Meliora Digital & Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowship

In 2013, the University of Rochester received a one-million-dollar grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation aimed at promoting the development of the digital humanities. The grant funds a graduate fellowship program, originally named the Mellon Foundation Graduate Program in the Digital Humanities, that trains humanities students to integrate digital technologies into innovative research programs.

The graduate fellowship provides two years of support to select PhD students from among the departments of English, visual and cultural studies, history, and philosophy, as well as Eastman School of Music departments of music theory, musicology, and composition. For more information visit the Mellon Graduate Program website. Questions may also be directed to program director Joanne Bernardi (joanne.bernardi@rochester.edu) 

Call for applicants 2025

This fellowship includes a stipend of $24,000 and up to $7,375 in research funds.

Eligibility

Any PhD student in good standing in English, History, Philosophy, or Visual and Cultural Studies, or ESM music theory, musicology, or composition is eligible. Students may apply during any year of their tenure as PhD students, and they may submit applications while they are working on any major milestone of their graduate careers (exam preparation, dissertation prospectus, dissertation writing).


Application Requirements

Applications are due Friday, January 17, 2025.  Applications should be sent as a single PDF file by email to humanities@rochester.edu. A successful application will include:

  • A Curriculum Vitae
  • A statement of interest
  • A writing sample that represents the quality of the applicant’s best work. This can be on any topic, ideally something in the 15–30 page range.
  • One letter of recommendation from an advisor (this may be sent separately to the above email address)

Application Review

Applications will be reviewed by a committee formed by the Mel D&I Graduate Fellowship director. Applicants should expect results by Friday, February 28.

Please direct all questions to humanities@rochester.edu