The NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship encourages a new generation of scholars from a wide range of disciplines and professional fields to undertake research relevant to the improvement of education. This fellowship supports candidates whose dissertation projects bring innovative and insightful approaches to the history, theory, analysis, or application of formal and informal education. As a highly competitive initiative, this fellowship annually identifies and supports some of the most exceptional researchers conducting dissertation studies relevant to education. To receive the fellowship, applicants must be candidates for the doctoral degree at a graduate school within the United States. US citizenship is not required. They must complete all pre-dissertation requirements by June 1 of the award year. Applicants must provide a clear and specific plan for completing the dissertation within one or two-years; and propose an education research project. The dissertation topic must focus primarily on education, but the fellowship welcomes graduate students from any academic discipline or professional field. Fellowship recipients have included candidates from anthropology, architecture, art history, communications, economics, education, history, linguistics, literature, philosophy, political science, psychology, public health, religion, and sociology. The fellowship does not limit eligibility to these fields. Candidates should demonstrate their interest in conducting educational research after earning their doctorate. Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation: one from the applicant's dissertation director/chair and one from another faculty member. Please visit the fellowship's website for more information.