like sending an application into a blackhole.
 * --If you look at the Interfolio delivery, it now says March 30. And the delivery itself is still editable. I'm wondering if I should upload an updated cover letter.
 * --It was my impression that the deadline has always been "rolling," as it is up to individual consortium departments to look at the applications based on departmental need as positions become available. Contacting individual departments will give you information for if the department is actually searching for candidates and when their own search begins/ends.
 * Great question. I've contacted a couple, one of which didn't even know this fellowship existed and got excited when I told them about the Consortium. Black hole indeed. Not sure how this is supposed to work.  Bigger question-- are they even really giving dissertation fellowships anymore? Had a friend get one of these several years ago and at the time all listed winners were pre-doc. Now, the list of recipients for the past few years is almost exclusively post-doc. What's up with that? Are they even interested in dissertation fellowships any more?
 * That's ridiculous. Also, you're right. I was looking through the list of past fellows and there's rarely any predocs anymore. I guess I'll sit down and email everyone. Trinity has one that makes you email the chairs. It's a little embarrassing.

I got in touch with one of the reps at Swarthmore. They mentioned that they weren't doing predocs right now, but that it's best to get in touch with specific departments to see if they are, which brings attention to your application.

- I have emailed all but one of the schools on the list. Here is what I found out so far: (Please note: I was inquiring about pre-doctoral fellowships so this feedback is more useful for people who are looking for dissertation completion fellowships. I hope this list makes sense as I was trying to summarize what people were saying in their emails and sometimes it wasn't clear if they meant pre or post doc fellwoships because they just used the tern "CFD fellows" in general) - List was updated on 2/19 by original poster

Amherst - No CFD Fellowships this year

Bowdoin - In the midst of looking for 3 post-docs

Colorado College - Finalized their CFD candidate placements  (I do not know if that means they accepted pre/post doc)

Franklin and Marshall - Does not participate in the pre-doc fellowship at all (Post-Docs only)

Macalaster: No open pre-doc this year

Scripps: Only looking for Art History (I do not know if that means pre/post doc)

Gustavus: Looking for Political Science (I do not know if that means pre/post doc)

Vassar: Not looking for pre-docs at this time

Whitman: Not looking for pre-docs this time

Denison: Does not participate in the pre-doc fellowship at all (Post-Docs only)

Providence College: Only recently joined the Consortium and is just getting the lay of the land

Southwestern University: No CFD Fellowships this year

The College of Wooster: Does not participate in the pre-doc fellowship at all (Post-Docs only)

Trinity College: Hire one fellow year and that is already done, I think it is the Ann Plato fellowship

Reed College: Hires on 2 year appointments so next search will be spring 2019

Mount Holyoke: Usually does 2 post-docs per year and that process is underway

Wabash College: Only recently joined the Consortium and is just getting the lay of the land

University of Richmond: At capacity with fellows at this time (not sure if that means pre or post doc)

Lewis and Clark: Not anticipating dissertation fellowship this year

Oberlin College: Has not determined what will be happening for the 2018-2019 school year so they recommended to keep checking their job page: https://jobs.oberlin.edu/

College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University: Are reviewing apps in February so they said they would make sure to consider mine (Idk if that is just them being polite)

St. Olaf College: Does not typically determine need for a CFD fellow until March

Muhlenberg College: Said they would pass along my information to the appropiate department (once again idk if that is them being polite)

TO WHOEVER DID THIS: you are a scholar and a hero. (x3!) - Thanks! :) After I saw that the one person they said they got in touch with Swarthmore I figured I should contact all the schools. I didn't contact New College because I am not interested in Florida. I also just updated this list with 4 more colleges. Apologies for any typos.

