AAUW American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship 2026

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.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirments
• Interview Process
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineSeptember 30, 2025
• Value$50,000
• Study LevelPostdoctoral Fellowships
• SponsorAmerican Association of University Women (AAUW)
• City to studyMassachusetts
• School to studyAmerican Association of University Women (AAUW)

Benefits

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.

Requirements

• Applicants must 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.

Selection Process

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 plans, the funding of those plans, and the proposed timeline for their completion
• Applicants’ teaching experience
• Demonstrated commitment to helping women and girls through service in their communities, professions, or fields of research
• Applicants pursuing post-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 lead or hail from single parent households (Preferred)

Application Deadline

How To Apply

To begin your application, visit the AAUW Fellowships & Grants Application Portal to create an account or log in.

For more details, visit AAUW Fellowship webpage