AIBM Graduate Research Fellowship 2026 | $10,000 Per Year for Up to 2 Years
The American Institute for Boys and Men (AIBM) is inviting applications for its Graduate Research Fellowship, supporting emerging scholars conducting rigorous empirical research on issues affecting boys and men.
The fellowship provides $10,000 per year for up to two years and is designed to help build a stronger research field and cohort of scholars studying the challenges and opportunities facing boys and men. AIBM describes its work as focused on rigorous, objective and non-partisan research intended to improve the wellbeing of boys and men.
For the current fellowship cycle, AIBM is particularly interested in research examining men’s employment and labor force participation, online gambling, gaming and pornography, modern fatherhood, and social connection and civic engagement among young men.
About the AIBM Graduate Research Fellowship
The Graduate Research Fellowship is intended to support graduate researchers whose work aligns with AIBM’s mission.
The programme welcomes rigorous empirical research on topics related to boys and men, while maintaining particular areas of interest for the current application cycle.
AIBM’s fellowship programme is part of its broader effort to develop a community of researchers and scholars producing evidence on issues affecting boys and men.
Fellowship Award
Selected fellows receive:
$10,000 per year for up to two years.
Based on AIBM’s published fellowship information, fellowship funds can support research-related expenses such as:
- Interviews
- Fieldwork
- Experiments
- Research participants
- Data purchases
- Stipend support
- Conferences
- Travel
- Fees
- Contributions from project collaborators
The published fellowship guidelines state that the grants cannot cover indirect overhead.
Research Areas of Interest
AIBM states that applications can address any topic related to boys and men, provided the proposed work is rigorous and empirical.
For the current cycle, the organization has identified several areas of particular interest.
1. Men’s Employment and Labor Force Participation
AIBM is interested in research examining the causes and consequences of declining employment and labor force participation among men, particularly men without a four-year college degree.
Potential research may examine questions related to employment patterns, economic opportunity, workforce participation and the factors affecting men’s connection to the labor market.
2. Online Gambling, Gaming and Pornography
Another area of interest is understanding the effects of online gambling, gaming and pornography on boys and men.
This area aligns with AIBM’s broader Boys & Men Online initiative, which examines how digital technologies and online environments influence the social, emotional and financial lives of boys and men. The initiative currently studies areas including sports betting, pornography, gaming, AI companions and cryptocurrency/day-trading.
3. Modern Fatherhood
AIBM is also seeking research that can contribute to a modern, inclusive, strengths-based vision of fatherhood.
This aligns with AIBM’s broader Modern Fatherhood initiative, which examines fatherhood, father figures and the role of fathers and other male role models in the lives of boys and young men.
4. Social Connection, Belonging and Civic Engagement
The current fellowship call also highlights research that can build evidence for solutions strengthening:
- Social connection
- Belonging
- Civic engagement
The particular focus is on young men and approaches that may strengthen their connections to communities and civic life.
Who Can Apply?
The current AIBM fellowship information indicates that the fellowship is intended for graduate students conducting research aligned with the Institute’s mission. AIBM’s published fellowship posting specifies that applicants must be currently enrolled in a Ph.D. programme at an accredited university in the United States.
The programme welcomes researchers from multiple academic disciplines, including:
- Economics
- Political science
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Public policy
- Education
Both qualitative and quantitative research are welcomed.
Students may be at the dissertation stage and seeking support, but applicants do not necessarily have to be at the dissertation stage.
What Kind of Research Is AIBM Looking For?
AIBM’s published fellowship information emphasizes research that is:
- Rigorous
- Empirical
- Relevant to boys and men
- Capable of contributing to the broader field
- Potentially useful for policy discussions and interventions
The Institute’s fellowship programme seeks scholars whose research can contribute to understanding challenges and opportunities affecting boys and men and potentially inform policies and practices.
Applicants whose proposed topic does not fall neatly within one of the highlighted areas may still apply if they can demonstrate a strong connection to the broader field.
Building a Field of Study
AIBM’s fellowship programme is not only intended to fund individual research projects. The organization also describes the fellowship as part of an effort to build a robust field of study and cohort of scholars focused on boys and men.
AIBM currently maintains a community of staff, fellows and student fellows working across areas including education, employment, health, gambling, fatherhood and digital environments.
Examples of Research Areas Within AIBM’s Broader Work
AIBM’s existing fellows and student fellows work on a variety of research questions, including:
- Boys’ education
- Men’s employment
- Family and fatherhood
- Men’s health
- Gambling
- Online pornography
- Male teachers
- Social and emotional development
- Economic policy
- Civic outcomes
- Digital behavior
This illustrates the breadth of research that can fall within the organization’s wider mission.
Application Deadline
The current application deadline is:
15 December 2026
The deadline has been confirmed in AIBM’s current fellowship announcement and related announcement from AIBM representatives.
Applicants should complete and submit their application before the deadline rather than waiting until the final day.
How to Apply
Interested graduate researchers should consult the American Institute for Boys and Men Careers and Opportunities page for the current Graduate Research Fellowship application information.
Applicants should carefully review the fellowship requirements and ensure that their research proposal clearly explains:
- The research question.
- The relevance of the research to boys and men.
- The empirical approach.
- The expected contribution to the field.
- How the research could contribute to policy or practical solutions where appropriate.
Tips for Preparing Your Application
Clearly Define the Research Question
A strong proposal should clearly explain the problem being investigated and why the question matters.
Demonstrate Rigorous Research
AIBM specifically emphasizes rigorous empirical research, so applicants should clearly explain their proposed methodology and evidence base.
Connect the Work to Boys and Men
Make the connection between the proposed research and the wellbeing, experiences, opportunities or challenges of boys and men clear.
Consider Policy Relevance
Research that can contribute to policy discussions or interventions is particularly relevant to the fellowship’s stated objectives.
Show How the Fellowship Supports the Project
Applicants should explain how the fellowship funding would help advance their research, whether through data acquisition, fieldwork, participant recruitment, travel, conferences or other eligible research expenses.
Conclusion
The AIBM Graduate Research Fellowship offers Ph.D. students an opportunity to receive $10,000 per year for up to two years while conducting research related to boys and men.
The current call welcomes rigorous empirical research across a broad range of topics, with particular interest in men’s employment and labor force participation, online gambling/gaming/pornography, modern fatherhood, and social connection, belonging and civic engagement among young men.
According to AIBM’s published fellowship information, eligible applicants are Ph.D. students enrolled at accredited U.S. universities, with applications welcomed from multiple disciplines and both qualitative and quantitative research traditions.
Application Deadline: 15 December 2026.
Prospective applicants should review the official AIBM fellowship information carefully for the complete application requirements and submission process.
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