Applicants must have received their PhD, EdD, or equivalent research degree between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019. The proposed project must be a research project. The NAEd recommends reading The Art of Writing Proposals, an article published by the Social Science Research Council, for guidance on writing a strong proposal. Applicants may not be employees of the Spencer Foundation or the National Academy of Education. This is a non-residential fellowship, and international applicants are encouraged. Scholars may conduct their research at their home institution or at another research site that they have arranged. During their fellowship tenure, fellows are required to attend three professional development retreats hosted by the NAEd and to make a formal presentation of their research to the Academy. The NAEd provides additional travel funds for fellows to attend these meetings.