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Applying for the Mellon International Dissertation Research Fellowship
Daniella Sarnoff, PhD Program Director
Mellon International Dissertation Research Fellowship
The program supports the next generation of scholars in the humanities and humanistic social sciences pursuing research that advances knowledge about non-U.S. cultures and societies, grounded in site-specific research (fieldwork, research in archival or manuscript collections, and data collection). Begun in 1997, the IDRF Program has funded more than 1,000 projects to date, with research spanning the globe. The program is funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
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IDRF Program Eligibility
• Graduate students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences - regardless of citizenship - enrolled in Ph.D. programs in the United States. • Applicants must have completed all Ph.D. requirements except dissertation research (ABD) by the time the fellowship begins or by December 2015, whichever comes first. • Proposals that identify the U.S. as a case for comparative inquiry are welcome; however, proposals which focus predominantly or exclusively on the United States are not eligible.
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• 80 fellowships of approximately $20,000 • 9 – 12 months of research. Three to twelve months of international research-depending on discipline. • 2015 IDRF fellowship: July 2015 – December 2016 • Fellowship includes an interdisciplinary workshop upon the completion of IDRF-funded research
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All applicants must request 9-12 months of on-site, site specific research. Select disciplines in the Humanities may request a minimum of 3 months for international on-site research. Art History
Architectural History
Classics Drama/Theater Film Studies Literature Musicology Performance Studies Philosophy
Political Theory Religion
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All other applicants must request 9-12 months of on-site, site specific research with a minimum of 6 months of international on-site research. For example:
Anthropology Geography History Political Science Sociology
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IDRF does not support: • Professional conference participation • Short research trips between US and international site • Transcription • Additional research in a country already funded for significant dissertation research time • Dissertation write-up
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Mellon IDRF Application Requirements Online Application
• Application form • Research Relevance section • 10-Page Proposal (double-spaced) • 2-Page Bibliography (can be single-spaced) • 2 Reference Letters (1 from advisor) • Language Evaluation(s) (if necessary)
Research Relevance
1. How does your research engage with methods and approaches within your discipline? (1600 characters maximum) 2. How do other disciplinary approaches, concepts and debates inform your research? (1600 characters maximum) 3. The Mellon IDRF supports work that increases humanistic knowledge (broadly understood)across the disciplines. In what ways does your project speak to that imperative? (2000 characters maximum)
Components of an IDRF Proposal • An explicit statement of your thesis: the questions you will ask or major hypotheses you will test. Be sure to indicate originality of research topic. • Relevance of the research to concerns of your discipline and other fields. • An explicit description and justification of your research methods. • Preliminary research already completed or plans for research prior to going to your research site(s). • Proposed location(s) for research, explanation of why your project requires the stated on-site research, and a research schedule, justifying how much time you propose to spend at each site.
Things to keep in mind:
• Multi-tier peer review process • Reviewers provide a wide range of disciplinary and regional perspectives • Write in clear, intelligible prose (avoid jargon) • Adhere to guidelines • Take the selection criteria seriously • Submit before deadline
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IDRF Application Deadline
November 4, 2014 9:00pm Eastern Time