The AERA Minority Dissertation Fellowship in Education Research is now accepting applications for the 2025 award cycle. Established in 1991 by the American Educational Research Association (AERA), this fellowship supports doctoral students from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, including African Americans, Alaskan Natives, American Indians, Asian Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, and Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders. Its primary goal is to enhance diversity in the field of education research by providing financial support, mentoring, and professional development opportunities to outstanding graduate students.

The fellowship provides a $25,000 stipend for a one-year period, beginning in July 2025 or later. As a write-up fellowship, it allows recipients to focus full-time on completing their dissertations. Award funds may be used for tuition, living expenses, travel, books, equipment, software, and other research-related needs. Fellows are required to include travel and lodging expenses for the 2026 AERA Annual Meeting in their budgets. In addition to financial support, fellows will present their research during an invited poster session at the Annual Meeting and participate in a Mentoring and Career Development Workshop designed to help transition into postdoctoral programs, faculty positions, or careers in applied research.

The fellowship is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. Applicants must be enrolled in doctoral programs at accredited U.S. institutions and be at the dissertation writing stage by the start of the fellowship period. Programs may be in education research, humanities, or social or behavioral sciences, such as economics, history, political science, psychology, public policy, or sociology. Applicants must provide proof of advancement to candidacy at the start of the fellowship and work full-time on their dissertations during the award period.

The program supports a wide range of education research topics, including school experiences, STEM education, curriculum studies, achievement and opportunity gaps, bullying and restorative justice, and English language learners. Projects may address issues across various educational levels, from early childhood to the workforce. Applicants are encouraged to employ rigorous research methods, including quantitative, qualitative, archival, or mixed-methods approaches. Studies focusing on specific racial and ethnic groups, social classes, genders, or persons with disabilities are especially encouraged.

Applications must be submitted through the AERA Apply online portal by 11:59 PM PST on December 9, 2024. Required materials include a dissertation research prospectus (up to 8 pages), a timeline for completing the dissertation, a curriculum vitae (CV) (up to 2 pages), a budget, an unofficial graduate school transcript, and two letters of recommendation. The research prospectus should detail the dissertation’s abstract, problem statement, theoretical framework, methodology, anticipated findings, and dissemination plan. Recommenders, including the applicant’s dissertation advisor, must upload letters directly to the portal before the deadline. Applicants should request letters well in advance to ensure timely submission.

Applications will be reviewed based on the quality and rigor of the proposed research, the applicant’s readiness to complete the dissertation, and the potential scholarly impact of the work. Selected fellows will be notified in early 2025.

For additional information or questions, applicants can contact fellowships@aera.net or call 202-238-3200. The AERA Minority Dissertation Fellowship in Education Research offers an exceptional opportunity for doctoral students to advance their research, receive mentorship, and prepare for academic or research-focused careers. Applicants are encouraged to carefully follow all guidelines and submit their materials by the deadline.