The Center for Research in Feminist, Queer, and Transgender Studies

The Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University, is proud to announce the 2026 call for applications for the Ruth B. Mandel Dissertation Research Awards. These awards – established in honor of CAWP founding director Ruth B. Mandel and made possible thanks to the generosity of Ruth's family – support dissertation research on women, gender, and U.S. politics.

Eligible recipients include advanced doctoral students from any relevant discipline at U.S.-based institutions who have successfully defended their dissertation proposal. We encourage applications from scholars who are traditionally underrepresented in the academy, and we welcome applications for research that analyzes gender in addition to or in conjunction with other categories such as race/ethnicity, class, immigration status, gender identity, and sexual orientation. 

Up to four Ruth B. Mandel Dissertation Research Awards are awarded annually, with the expectation that at least one award will be designated for a Rutgers University student. The application deadline for 2026 awardees will be May 15, 2026.

Copy and Paste Link Below to Apply and Learn More:

https://cawp.rutgers.edu/research-analysis/grants-and-awards/ruth-b-mand...