MCEAS Dissertation Fellowships, 2024-2025

Since 1978, more than 300 advanced graduate students from universities across North America and Europe have received dissertation fellowships from the McNeil Center. At least eight new fellows will be appointed for the 2024-2025 academic year for nine-month terms. Nine-month fellows will receive a stipend of $30,000, office space in the Center’s home on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus, and library privileges. Limited travel funds for research will also be available. Fellows are normally resident in Philadelphia during the terms of their appointments and are expected to participate in-person at the Center’s seminars, brown bags, and other programs. The application deadline is February 1, 2024.

Doctoral candidates from any PhD-granting institution who are in the research or writing stage of the dissertation are eligible. Any project dealing with the histories and cultures of North America in the Atlantic world before 1850 will be considered. Proposals dependent on the use of Philadelphia-area archives and libraries are particularly welcome. Applications are encouraged from students of all disciplines.

Application Instructions

A single online application suffices for all fellowships. Categories and duration of awards are determined by the selection committee. The following items must be prepared for uploading as pdf files:

1. A curriculum vitae;
2. A proposal not to exceed 1,500 words, double-spaced, describing the general scope of the project and the specific work proposed for the fellowship term;
3. An unpublished writing sample related to the project, double-spaced, limited to 7,500 words exclusive of notes;
4. Two letters of recommendation should be uploaded by the letter writers. Please ask recommenders to address the specifics of this application. Do not send generic letters from placement dossiers.

 

Click here to submit application online.

Questions may be directed to: 
The McNeil Center for Early American Studies
University of Pennsylvania
3355 Woodland Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4531
215-898-9251
mceas@sas.upenn.edu