AAUW 2023 Research Publication Grants in Engineering, Medicine and Science, USA

Having a strong publication record is a key to receiving promotions and tenure in engineering, medicine and science. Yet persistent gender stereotypes and bias in these fields can make it difficult for women to find the time and institutional support needed to publish their research. These grants help women overcome these barriers by funding research projects that will culminate in scholarly publications.

They are open to women scholars conducting basic research in engineering, medicine or the physical or biological sciences and who have a doctorate degree in one of those fields. The grantee must publish their research in a scholarly publication and be listed as a primary author.

• Table of Content
• About AAUW
• AAUW Research Publication Grants
• Aim and Benefits of AAUW Research Publication Grants
• Requirements for AAUW Research Publication Grants Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for AAUW Research Publication Grants
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About AAUW

OUR MISSION Gender Equity & Economic Security We’ve led the fight for fair pay and economic opportunity for women — and the battle continues: Women still get just 83 cents for every dollar paid to a man, and men continue to dominate the top roles and highest-paying professions. OUR VALUES Intersectional. Inclusive. Intergenerational. Empowering. Though we are nonpartisan, we are not values-neutral: We fight to remove the barriers and biases that stand in the way of gender equity. We train women to negotiate for pay and benefits and to pursue leadership roles. And... continue reading

AAUW Research Publication Grants

Aim and Benefits of AAUW Research Publication Grants

Amount up to $10,000-$35,000

Payment of the final 10% of the funds will be contingent upon acceptance to a scholarly publication within six months of the end of the grant year.

Requirements for AAUW Research Publication Grants Qualification

• Grants are not open to previous recipients of any AAUW national fellowship or grant (not including branch or local awards or Community Action Grants).
• Members of the AAUW Board of Directors, committees, panels, task forces, and staff, including current interns, are not eligible to apply for AAUW’s fellowships and grants. A person holding a current award is eligible for election or appointment to boards, committees, panels, and task forces.
• Grant candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
• Grants are open to women, including people who identify as women. 
• Applicants must be conducting basic research in engineering, medicine, or physical or biological sciences at an accredited institution of higher education or research. AAUW will make final decisions about what constitutes eligible institutions. 
• AAUW follows guidance from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institute of Health (NIH) in determining what qualifies as basic research: 
  • NSF: “Activity aimed at acquiring new knowledge or understanding without specific immediate commercial application or use.” The NSF Definitions of Research and Development provides additional guidance.
  • NIH: “The systematic study directed toward greater knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of observable facts without specific applications towards processes or products in mind.” (32 CFR 272.3) The NIH Basic Research – Digital Media Kit and Basic Research: Building a First Foundation for Biomedicine provide additional guidance.
• The grantee must plan to have this research accepted to a scholarly scientific publication within six months of the end of the grant year and be listed as the sole author, senior author, first author, or author of equivalent significance.
• Applicants must hold a doctorate degree in engineering, medicine, or the physical or biological sciences.
• Tenured professors are not eligible.
• The grants are for tenure track, part-time and temporary faculty, as well as new and established researchers at universities.
• Applicants may not apply for another AAUW national fellowship or grant in the same year.

Interview date, Process and Venue for AAUW Research Publication Grants

The panel meets once a year to review applications for funding. Awards are based on the criteria outlined here. The panel’s recommendations are subject to final approval by AAUW. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis according to funds available in a given fiscal year.

To ensure a fair review process, AAUW does not comment on the deliberations of the award panels. AAUW does not provide evaluations of applications. No provisions exist for reconsidering grant proposals.

Applications and supporting documents become the sole property of AAUW and will not be returned or held for another year.

In selecting grant recipients, the following criteria will be considered:

• Applicant’s scholarly excellence.
• Quality of project design.
• Originality of project.
• Scholarly significance of project to the discipline.
• Feasibility of project and proposed schedule.
• Likelihood the project will culminate in being accepted to a scholarly scientific publication within six months of the end of the grant year.
• Qualifications of applicant.
• Demonstrated commitment to women’s issues in the profession/community.
• Applicant’s mentoring of other women.
• Applicant’s teaching experience.
• Potential of applicant to make a significant contribution to the field.
• Applicant is from an underrepresented racial/ethnic background.
• Applicant will be in an underrepresented area of the country and/or type of university other than a top-level research institution during the award year.
• Financial need.

The primary criterion for grant awards is scholarly excellence. Applications are reviewed by distinguished scholars and should be prepared accordingly.

When comparing proposals of equal merit the review panel will give special consideration to women holding junior academic appointments who are seeking research leave, women who have held the doctorate for at least three years, and women whose educational careers have been interrupted.

August 1, 2023
Application opens.

November 15, 2023, by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time
Deadline for online submission of application, recommendations, and supporting documents.

April 15, 2024
Notification of decision emailed to all applicants.

July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025
Grant year

When a date falls on a weekend or holiday, the date will be observed on the following business day.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more details visit: AAUW website.