National Institute of Social Sciences (NISS) Dissertation Grant Program

NISS Dissertation Grants are designed to support outstanding Ph.D. students who need additional resources to complete doctoral work that promises to significantly advance their fields of study. NISS anticipates making several grants up to $5,000 each. Grants may be used to cover any necessary expenses related to completing a dissertation, including but not limited to travel to a library or archive, photography or photocopying, field research, and conference support.

UChicago Deadline

April 10, 2026

Eligibility

NISS seeks projects in the fields of Anthropology, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. Interdisciplinary projects that include one or more of these fields as a major component may also be considered.

Application Process

Eligible doctoral students at the University of Chicago must apply to be nominated through UChicagoGRAD. Each application should include the following:

• Curriculum Vitae

• Complete NISS 2026 Cover Sheet, which includes several short answer questions.

• A personal statement of no more than 750 words describing the project and any relevant skills you will bring to the work

• A one-page project budget

In addition, the following should be submitted separately:

• A letter of support from your academic sponsor that addresses (1) your academic qualifications and (2) the merits of your research

Please submit all applications to UChicagoGRAD Fellowships at grad-fellowships@uchicago.edu no later than April 10, 2026 at 11:59PM CT.