McNeil Center Dissertation Fellowship Program

Funding: $32,000 stipend for nine-month term (shorter one-semester terms available at prorated amount). Who can apply: Doctoral candidates from any PhD-granting institution (not limited to Penn), in dissertation research or writing stage, project addressing histories/cultures of North America and the Caribbean in the Atlantic world before 1850. Length: 9-month standard term (one-semester option available). Office space and library privileges at the University of Pennsylvania campus. Field: Discipline-specific (early American studies) residential dissertation-writing fellowship open to candidates from any university. Deadline: Annual program; applications normally due early February. The 2026-27 cohort (at least 8 fellows) has already been appointed - the next open cycle (for 2027-28) is expected to follow the same November-open/February-due pattern; confirm exact dates on site.