AAUW American Short-Term Research Publication Grant 2026 – $8,000 for Women Researchers

Grant Description

The AAUW American Short-Term Research Publication Grant is a prestigious funding opportunity designed to increase the number of women in research, development, and academic leadership, and to promote gender equity across all spheres of research. This grant provides $8,000 to support women researchers in preparing research manuscripts for publication. Established in 1888, AAUW American Fellowships are the oldest non-institutional source of graduate and postdoctoral funding for women in the United States.

The grant is open to applicants in all fields of study, though those engaged in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, or those researching gender issues, are especially encouraged to apply. Funding can be used for drafting, editing, or modifying manuscripts; replicating research; responding to issues raised through critical review; or other work to increase the likelihood of research publication.

Grant Location

The grant supports research and manuscript preparation in the United States. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The grant funds can be used to cover living expenses, manuscript preparation costs, and other research-related activities.

Grant Timeline

Applications open on August 17, 2026 and close on September 30, 2026. Applicants are strongly encouraged to start their applications well in advance of the deadline.

Host Institution

AAUW (American Association of University Women) – one of the oldest and largest organisations promoting equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. AAUW has been supporting women scholars through its fellowship and grant programmes since 1888.

Level and Fields of Study

Level: Postdoctoral / Early Career Researchers (must hold a terminal degree at the time of application).

Fields of study: All fields are eligible. However, applicants in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, or those researching gender issues, are especially encouraged to apply.

Allowable activities: Drafting, editing, or modifying manuscripts; replicating research; responding to issues raised through critical review; or other work to increase the likelihood of research publication.

Target Group

Women researchers who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, holding a terminal degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., D.B.A., M.F.A., J.D., M.D., D.M.D., D.V.M., D.S.W., or M.P.H.) at the time of application. Applicants must be listed as the sole author, first author, or an author of equivalent significance on their publication.

Preferred candidates:

• Pursuing research in STEM fields or researching gender issues
• Demonstrated resilience in overcoming life challenges
• First in their family to attain a bachelor's degree
• Lead or hail from single-parent households

Grant Duration & Amount

Grant Amount: $8,000, disbursed in a single tranche at the beginning of the award term (with a second disbursement following the mid-year report).

Duration: The grant supports manuscript preparation work over the award year (approximately July 2027 – July 2028).

Allowable expenses:

• Living expenses (housing, food, dependent care)
• Manuscript preparation costs (drafting, editing, modifying)
• Replicating research
• Responding to issues raised through critical review

Prohibited expenses: Field work, purchase of research equipment, research assistants, previous expenditures, institutional (overhead) costs, tuition for dependents' education.

Grant Eligibility

Essential criteria:

• Gender: Applicants must identify as a woman.
• Citizenship: U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Degree: Must hold a Ph.D., Ed.D., D.B.A., M.F.A., J.D., M.D., D.M.D., D.V.M., D.S.W., or M.P.H. at the time of application.
• Authorship: Must be listed as the sole author, first author, or an author of equivalent significance on the publication.
• Not eligible: Current AAUW Board members, employees, review panelists, immediate family of above, previous national AAUW fellowship or grant recipients (excluding Community Action Grants), tenured professors, and applicants for another national AAUW fellowship or grant in the same year.

Application Procedure

1. Check eligibility – Ensure you meet all criteria: identify as a woman, hold a terminal degree, and are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
2. Prepare required documents – Gather the following:
   • Letters of Recommendation – two letters from advisors, professors, or colleagues professionally familiar with your work
   • Proof of Degree – copy of terminal degree or official transcript showing conferral of degree and date
   • Transcript – official transcript confirming conferral of terminal degree, including courses and grades
   • Certified translations – for all documents in languages other than English
3. Create account and start application – Visit the AAUW Fellowships & Grants Application Portal on the AAUW website. Create an account or log in.
4. Complete online application – Fill out all sections of the application form, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
5. Register recommenders – Provide professional email addresses for your two recommenders. The system will send them personalized links to submit their recommendations online. (AAUW does not accept references from dossier services like Parment or Interfolio.)
6. Submit before deadline – Submit your completed application by September 30, 2026 at 5:00pm ET. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
7. Review process – Applications are reviewed by panels of distinguished scholars and experts. Panel funding recommendations are subject to final approval by AAUW.
8. Award notification – Successful applicants are notified in April 2027.

Important notes:

• AAUW strongly encourages applicants to access the application portal and start their applications well in advance of the deadline.
• It is the applicant's responsibility to remind recommenders of the deadline. An application will not be considered complete until recommendations have been submitted.
• Awardees must complete the full award acceptance process. Award status is not final until all acceptance materials have been received, reviewed, and approved.
• Grantees are prohibited from pursuing a degree during their award year.

Official Website & Application Link

AAUW American Short-Term Research Publication Grants – Official Page

AAUW Fellowships & Grants Application Portal: Available via the AAUW website.

AAUW Main Website: https://www.aauw.org

Contact: AAUW Awards Team – contact information available on the official website.