Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Humanities 2026 – Wolf Humanities Center, University of Pennsylvania

Fellowship Description

The Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Humanities at the Wolf Humanities Center, University of Pennsylvania, is a prestigious residential fellowship for early-career humanities scholars. Each academic year, the Center awards five (5) one-year fellowships to scholars who are no more than five years out of their doctorate. The fellowship supports interdisciplinary research and writing, with preference given to candidates not yet in tenure-track positions.

The programs of the Wolf Humanities Center are conceived through yearly topics that invite broad interdisciplinary collaboration. For the 2027–2028 academic year, the topic will be Empire. Fellows will have the opportunity to engage with a cohort of scholars across the humanities, participate in the Center's weekly Mellon Research Seminar, and teach one course in a Penn humanities department.

Fellowship Location

The fellowship is based at the Wolf Humanities Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA. Fellows are required to be in residence for the duration of the fellowship (July 1, 2027 – June 30, 2028).

Application Deadline

The application deadline for the 2027–2028 fellowship year is November 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

Host Institution

The Wolf Humanities Center at the University of Pennsylvania is a leading center for interdisciplinary humanities research. The Center supports innovative scholarship and brings together a community of scholars, artists, and intellectuals to address pressing human questions. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation provides generous funding for these postdoctoral fellowships.

Level and Fields of Study

Level: Postdoctoral.

Fields: The fellowship is open to scholars in the humanities and allied fields. Eligible fields include:

• Literature and Languages
• History
• Philosophy
• Art History
• Anthropology (with humanities focus)
• History of Science
• Religious Studies
• Classics
• Comparative Literature
• Cultural Studies
• Gender Studies
• Performing Arts (scholars of performance)

Not eligible: MFA, EdD, or any other doctorate such as EdD; social scientists (unless humanities-aligned); scholars in educational curriculum building; performing artists (unless scholars of performance).

Target Group

The fellowship is open to all scholars, national and international, who meet eligibility requirements. Preference is given to candidates not yet in tenure-track positions whose proposals are interdisciplinary and would particularly benefit from and contribute to Penn's intellectual life.

Visa requirement: International scholars outside of North America are appointed under a J-1 visa (Research Scholar status). The Wolf Humanities Center reserves the right to revoke the offer if the recipient is unable to meet this condition.

Fellowship Duration & Amount

Duration: 12 months (July 1, 2027 – June 30, 2028).

Stipend: $67,000 minimum (for the fellowship year).

Research Fund: $3,000 for research expenses.

Health Insurance: Discounted single-coverage health insurance is provided.

Fellowship responsibilities:

• Teach one course in one or more humanities departments or programs in Penn's College of Arts & Sciences
• Participate in the Center's weekly Mellon Research Seminar (Tuesdays, 12:00–2:00)
• Collaborate on planning a public symposium on the annual topic (Empire)
• Participate in professional development workshops
• Be appointed a faculty mentor

Fellowship Eligibility

Essential criteria:

• PhD timeline: Must have received or will receive their PhD (or DPhil) between May 2022 and December 2026. Scholars who will graduate in 2027 are not eligible.
• Degree: PhD (or international equivalent, such as DPhil) is the only eligible terminal degree. Ineligible degrees include MFA, EdD, or any other doctorate.
• Field: Must be in the humanities or allied fields (e.g., anthropology, history of science). Social scientists, scholars in educational curriculum building, and performing artists (unless scholars of performance) are not eligible.
• Career stage: Preference given to candidates not yet in tenure-track positions.
• Interdisciplinarity: Proposals should be interdisciplinary and would particularly benefit from and contribute to Penn's intellectual life.
• Residence: Fellows are required to be in residence for the term of the fellowship.
• Open to all: Scholars from all nationalities (international scholars require J-1 visa).
• Penn graduates: Scholars who received or will receive their PhD from the University of Pennsylvania are welcome to apply.

Application Procedure

1. Review eligibility – Confirm you meet all criteria: PhD between May 2022 and December 2026, humanities field, interdisciplinary proposal, and availability for residence.
2. Prepare application materials – Gather the following:
   • Cover letter
   • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
   • Research proposal (interdisciplinary, aligning with the topic "Empire")
   • Writing sample (e.g., dissertation chapter or published article)
   • Teaching statement (or statement of teaching interests)
   • Names and contact information for three academic references
3. Submit your application online – Applications are submitted through the Wolf Humanities Center's online application portal. The deadline is November 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
4. Application review – Applications are reviewed by a selection committee. Decisions are announced by email in February 2027.
5. Offer and acceptance – Successful candidates receive an offer and must confirm acceptance by the specified deadline.
6. Visa processing – International scholars outside of North America are appointed under a J-1 visa (Research Scholar status).

Important notes: Only complete applications submitted by the deadline will be considered. Late applications will not be accepted. The Wolf Humanities Center reserves the right to revoke the offer if the recipient is unable to meet the J-1 visa condition.

Official Website & Application Links

Wolf Humanities Center – Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship Official Page

Wolf Humanities Center: wolfhumanities.upenn.edu

Contact: For questions about the fellowship, visit the Wolf Humanities Center website or contact the Center directly.