MMUF Adjunct Faculty Fellowships
The Adjunct Faculty Fellowships provide time and resources to focus on the research and scholarship necessary to secure a tenure-track position. MMUF Adjunct Faculty Fellows are alumni of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF).
This program is funded by The Mellon Foundation.
INTRODUCTION
About the Program
MMUF Adjunct Faculty Fellowships are part of the MMUF Advancement Program, whose Fellows gather to prepare graduate school applications, receive funding for additional research, and professional support throughout their dissertation research. MMUF Advancement Program Fellows are alumni of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) program and bring diverse perspectives to their graduate studies and careers in the academy, ensuring their perspectives are shared within their disciplines and with their students.
The MMUF Adjunct Faculty Fellowship provides time and resources for focus on the research and scholarship necessary to secure a tenure-track position.
The Challenge
A need for funding for junior scholars committed to teaching and conducting research in the academy.
The Fellows
431 grants have been awarded through the MMUF Advancement Program and 80% of scholars have earned their doctorate.
The Impact
Young adults have increased access to multiple perspectives and deepen their understanding of people of all backgrounds.
WHY APPLY?
Benefits of Fellowship
The MMUF Adjunct Faculty Fellowship gives emerging scholars the protected time, financial support, and professional guidance they need to advance their research and strengthen their path to a tenure-track career. Over six months, Fellows receive funding to deepen their scholarship, gain mentorship, and receive structured support that helps them refine their research agenda, build confidence as teacher-scholars, and prepare competitive applications for tenure-track positions.
- Dedicated time and funding to focus deeply on the research and scholarship needed for a competitive tenure-track application.
- Personalized mentorship from a senior scholar who provides guidance, feedback, and professional support.
- A structured runway to clarify your research agenda and strengthen your academic profile.
- Opportunities to expand your professional network through engagement with mentors, peers, and conference participation.
- Clear support for the next career step, helping you prepare strong tenure-track materials and a plan for advancing in the academy.
Award & Selection Details
Award Information
The Adjunct Faculty Fellowship provides each Fellow with a six-month period during which to focus on the research and scholarship necessary to secure a tenure-track position. Two fellowships are awarded each year.
Who can apply?
- Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Programs alumni
- Adjunct faculty in one of the designated fields (see fields below)
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States as of November 1, 2024 (include copy of green card if a permanent resident).
Award Requirements
- Teach one course during the Fellowship period
- Complete the proposed research
- Submit a final report including a plan for application to tenure track positions
- Eligible fields include: Humanities: Area/Cultural/Ethnic/Gender Studies, Art History, Classics, English, Film, Cinema and Media Studies (theoretical focus), Musicology, Ethnomusicology and Music Theory, Foreign Languages and Literatures, History, Linguistics, Literature, Performance Studies (theoretical focus), Philosophy and Political Theory, Religion and Theology, Theater (theoretical focus) | Social Sciences: Anthropology and Archaeology, Demography, Sociology, Geography and Population Studies
Applicants who are selected as finalists are notified in December and must participate in an interview with the selection panel in January. If you have not been selected to interview, your application will continue to undergo evaluation, with notification of your status in late February.
Meet Hassani Scott
“I definitely will be applying to different doctorate programs. And I can say that with conviction. I wasn’t able to say that a couple of weeks ago [before the GAP bootcamp].”
Hassani Scott
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Career Enhancement Adjunct Faculty Fellowship include?
The Fellowship includes a $10,000 stipend. The six-month Fellowship period allows Fellows to focus on the research and scholarship necessary to secure a tenure-track position. Fellows are also provided with an assigned mentor and a small informal professional network to provide support during the Fellowship and preparation for tenure-track applications.
Must I teach during the six-month Fellowship period?
Fellows must teach one course during this Fellowship.
When are new Fellowship awards announced?
New grant awards are announced in mid-to late February.
How is the stipend disbursed to Fellows?
Stipends are sent directly to the Fellows in January or June depending on the fellowship term.
If selected, may I defer the Fellowship?
Fellowships may not be deferred.
What reporting is required of Career Enhancement Adjunct Faculty Fellows?
Career Enhancement Adjunct Faculty Fellows are required to submit a final report at the end of the grant period that includes a plan for application to tenure-track positions. The Fellow is also required to keep the Institute for Citizens & Scholars abreast of their status in acquiring a tenure-track position. Fellows will receive occasional surveys from the foundation to monitor progress and be updated with targeted communications.
I have a doctoral degree other than a Ph.D. Am I eligible to apply?
You must hold a Ph.D. to be eligible for this fellowship
I do not see my field of study in the list of eligible fields. Is my program eligible for support?
Only fields which have been designated by Mellon Foundation are eligible for support (see eligible fields). To ask about the eligibility of a particular field you may contact us at careerenhance@citizensandscholars.org.
Am I eligible if my field of study is categorized within the physical sciences (Computer Science, Earth/Environmental/Geological Sciences, Ecology, Geology, Mathematics, Oceanographic/Marine/Atmospheric/Planetary Science, Physics and Astronomy)?
Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellows whose field of study is in the physical sciences should contact us to inquire about their eligibility at careerenhance@citizensandscholars.org.
Are social work and clinical psychology eligible fields of study?
No, only fields designated by the Mellon Foundation are eligible. (See eligible fields)
When must the application materials be received on the deadline date?
All application materials must be RECEIVED by October 31, 2025 at 5 pm ET.
How should letters of recommendation be submitted?
Letters of recommendation should be submitted through the online application.
Still have questions or need help deciding where to begin?
Please direct any questions to Mellon Program Associate, Ritu Mukherjee at mukherjee@citizensandscholars.org.
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