The American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship Program 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 program 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. AAUW American Fellowships are the oldest non-institutional source of graduate and postdoctoral funding for women in the United States. The program began in 1888, at a time when women were discouraged from pursuing an education.
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
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AAUW American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship
Aim and Benefits of AAUW American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship
American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowships carry a stipend of $50,000 and are disbursed in two equal payments over the fellowship term, which runs from July 1 – June 30, annually. Stipends are made payable to fellows only.
AAUW American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship Courses
Requirements for AAUW American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship Qualification
- 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 pursuing doctoral studies in science, technology, engineering, or math fields; or those researching gender issues (preferred).
- Applicants who have demonstrated resilience in overcoming life challenges beyond their control, such as socioeconomic status, discrimination, limited academic resources or opportunities or other adverse circumstances (preferred).
- Applicants who were the first in their family to attain a bachelor’s degree (preferred).
- Applicants who hail from or lead single parent households (preferred).
- Applicants who hail from or intend to study in any of the following geographies: Arkansas, West Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Alabama, Tennessee or Indiana (preferred).
Citizenship & Immigration Status
Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Disqualifying Factors
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.
Interview date, Process and Venue for AAUW American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship
Selection Criteria
- Scholarly excellence as demonstrated by academic 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.
- Feasibility of the research and funding plans and the proposed timeline.
- Applicants’ teaching experience and potential for their career to contribute to diversity and equal opportunity through their teaching.
- Demonstrated commitment to helping women and girls through service in their communities, professions or fields of research.
Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis according to funds available in a given fiscal year.
Review Panels & Process
Applications to the American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship Program are reviewed by panels of distinguished scholars in the following, broad discipline fields:
- Arts & Humanities
- Natural & Physical Sciences
- Social Sciences
Review panels meet once a year to review applications for funding. Panel funding recommendations are subject to final approval by AAUW.
Review panels meet 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. Fellowships 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 awards panels. AAUW does not provide written or oral evaluations of applicants. No provisions exist for reconsideration of fellowship proposals. Applications and supporting documents become the sole property of AAUW and will not be returned or held for another year.
Timeline
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Milestone
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Date
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Application Submission Period
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September 16, 2024 – November 15, 2024
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Fellowship Award Status Notification
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April 15, 2025
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First Stipend Disbursed
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July 2025
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Fellowship Term
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July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
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Interim Report
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December 15, 2025
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Second Stipend Disbursed
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January 2026
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Final Report
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July 31, 2026
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Documents Required for Application
all applicants are required to submit the following:
- Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must provide two letters of recommendation from advisors, colleagues or others well acquainted with applicants’ scholarly work. Note: AAUW does not accept references from dossier services, such as Parment or Interfolio, and standardized or form-letter recommendations are discouraged.
- Proof of Degree: Transcripts or institutional verification confirming conferral of 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. degree. All transcripts must include the applicants’ full name, the school’s name, and the degree conferred.
- Project Institution Form: This form can be found in AAUW’s application portal and confirms applicants have the approval from the institution at which they will conducting their research to do so. No substitutions for this form are accepted.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.
Applicants are responsible for the submission of all required documents. Incomplete applications will be considered at the discretion of AAUW.
Application Deadline
November 15, 2024How to Apply
Interested and qualified? Go to
AAUW on aauw.applyists.net to apply
International Scholarship & Tuition Services (ISTS) serves as the application portal for AAUW American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship. Please follow the steps below to start the application process:
- Review the eligibility criteria to ensure you are eligible.
- Click the Apply Now button below to access the application and create an ISTS account. If a program key is requested, please use the following program key: AAUW-APF
- Follow the instructions provided in the Applicant Guide.
For more details visit: AAUW website.
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