After completing their doctoral studies, many students seek postdoctoral research fellowships to transition from academia to the workforce. This article explores prestigious postdoc research fellowships in the social sciences and humanities. The humanities encompass disciplines such as literature, philosophy, and history, focusing on the human experience. Similarly, the social sciences analyze human behavior and societies, including anthropology, economics, and political science. These fellowships offer new scholars opportunities to launch their careers through research funding, mentorship, access to university resources, and other benefits. Fellowship durations vary from an academic year to multiple years, with options for renewal. Opportunities are open to international students, and some may include relocation expenses. Interdisciplinary scholars and international students may also be eligible for these fellowships.
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1. PSC Postdoctoral Fellowship
The Population Studies Center offers dynamic interdisciplinary postdoctoral fellowships supported by NIH grants focusing on child health, human development, aging, and population health. Fellows receive mentorship, training in population science methods, and ample research independence, leading to successful career placements. These two-year fellowships, accepting applications annually from September to December, provide health insurance, stipends, and childcare support. Eligible applicants must hold a Ph.D. in demography, public health, or social sciences. Priority is given to U.S. citizens and permanent residents from underrepresented backgrounds. Applicants must align with NIH’s mission, proposing research projects related to health. The application entails a cover letter, CV, research statement, diversity statement, writing samples, and three recommendation letters.
2. Columbia University Society of Fellows Postdoctoral Fellowship
The Columbia University Society of Fellows in the Humanities offers prestigious postdoctoral fellowships for early-career humanities and humanistic social sciences scholars. Fellows become part of a vibrant interdisciplinary community, engaging in teaching, research, and organizing scholarly events. The fellowship, awarded each academic year, provides a stipend of $80,000, medical benefits, subsidized housing, and a $7,000 research allowance. Applicants must have completed their Ph.D. within the past four years by the fellowship start date. The program is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion within academia, and applications from underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged.
3. Cornell University Klarman Fellowships
The Klarman Fellowships offer highly competitive postdoctoral opportunities for early-career scholars across various disciplines, such as natural, quantitative, and social sciences, humanistic inquiry, the creative arts, and emerging fields that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. The program provides independence for innovative research free from specific outcome constraints or teaching duties. Recipients engage in frontline research aligned with their scholarly interests and are supported and guided by faculty mentors. Applicants must demonstrate originality with evidence of meaningful contributions in their area of study. Awardees receive a stipend of $80,000 annually, benefits, and a $12,000 research fund. The fellowship, which may last up to three years, aims to promote scholarly exchange and collaboration.
4. SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships
The SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships provide essential support to promising Canadian scholars in the social sciences and humanities, aiding them in establishing a strong research foundation in their careers. Valued at $45,000 annually for up to two years, totaling $90,000, these fellowships are aimed at recent PhD graduates engaging in original research, publishing findings, expanding personal networks, enhancing teaching skills, and preparing for research-intensive careers. Fellows can pursue their research at Canadian or foreign universities and research institutions. Fellows are also eligible for supplementary funding through SSHRC’s joint initiatives, which are designed to support various scholarly endeavors. These fellowships encourage talent and innovation within the Canadian research landscape, emphasizing diversity and interdisciplinary approaches.
5. Dartmouth College Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowships
The Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowships at Dartmouth College offer two-year residential opportunities for scholars in the humanities. These fellowships support recent Ph.D. graduates, providing time for research while gaining mentored teaching experience within their respective departments. Dartmouth aims to enrich its academic landscape by incorporating underrepresented fields into its curricula. The current cycle seeks applicants for placement in the Department of Latin American, Latino, & Caribbean Studies and the Department of Music, with specific thematic and disciplinary preferences outlined. Fellows receive an annual stipend of $62,000 plus benefits, a research allowance of $2,000, and a first-year computer allowance of $2,500. They teach one course in their department in the second year and have access to Dartmouth’s resources for professional development.
6. Stanford Humanities Center Mellon Fellowship of Scholars in the Humanities
The Mellon Fellowship of Scholars in the Humanities offers recent PhD recipients in the humanities an opportunity for professional development as scholars and teachers at Stanford University. Up to four fellows are selected for a two-year term, with the possibility of a third-year extension. Fellows teach two courses annually in a humanities department or interdisciplinary program, receive office space and mentorship, and engage with the Stanford Humanities Center. The program fosters intellectual exchange through weekly cohort meetings. It offers a stipend of $95,000, full employee benefits, a $6,000 annual research account, and a one-time $9,000 stipend for moving expenses and equipment. Applicants with relevant teaching and research interests are encouraged to apply.
7. Tufts University Residential Postdoctoral Fellowships
The Center for the Humanities at Tufts University, in collaboration with the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy and the Office of Provost, announces a residential postdoctoral fellowship starting in July. This one-year fellowship, extendable to a second year, seeks a junior scholar with expertise in African American History, Afro-Indigenous Studies, Public History, or the History of Universities. The fellow will lead a collaborative research project investigating Tufts University’s history of slavery, colonialism, and Afro-Native legacies. Responsibilities include research, teaching one course annually, and contributing to project-related activities, with a stipend of $60,000, health benefits, workspace, and manuscript workshop opportunities provided.
8. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Scholarly Fellowships
The Gilder Lehrman Institute offers annual short-term research fellowships of $3000 each to doctoral candidates, college and university faculty, and independent scholars in American history, including international applicants. Established in 1994, the institute has awarded 683 fellowships to date. Currently, the institute offers the John Winthrop Fellowship, focusing on Colonial History, which supports research on the colonial era. Fellows must complete their research within one year, meet the program director in New York City, and submit an essay and documentation of archival collections consulted. Preference will be given to topics on colonial America, slavery and abolition, and the Cold War.
9. Postdoctoral Scholar Fellowship in Social Justice
The Social Justice Institute (SJI) at Case Western Reserve University has a two-year postdoctoral scholar fellowship in social justice. Candidates must possess strong quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills to develop accessible research databases. Emphasizing evidence-based research, mentoring, and community building, the fellowship aims to nurture the next generation of social justice leaders. Fellows will disseminate research findings through briefs, policy statements, webinars, and peer-reviewed outlets. Fellows will partake in teaching, data management, grant writing, and mentoring students. Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent in fields like sociology, law, social work, or public health, with experience in mixed-method analysis and community-engaged research. The position offers competitive salaries, benefits, conference attendance, and professional development opportunities.
10. Mahindra Humanities Center Postdoctoral Fellowships
The Mahindra Humanities Center offers one-year postdoctoral fellowships in the environmental humanities, open to scholars from any humanistic discipline. Fellows will learn about climate change, social and environmental justice, biodiversity, and more. Alongside pursuing their research, fellows participate in bi-weekly seminars with Harvard faculty, graduate students, and visiting speakers. Benefits include a $70,000 stipend, medical insurance, $2,500 research support, and $1,500 moving expenses for those relocating to Greater Boston. Applicants must have received a doctorate or terminal degree within the past 3 years.
11. Vanderbilt Collaborative Humanities Postdoctoral Program (CHPP)
The CHPP offers a three-year fellowship for humanities and humanistic social sciences scholars. Fellows work on interdisciplinary topics addressing contemporary challenges, focusing on racial, gender, and social justice. The program features 3 tracks: Environmental, Global, and Urban Humanities. Fellows develop collaborative research projects, teach undergraduate courses, and engage in professional development. Six fellowships are awarded to those with a PhD within 3 years of program start date. It provides a salary of at least $56,484, benefits, a $2,000 research fund, and a $1,000 relocation bonus. Applicants must have a J-1 visa or equivalent and be eligible to work in the U.S.
12. Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Humanities
The Wolf Humanities Center offers five one-year Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowships annually to scholars in the humanities. Each year, there is a focused topic for collaboration. Fellows receive a $65,000 stipend, a $3000 research fund, and discounted health insurance. Eligible applicants hold a PhD in humanities or allied fields and have completed their within the past 5 years. Preference is given to non-tenure track scholars. Applicants must submit interdisciplinary proposals focusing on that year’s topic of interest. Fellows must be in residence, teach one humanities course at Penn, participate in seminars, and engage in professional development activities.
13. Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships
The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program offers international funding to exceptional postdoctoral applicants to enhance Canada’s economic, social, and research development. It seeks to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering their leadership potential and positioning them as future research leaders. Each fellowship provides $70,000 annually for two years in health research, natural sciences/engineering, and social sciences/humanities. Eligible candidates include Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and foreign citizens. Doctoral degrees must be conferred within the past 4 years and before the program start date.
14. Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
The Fulbright Scholar Program provides many opportunities, including teaching, research, or a combination thereof, spanning 2 to 12 months across more than 135 countries. These awards cater to diverse groups such as college faculty, administrators, professionals, artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, and independent scholars. With evolving program models tailored to accommodate the dynamic needs of American academics and professionals, Fulbright now offers expanded options for flexible, multi-country grants. Eligibility is restricted to U.S. citizens for the core program, but opportunities for international scholars are also available.
15. National Humanities Center Fellowships
The National Humanities Center offers scholars an ideal setting to explore and deepen their understanding of human experiences. Surrounded by nature, scholars can concentrate on their work and collaborate with other fellows. They receive support services, including access to knowledgeable librarians and attentive dining staff. Scholars can apply for year-long or semester-long fellowships or join a summer residency program. Applicants must submit a project proposal, bibliography, curriculum vitae, project outline, and reference letters. Successful candidates should have a doctorate or equivalent, fluency in English, and a substantial scholarly project.
16. Smithsonian Institution Fellowships
The Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program provides postdoctoral opportunities for independent research using Smithsonian collections and resources, with staff serving as advisors. Applicants propose research within Smithsonian disciplines, promoting diversity in research. Fellows typically reside at the Smithsonian, focusing on disciplines such as anthropology, astrophysics, social and cultural history, and more. They’re expected to spend 3 to 12 months in residence, with fellowships lasting 3 to 24 months. Postdoctoral fellows, up to seven years beyond their Ph.D., receive a stipend of $57,000 per year, with additional funding for research expenses. Fluency in English is required, and prior Smithsonian employees are only eligible with approval.
17. Watson Institute Postdoctoral Fellows Program
The Watson Institute’s Postdoctoral Fellows Program offers opportunities for young scholars in social sciences, aiming to support their research, interdisciplinary skills, and collaboration. The program aligns with Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs mission. It focuses on development, governance, and security research. Applicants from social science fields like anthropology, economics, and political science are welcome. The selection process is highly competitive, with applicants from diverse backgrounds. Within two years of receiving their PhDs, eligible candidates receive an annual stipend of $75,000, plus funding for research expenses and campus programming.
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This compilation of fellowships was initially curated in 2017 and is regularly revised to ensure the latest information is provided.
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