Are you a woman scholar with a doctoral degree, a passion for research, and dreams of conducting groundbreaking work in the United States? The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has officially opened the doors for its prestigious International Postdoctoral Research Fellowships for the academic year 2025–2026 — and it’s fully funded!
What Is This Fellowship About?
The AAUW International Postdoctoral Research Fellowships are designed exclusively for non-U.S. citizen women researchers who wish to carry out full-time postdoctoral research in the United States. With a rich legacy dating back to 1917, this fellowship promotes academic excellence, global collaboration, and the advancement of women and girls in science and other fields.
For those affiliated with Graduate Women International (GWI), up to five additional awards are available to conduct research outside of the U.S. — in any country other than your own.
AAUW Fellowship Value
Each awardee will receive a $50,000 stipend, disbursed in two installments: one at the beginning and the other at the midpoint of the fellowship term. This stipend supports your research, living expenses, and professional development in the U.S.
Fields of Study
The fellowships are available for research in the following natural and physical sciences:
- Biology
- Health and Medicine
- Agriculture
- Chemistry
- Architecture
- Engineering
- Geology
- Zoology
- Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Psychology and Psychiatry
- Materials Science and Physics
- Technology, Data, and Computer Science.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this prestigious opportunity, you must:
- Identify as a woman
- Be a non-U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Hold a doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D., Ed.D., M.D., J.D.) with a minimum CGPA of 3.5/4.0
- Be admitted to your first postdoctoral research position by the application deadline
- Be pursuing full-time research in the U.S. at an accredited institution
- Begin the research by September 1, 2026, and finish on or after May 30, 2027
- Reside in the U.S. (or the country of study) during the fellowship period
- GWI members pursuing research outside the U.S. must do so in a country other than their own and at a recognized international institution.
Application Timeline
The application period for the AAUW International Postdoctoral Research Fellowships will open on August 1, 2025, and close on September 30, 2025. Applicants will be notified of the award decision by April 15, 2026. The official fellowship term will run from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
The first installment of the stipend will be disbursed between July and September 2026, followed by the second installment in January 2027. All fellows must submit their final report by July 31, 2027.