Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowships at Stanford Humanities Center

The Mellon Fellowship of Scholars in the Humanities program is a unique opportunity for recent PhD recipients in the humanities to develop as scholars and teachers. Up to four fellowships will be awarded for a two-year term (with the possibility of a third year extension). Fellows teach two courses per year in one of Stanford’s humanities departments or interdisciplinary programs, where they will be provided office space and a faculty mentor. Fellows will also be affiliated with the Stanford Humanities Center and will have the opportunity to be active in its programs and workshops. Finally, fellows engage with the other members of their program cohort in weekly meetings, where they share current work and have the opportunity to engage with invited guests on topics of professional and intellectual interest.

Program admissions focus on selected fields of scholarship in each application year (on a rotating basis). We invite applicants to apply for fellowships in fields where their work has demonstrable relevance to teaching and research in the designated Stanford department. For fellowships beginning fall quarter of 2027, applications will be accepted from the following fields of study: German Studies, Iberian and Latin American Cultures, Music, and Philosophy.

Applications for 2027-2028 are now open. Apply online.

The deadline is 11:59 PM on October 15, 2026.

Eligibility

• All candidates for the Mellon Fellowship must have received a qualified PhD within the specified time frame: 2026 Competition (for fellowships beginning Autumn 2027): PhD received between July 31, 2023 and July 31, 2027. Please note that, in response to the COVID shutdown, we have extended the period of eligibility from three to four years past the award of the PhD.
• Applicants to the Mellon Fellowship cannot hold PhDs from Stanford University.
• In addition to doctoral students, those currently serving as assistant professors, lecturers, or postdoctorates in other programs may apply, provided they earned their degree within the time frame specified. In general, those who have previously held a position similar to the Mellon Fellowship are less likely to be competitive for this program.
• Doctorates in Arts (DA) and other doctoral degree equivalents may apply, but are unlikely to be selected.