Dartmouth College Eastman/Marshall Dissertation Fellowship

 * Applied (1x)

Dumbarton Oaks Junior Fellowship
Applied (x5)
 * Pre-Columbian (x3)
 * Byzantine (x1)
 * G&L (x1)

Anyone have any updates for this one?
 * No word here. Never heard anything about interview, so I assume I'm out of running (Byz)


 * There’s no interview. I know of one senior fellow who has been selected, but have heard nothing about Junior Fellows. It takes a while because everything has to be approved by Harvard. (Precolumbian)

Anyone hear any news? I heard about a week ago. I was waitlisted for Precolumbian. (2/19)
 * Thanks for the info -- my understanding is that in the past there were interviews, at least for Byzantine, not sure if that is for just Senior fellows or Junior and Senior

No news here. I assume rejections will be coming soon (2/22)

Byz. fellow awarded

Byz fellow: could you please confirm whether or not there was an interview? (Junior fellowship right?) When did you receive word? I am wondering for next year -- thank you (2/22)

Rejection received (x1)

Elon University Pre-Doctoral Diversity Teaching Fellowship
Applied (x2)

Which departments did you apply to?
 * Religion
 * Anthro

Emory University James Weldon Johnson Institute Visiting Fellowship for Pre-Doctoral Scholars
Applied x1

Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship

 * applied (x4)

Fulbright IIE Study/Research Grants

 * Applied (x2)
 * Semi-Finalist (x2) 1/26

Fulbright Hays DDRA 2017-2018
The 2018-2019 call has not been posted yet. In 2017 it was posted on Jan 19 with deadline on March 13.

Anyone know when the call will be announced? Getting nervous here. As a US Permanent Resident, I am only eligible for Fulbright-Hays.

I don't think the government has funded it, so it might not happen this year :(

2/5 -- I contacted Dr. Maimer about the DDRA, and she said that no decision has been made yet by Congress on whether any funding has been awarded. I also asked about when she thought we'd have an answer, and she said that she has no idea. As a result, I'll echo the previous person's thoughts: "[I]t might not happen this year."

2/8- This is definitely a major blow if it doesn't come through. I've been waiting on this for a while wondering what was going on. :(

2/9: Does anyone know if the budget that just got signed included fulbright hayes ddra?

2/12- As per NEH/NHA-

"This morning, President Trump released his Presidential Budget Request for FY 2019, which again calls for the elimination of the National Endowment for the Humanities along with the National Endowment for the Arts, the Department of Education’s International Education Programs, the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, and the Institute for Museums and Library Services. The request also calls for the elimination of federal funding for the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars.

This is an assault on humanities research, education, and programming - all of which are essential to the cultivation of our national heritage and civic culture.

Congress will ultimately be responsible for writing the bills that fund the federal government.

Last year, we sent a forceful message to Congress that we oppose the administration’s efforts to eliminate humanities funding. While the appropriations process for FY 2018 has not yet been completed, Congress has rejected Trump’s proposals at every turn."

Gaius Charles Bolin Dissertation Fellowship
Applied (x3)


 * Interview (x2)
 * Which departments do you have interviews for?

What's happening?

Has anyone heard anything?

already went to the interview stage. I interviewd a month ago and still haven't heard anything. They said it would take about a month to hear back, so I'm assuming they've already made offers.
 * I have heard nothing as of 2/19 which is odd considering it was due 11/15. I gave hope on it since I saw that it

I interviewed via Skype a month ago, too. I was also a finalist last year. This time last year decisions were made. Maybe they are still deciding. Best of luck!

Which departments were these interviews in?

2/21 - Email received that said I was not a semi-finalist. I assumed they were already down to finalists if they have done interviews. I applied to two departments (anthro-religion), interviewed with one, and haven't heard anything from either. So I assume each department is doing its own thing? Best of luck to you!
 * Same. I applied to 2 depts though and just got the rejection from the one I didn't interview with, so maybe I'm still in the running for the other one? - Hopefully you are still on the running. Best of luck!

Also, I think I know how it works: if you're interviewed by a department, you are a semi-finalist. If the department then nominates you, you are a finalist. And if the Dean picks you, you're a superstar.

Wait, now that I think about it, if some of us got emails that we're not semi-finalists, that means departments are making their nominations. So it'll be some time before the Dean makes a decision on the two fellows. So does this mean if we don't get any emails in the next few days that we might be finalists? I'm obsessing. Back to work.

Received lovely email from chair that I was a finalist, but not awarded. I think awardees have already been notified.
 * When did you get it? What department? Did you know you were a finalist before the email?

