Application Guidelines

General Membership Guidelines:

The online application is now live. You may apply here.  

Applicants must have a substantial record of publication and a Ph.D. awarded no later than July 31, 2026. Scholars are not required to hold a current institutional affiliation. Qualified candidates of any nationality are invited to apply.

Application Deadline: October 15, 2026

Dates of Membership: 

Term I: September 20 – December 17, 2027 & Term II: January 10 – April 14, 2028 

Membership Eligibility Requirements: 

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent, awarded no later than July 31, 2026.

Scholars are expected to reside at the Institute for Advanced Study or in the immediate Princeton area during the term(s) of their Membership.

Application Requirements: 

  • A completed online application
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Research proposal (maximum 1,500 words)
  • One-page bibliography related to the proposal
  • Three writing samples, published or in proofs, from peer-reviewed sources
  • Two reference letters (only required for applicants who received their Ph.D. in 2020 or later)

Funding: 

  • Up to $40,000 for a single term and $80,000 for a full academic year. 
  • A limited reimbursement for travel expenses to incoming Members from outside the Princeton area. 

Membership for Early-Career Scholars: 

Eligible Membership applicants may indicate in the application if they wish to be considered for the Mellon Fellowship for Assistant Professors.  

Recent Ph.D. recipients may apply separately for a Postdoctoral Fellowship. It is not possible to apply for both a Membership and a Postdoctoral Fellowship. 

All applicants will access the same online application to apply for any program. 

Mellon Fellowship for Assistant Professors:

  • Received their Ph.D. between January 1, 2020 and July 31, 2026.
  • Currently Assistant Professors at a college or university in the U.S. or Canada.
  • Able to return to their current institution after the fellowship. 

Short-listed applicants for the Mellon Fellowship for Assistant Professors will be invited for a video interview on Friday, January 15, 2027. 

Postdoctoral Fellowship:

  • Received their Ph.D. between July 1, 2024 and August 31, 2026.
  • One opening for a scholar in the field of Medieval Studies.
  • Two openings for scholars in the field of Europe & the World post 1800.
  • At least one writing sample published in a peer-reviewed source.
  • Annual stipend of $75,000, with the possibility of a renewed contract for the 2028-29 academic year.

Short-term Visitorships for less than a full term and no stipend are also available ad-hoc. To inquire about a Visitorship opportunity, contact the Administrative Officer at [email protected]. For any inquiries, email [email protected]. 

All applicants will be notified of decisions of the selection process by February 2027 via email. 

For more information, visit our FAQs page.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.