Applications will be accepted from May 1, 2008 to November 1, 2008.

 Eligibility

 Fellows must be currently enrolled in a doctoral program and have completed their first year.  First-year graduate fellows are not eligible.
 
Fellows may receive a total of $5,000 in PRD or GSE grants during these years.  Fellows who have received installments of the grant under the previous structure are eligible for the remainder of the monies totaling $5,000.  For example, third-year fellows who have received two $1,000 grants may apply for a maximum of $3,000 under this structure.

The Pre-doctoral Research Development (PRD) grant is available to second through fifth year students. It may be used for small scale, preliminary research and other activities that support the early investigation of data sources, field sites, data sets and archival materials.    The PRD is subject to a $3,000 maximum and may be received one time.

The Graduate Studies Enhancement (GSE) grant is available to second through fifth year students. It may be used to defer the cost of conference travel, equipment, books, journal subscriptions, software and other necessary supplies.  The GSE is subject to a $1,500 annual maximum and may be received four times.

We recommend that fellows carefully plan how they will use the new grant opportunities.  They have been redesigned to allow greater flexibility.  Fellows should consider how to allocate the available $5,000 during these years.  For example, students may want to apply for the GSE in the second year; the PRD in the third when they are beginning preliminary research and apply for another GSE in the fourth year to defray costs such as books and journals.

Available Only for 2008-2009 Grant Cycle 

The Dissertation Completion Grant (DCG) is available to fellows beyond the fifth year of graduate study.  It may be used to defer the cost of conference travel, equipment, books, journal subscriptions, software, and other activities that support the investigation of data sources, field sites, data sets and archival materials.  The DCG is subject to a $2,500 maximum and may be received one time.

Mellon Fields of Study

In order to be eligible for the grant, fellows must be pursuing a doctorate in one of Mellon-designated fields listed below:

Anthropology
Area Studies
Art History
Classics
Computer Science
Demography
Earth Sciences
Ecology
English
Ethnomusicology
Foreign Languages
Geology
History
Literature
Mathematics
Musicology
Philosophy
Physics
Political Theory
Religion
Sociology

Fellows who enter Ph.D. programs in a field not listed above must formally petition for recognition of the graduate program before applying for the Predoctoral Grant. For more information on petitioning for Mellon Mays benefits, please contact: mellonmays@ssrc.org