Fung Global Fellows Program - AY 2027-28
A prestigious residential fellowship for early-career scholars to research democratic governance at Princeton University.
Best for:Early-career faculty or research scholars specializing in political science, history, or social sciences with a focus on democracy.
Overview
The Fung Global Fellows Program at Princeton University invites applications from early-career scholars worldwide to join a 10-month residential fellowship for the 2027-28 academic year. This year's theme, "Democracy in Crisis?", focuses on the challenges and resilience of democratic governance, welcoming interdisciplinary perspectives from the humanities and social sciences. Fellows will be appointed as Visiting Research Scholars and are expected to engage in collaborative research and intellectual exchange. Applicants must hold a faculty or professional research appointment outside the United States and demonstrate exceptional scholarly promise. The program aims to foster a diverse cohort capable of deepening the global understanding of democratic vulnerabilities and renewal.
What you'll do
- Conduct independent research on the program theme of democratic governance.
- Participate in weekly seminars and intellectual discussions with the fellowship cohort.
- Contribute to the interdisciplinary academic life of the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies.
- Engage in collaborative dialogue regarding the conceptual and normative foundations of democracy.
- Present research findings or progress during the residency period.
Requirements
Degree required: PhD or equivalent
Language: English proficiency is required for all application materials and program participation.
Instruction: English
Publications: A strong record of scholarly publications is expected.
- Demonstrated outstanding scholarly achievement and intellectual promise.
- Current employment in a faculty or professional research position outside the United States.
- Ability to conduct research relevant to the theme of democratic governance.
- Capacity to contribute to interdisciplinary academic conversations.
- Must have received a PhD or equivalent after September 1, 2017.
- Must be currently employed outside the United States in a faculty or professional research role.
- Must be able to return to their home institution at the conclusion of the fellowship.
- Not eligible if currently enrolled in a PhD program or employed as a postdoc.
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-11-16 (EST)
Applicants must submit their materials through the online portal. The process requires a cover letter, CV, research proposal, writing sample, and the contact information for three referees who will be prompted to upload their letters.
- Cover letter
- CV
- Research proposal
- Writing sample
- 3 reference letters
Contact
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