NAEd/ Spencer Dissertation Fellowship Program Grant

The NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship Program supports promising scholars undertaking research to improve education. It offers $27,500 for one academic year, mentorship from esteemed scholars, and professional development retreats. Open to doctoral candidates from various disciplines, it prioritizes innovative projects focused on education. Applicants must complete pre-dissertation requirements and submit individual applications. This competitive fellowship aims to foster research that influences educational practices and policies, welcoming diverse academic backgrounds.

Purpose
The NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship encourages a new generation of scholars from a wide range of disciplines and professional fields to undertake research relevant to the improvement of education. This fellowship supports candidates whose dissertation projects bring innovative and insightful approaches to the history, theory, analysis, or application of formal and informal education.
As a highly competitive initiative, this fellowship annually identifies and supports 35 of the most exceptional researchers conducting dissertation studies relevant to education.
The Award
The fellowship supports fellows with the writing phase of their dissertation and alleviates the need for significant employment. The fellowship comprises three key components:
Fellows receive $27,500 for one academic year, distributed in two installments.Fellows participate in two professional development retreats facilitated by NAEd members and other distinguished scholars. These retreats offer general and specialized discussions to enhance the fellows’ research capabilities and academic growth.
Fellows choose an NAEd member or another esteemed scholar as a mentor, providing guidance and support throughout the academic year.
Funding Priorities
The dissertation topic must focus primarily on education, but the fellowship welcomes graduate students from any academic discipline or professional field. Fellowship recipients have included candidates from anthropology, architecture, art history, communications, economics, education, history, linguistics, literature, philosophy, political science, psychology, public health, religion, and sociology. The fellowship does not limit eligibility to these fields. Candidates should demonstrate their interest in conducting educational research after earning their doctorate.

Eligibility

To receive the fellowship, applicants must:Be candidates for the doctoral degree at a graduate school within the United States. US citizenship is not required.
Complete all pre-dissertation requirements by June 1 of the award year.
Provide a clear and specific plan for completing the dissertation within one or two-years.
Propose an education research project.
Submit an individual application as we will not accept group applications.