An announcement from the SSRC International Dissertation Research Fellowship Program Read

The International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF) program supports the next generation of scholars in the humanities and humanistic social sciences pursuing research that advances knowledge about US Indigenous or non-US cultures and societies. Since its inception in 1997, the IDRF program has funded more than sixteen hundred projects, with research spanning the globe. The IDRF program is funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

2022 Cohort of IDRF Fellows
Announcing the 2022 International Dissertation Research Fellows

This class of fellows, the program’s final cohort, will include 60 graduate students conducting research across 13 disciplines—from political science and area studies to geography, education, and Native American studies—in 12 regions worldwide.

Opportunities

International Dissertation Research Fellowship Competition

The Mellon International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF) offers six to twelve months of support to graduate students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who are enrolled in PhD programs in the United States and conducting dissertation research on Native American or non-US topics.

Learn More
IDRF Photo Competition 2021
The International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF) Photo Competition is offered every year to IDRF recipients. Prizes are awarded for the best single photo, the best self-portrait, and the best photo essay, following a vote by IDRF fellows and staff.
Learn More

Featured Publications

Book
Bangkok Utopia: Modern Architecture and Buddhist Felicities, 1910-1973
Lawrence Chua
Book
Cairo Since 1900: An Architectural Guide
Elshahed, Mohamed
Book
Waste Siege: The Life of Infrastructure in Palestine
Stamatopoulou-Robbins, Sophia Chloe
Blog Post
Genetic Nationalism and the Middle East: A Conversation with Elise K. Burton
Ryan Zohar
Article/Essay
Isolated Research, Mortuary Practices, and the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Conversation with Sohini Chattopadhyay
Isha Tendolkar
Article/Essay
Studying Social Movements in Covid-19 Times: A Conversation with Samantha Agarwal
Isha Tendolkar

People

Joel Andreas
Johns Hopkins University
Sergio Delgado Moya
Emory University
Paul Hanebrink
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Sunila Kale
University of Washington
Fabio Lanza
University of Arizona
Kris Manjapra
Tufts University
Justin McDaniel
University of Pennsylvania
Nara Milanich
Barnard College
Evan Mwangi
Northwestern University
Sylvester Okwunodu Ogbechie
University of California / Santa Barbara
Rhacel Salazar Parrenas
University of Southern California
Amy Ross
University of Georgia
Jane A. Sharp
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Brian Silverstein
University of Arizona
Shannon Speed
University of California / Los Angeles

Resources

Application Portal

Log in or create an account to manage and submit your application.
IDRF Fellows Network

A hub of resources for IDRF fellows and alumni, including the fellow directory, forums, information on workshops, and more.
From Our Fellows Series

Read essays and interviews on emerging research in the social sciences by recipients of SSRC funding.
On the Art of Writing Proposals

Adam Pzreworski and Frank Salomon provide suggestions for applicants to SSRC competitions in this 1995 article.
2021 IDRF Application Webinar

Learn more about the IDRF application process in this webinar with IDRF program director Dr. Daniella Sarnoff.
IDRF Evaluation Criteria

Applications to the International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF) program undergo four review stages, each with their own evaluation criteria.

Funders and Partners

Mellon Foundation
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