The Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship
The Ford Postdoctoral Fellowship provides one year of support for scholars engaged in postdoctoral study after the completion of their PhD or ScD. Awards are made to students who have demonstrated superior academic achievement, are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, show promise for future achievement, and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.
The Academic Fellowships Team is here to support you through all steps of the application process. If you are interested in connecting with us to learn more, please contact us at fellowships@brandeis.edu.
Eligibility
- US citizens, US national, and US permanent resident, or DACA students
- Evidence of superior academic achievement
- Must be committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level in the US
- Scholars who have completed all the requirements for a PhD or ScD degree, including the successful defense of the dissertation, no earlier than Dec. 9, 2015 and no later than Dec. 13, 2023.
Application Timeline
- National Deadline: Dec. 12, 2023
Award
- Ford Postdoctoral Fellows receive a $50,000 stipend for one year.
- Fellowship funds may be disbursed through the employing institution if necessary for the continuation of health insurance or other benefits. No dependency allowance is available.
- An invitation to attend the Conference of Ford Fellows
- Access to Ford Fellow Regional Liaisons - a network of former Ford Fellows who have volunteered to provide mentoring and support to current Fellows - and access to other networking resources.
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- Contact Academic Fellowships to set up a meeting to discuss the application process and strategy.
- Write a personal statement (up to 2 pages).
- Write a Statement of Previous Research and Scholarly Productivity (up to 3 pages).
- Write an Abstract of your dissertation (up to 1 page).
- Write a Proposed Plan of Study or Research and long-range career goals (up to 3 pages).
- Write an Annotated Bibliography of 10 key sources, including primary and secondary sources, which are the most important in shaping your research.
- Request 3-5 Letters of Reference from professors that can attest to your academic and personal character.
- Upload unofficial transcripts to the application portal.
- Request a Verification of Doctoral Degree Status Form signed by your graduate advisor or department chair.
The Ford Foundation is seeking scholars who demonstrate the following qualities:
- Evidence of superior academic achievement.
- Degree of promise of continuing achievement as scholars and teachers.
- Capacity to respond in pedagogically productive ways to the learning needs of students from diverse backgrounds.
- Sustained personal engagement with communities that are underrepresented in the academy and an ability to bring this asset to learning, teaching, and scholarship at the college and university level.
- Member of an underrepresented group.
- Your Academic Fellowships Team: Meredith and Elizabeth are here to help you through each step of the process, from exploring the different application components, to choosing your recommendation letter writers, to providing feedback on your essays. Email fellowships@brandeis.edu to schedule a meeting with us!
- Ford Fellowship FAQs: The Ford Foundation has compiled a list of frequently asked questions and their answers. This is a great place to further explore the eligibility requirements, application advice, and more.