American Fellowships- American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship Grant

The American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship, offered by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), promotes gender equity in academia by providing $50,000 for women pursuing independent research. Open to all fields, it specifically encourages applicants in STEM and gender studies. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, hold a relevant doctoral degree, and be engaged in full-time research during the fellowship. This prestigious fellowship has supported women's academic advancement since 1888.

The American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship increases the number of women in tenure-track faculty positions and promotes gender equity for women in higher education by providing funding to women in academia to pursue independent research over the course of a year. The American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship is open to applicants in all fields of study, though those engaged in science, technology, engineering, and math fields, or those researching gender issues, are especially encouraged to apply. Established in 1888, AAUW American Fellowships are the oldest non-institutional source of graduate and postdoctoral funding for women in the United States.
Award Details
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.

Eligibility

Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.Applicants must be or 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 begin their postdoctoral program on or before September 1, 2026, and complete it on or after May 30, 2027.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: Accredited in the United States, 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.

Ineligibility

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.