Frequently Asked Questions

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About the Program

• What is the Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellowship Program? The Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellowship Program places recent humanities PhDs with NPS sites and programs across the agency. Fellows work with NPS mentors, as well as scholars and community partners from outside the agency, to conduct original research and develop new interpretive and educational products and programming. This opportunity is generously supported by The Mellon Foundation through the National Park Foundation (NPF). The project is administered via a three-way agreement between NPS, NPF, and American Conservation Experience (ACE). 
  
  A pilot phase of the program launched in 2018 with three (3) fellows working across broad thematic areas including gender and sexuality, the history of civil rights, commemoration, and labor studies. Expanded cohorts of fifteen (15) and sixteen (16) fellows will begin work with host sites and programs in the Fall of 2023 and 2024 respectively. Fellowship terms are two-years.
  
  The humanities research supported by program will aide in planning and preparation for America at 250, an agencywide initiative inspired by the semi-quincentennial of the Declaration of Independence. This event provides an opportunity for the NPS to tell more inclusive stories of the nation’s past and present.

How to Apply to be a Fellow

To learn more about upcoming fellowship opportunities and submit an application please visit National Park Foundation. 

• What is the application deadline? The deadline to apply for most fellowships is December 1, 2023, or until 75 applications (per position) have been received, whichever comes first. Please consult individual job announcements to verify deadline information.
   
• What PhD fields are eligible for this Fellowship? Applicants must hold a PhD in the humanities or humanistic social sciences. Fields include but are not limited to American studies; anthropology; archaeology; art history; classics; ethnic studies; film; gender studies; geography; history; languages and literatures; linguistics; musicology; philosophy; political science; sociology; and theater, dance, and performance studies. If you have questions about the eligibility of your PhD field, please contact [e-mail]. 
   
• May I apply if I have the equivalent of a PhD? No. Applicants for the NPS Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellowship Program must hold a PhD in the humanities or humanistic social sciences. Individuals with terminal degrees other than a PhD are not eligible. 
   
• May I apply with a PhD from an overseas institution? Yes. A PhD may come from a non-US institution if work eligibility requirements are met. 
   
• Do I have to be a U.S. Citizen to be eligible? Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen or a permanent resident in order to pass the necessary security background investigations for working on federal equipment. If you are uncertain of your eligibility, please contact [e-mail].
   
• Can the start date of the fellowship be deferred? No. Fellowships must begin on or about August 26, 2024.
   
• Are the fellowships on-site, hybrid, or remote? Residency requirements vary by position. Please consult individual job announcements for more information. 
   
• May I apply to more than one of the NPS Mellon Humanities Fellowship positions? Yes. Applicants can apply to more than one position but must submit a unique cover letter and curriculum vitae for each application.
   
• To whom should I address my cover letter, NPS or the project's host organization? Please address the cover letter generally to “To Whom it May Concern" or "To the Hiring Committee."
   
• To whom should I address my cover letter, NPS or the project's host organization? Please address the cover letter generally to “To Whom it May Concern" or "To the Hiring Committee."