Question

Yes.

fivejedjonYes.

Thank you for the reply.

And if so, is "Who" a subject or a direct object in that interrogative sentence?

Anonymousis "Who" a subject or a direct object in that interrogative sentence?

It is the subject. 'Do you think' is an interpolated comment clause.

Mister MicawberIt is the subject. 'Do you think' is an interpolated comment clause.

Thank you for the reply. Still, I'm not completely convinced. I agree with you that it can be interpreted as this sort of question: In your opinion, who would apply for a fellowship? where who is evidently a subject. But if I take "do you think" as a main clause i

Anonymous But if I take "do you think" as a main clause in that question

It isn't.

AnonymousBut if I take "do you think" as a main clause in that question, then the clause "who would apply for a fellowship" could be a direct object of the transitive "think" as in I think he/she [who] would apply for a fellowship.

While that logic may be acceptable for the semantics of the sentence, grammatical analysis is about the syntax, not the semantics.

CalifJimWhile that logic may be acceptable for the semantics of the sentence, grammatical analysis is about the syntax, not the semantics.

I see. Thank you for the reply.