NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship
The NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship supports doctoral candidates completing innovative education research, offering funding, mentorship, and professional development to advance impactful scholarship in the field.
Funder: Spencer Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2026 (full application deadline, all materials and recommenders due by 5:00 PM ET, projected)
Funding Amounts: $27,500 for one academic year; 35 fellowships awarded annually; non-renewable
Summary: Supports doctoral candidates in the final stages of dissertation writing on innovative education research projects.
Key Information: Applicants and recommenders must submit all materials by the deadline; U.S. institutional affiliation required, but citizenship is not.
Description
The NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship, funded by the Spencer Foundation and administered by the National Academy of Education, supports promising doctoral candidates as they complete dissertations focused on education research. The fellowship is designed to advance new foundational knowledge in education by providing financial support, professional development, and mentorship to scholars whose work demonstrates innovation and the potential for significant impact on education policy, practice, or theory. Fellows benefit from two professional development retreats and the guidance of a senior scholar mentor, enhancing both their research and professional trajectories.