Has everyone gotten notification already? I haven't heard anything yet.

Getty Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowship
Accepted via email (pre-doc) feb 14
 * Applied (x1)
 * Anyone hear anything yet?
 * Rejected via email (Jan 31) (x2)

Harry Frank Guggenheim Fellowship

 * applied (x2)
 * Received Submission confirmation for application to Research Grant 2017. Then correction email confirming 2017 Dissertation Fellowship and advising they'll send an email in August after reviewing the application for completeness. Assuming March-April 2018 for the completeness check?

Home Grown Curatorial Fellowship

 * Applied

Horowitz Fellowship

 * Applied (x2)

Ithaca College Pre-Doctoral Diversity Fellowship

 * Applied x2
 * On Feb 6 I called their Office of Human Resources. The representative told me that they are still reviewing applications.

Josephine de Karman Fellowship
Applied x4

Kress Foundation History of Art Institutional Fellowships

 * Applied (x4)
 * Rejection from Warburg/Courtauld, 1/29
 * Any news from the other institutions? (2/23)

Louisville Institute Dissertation Fellowship
Applied (x1)

Marilyn Yarbrough Dissertation/Teaching Fellowship (Kenyon College)
Applied (x4)
 * Has anyone heard anything?
 * Phone call 1/23, Skype interview scheduled for 1/30
 * Four finalists received campus invite today (1/31); these will take place mid-February
 * Recevied email rejection 2/12

Mitchem Dissertation Fellowship Program (Marquette University)

 * Recevied email rejection 2/14 (Valentine's Day was savage!)

Mellon-CES Dissertation Completion Fellowship in European Studies

 * Applied (Jan 15, 2018)

CLIR-Mellon

 * Applied (x2)

Metropolitan Museum of Art, Art History Fellowships
Rejection received via email 2/8 Rejection received via email 2/8 (Asian Art) Rejection received via email 2/8 (European painting) Rejection received via email 2/8 (Egyptian art)
 * Applied (x4)

Miller Center for Politics and History (UVA)
Applied for the Technology and Democracy Fellowship program (x1)

MIT SHASS Diversity Predoctoral Fellowship
Applies x1 An entire dissertation chapter? REALLY?!?!!?
 * Yeah, that was a gut punch. Especially since they haven't asked for that before and they posted the announcement so late. Ugh!
 * They change details of the fellowship every year. So inconsistent.
 * By asking for an entire chapter, I think they are trying to find candidates who will more than likely graduate during the fellowship year (or summer thereafter)...sigh, its a tough world out there.
 * They asked for a chapter last year too

NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship Program
Has anybody heard anything?

I have not. Any one else?

Nothing yet (2/26). They are a little later this year - last year, semi-finalists were notified on 2/22. =/

RBS-MELLON SOCIETY OF FELLOWS IN CRITICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
Applied - any news?

Still nothing? Then I am waiting for my rejection letter.

SSRC - IDRF

 * Applied (x4)
 * Request for transcripts (Jan. 24) (x4)
 * Rejection letter (Jan 31) (x2) -by email this year

Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP) (Predoctoral)
Applied (x2)

So last year it looks like people received notifications around 2/28-03/01. Did anyone else apply?

Yes. Still no news (they might notify 03/01).

University of California Santa Barbara Black Studies Dissertation Fellowship
2/26 - For anyone who is interested in applying to this, the link to the application does not work nor is the fellowship posted on the UCSB website. After contacting 3 people in the dept I was told that the problem should be handled in 2 weeks. Meanwhile the application is due 3/22 * sigh *

Wenner-Gren dissertation fieldwork grant
Nov 1 Deadline

So quiet this year Ya..i guess within the next 10 days there'll be some sounds.

anyone?

2/9/2018 Still nothing here. I noticed e-mails from my last W-G app were sent out REALLY EARLY in the morning, so I imagine won't hear anything today.

2/11/2018 nothing

Ohhhhhhhhhhgawddddddddddd

2/12/2018 no email.....

2/14/2018 Still no word.

2/15/2018 Advanced to second round (x4)

Woodrow Wilson Dissertation Fellowship in Women's Studies
Not a finalist via email (1/12)