Mellon Foundation's New Directions Fellowship program, humanities and humanistic sciences

Award: $300,000 over 2 - 3 years
Deadline: Interest in applying document due 11-10-25. 

Full RFP

Overview

This opportunity seeks to support tenured faculty in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who seek formal training in a discipline outside their current area of expertise. The fellowship is designed to enable sustained, interdisciplinary research by funding up to two years of study, including tuition, salary support (academic year and summer), and related expenses. This is a limited submission opportunity, and UAlbany may nominate only one candidate. 

Important Information

Eligible faculty must have received their PhD between 2012 and 2018 and propose a plan for acquiring new skills or knowledge that will significantly enhance their scholarly work.

Criteria for selection are:  (1) the overall significance of the research, (2) the case for the importance of extra-disciplinary training for furthering the research, (3) the likely ability of the candidate to derive satisfactory results from the training program proposed, and (4) a well‑developed plan for acquiring the necessary training within a reasonable period of time.

Process

Interested faculty should submit a one-page outline by November 10 to AVP of Research and limited-submission coordinator Satyen Kumar ([email protected]) that includes the following:

• Brief explanation of their new field of study, how their current research inspired the new direction and how the new learning will enhance their overall research abilities
• A clear plan for how they will learn about this new field (coursework, mentorship, specific programs)
• How this new direction meshes with departmental and institutional goals.
• How potential funding will be spent

The selected applicant will work with the Office of Sponsored Programs on the application, which is due December 11 (all information to OSP by December 3)