Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS) Fung Global Fellows Program 2027/2028

Published: September 07, 2026
Deadline: November 16, 2026
Category: Fellowship
Oppotunity Locations: United States

Applications are currently being accepted for the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS) Fung Global Fellows Program 2027/2028. Interested applicants are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.

About PIIRS Fung Global Fellows Program

The program will select early-career scholars from around the world to be in residence at Princeton for an academic year (10 months) and to engage in research and discussion around a common theme. The fellowships will be awarded to those employed outside the United States who have a faculty appointment or a professional research appointment, and they will be expected to return to their positions at the conclusion of the fellowship. Lastly, they must have demonstrated outstanding scholarly achievement and unusual intellectual promise. Early-career scholars will be appointed at the rank of Visiting Research Scholar.

Democratic governance faces mounting pressure around the world. The rise of populist movements, declining trust in institutions, polarization, disinformation, and democratic backsliding (including in democracies once considered as consolidated) have prompted renewed debate about whether democracy’s ascendance in the late 20th century was more fragile than assumed. At the same time, democracies have proven resilient in unexpected ways—through grassroots mobilization, institutional safeguards, judicial independence, and civic renewal—raising the question of what, precisely, allows some democratic systems to weather crisis while others erode or collapse.

School: Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies

Benefits of PIIRS Fung Global Fellows Program

The fellowship provides time, resources, and a prestigious platform to advance research, connect with global peers, and contribute to critical debates on democracy

PIIRS Fung Global Fellows Program Requirements

To be eligible, applicants must have received their Ph.D. (or equivalent) generally after September 1, 2017. Candidates who are currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program or employed as postdocs are not eligible to apply. Fellowships will be awarded on the strength of a candidate’s proposed research project, the relationship of that project to the program’s theme, the candidate’s scholarly record, and their ability to contribute to the intellectual life of the program.

Eligibility Requirements

Early-career scholars will be appointed at the rank of Visiting Research Scholar. To be eligible, applicants must have received their Ph.D. (or equivalent) generally after September 1, 2017. Candidates who are currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program or employed as postdocs are not eligible to apply.
Fellowships will be awarded to those employed outside the United States who have a faculty appointment or a professional research appointment, and they will be expected to return to their positions at the conclusion of the fellowship.
Fellowships will be awarded to candidates who have already demonstrated outstanding scholarly achievement and exhibit unusual intellectual promise but are still at the beginning of their careers.
Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Application Date and Process

The following items must be submitted by the applicant, in English, by November 16, 2026:

Cover letter (1.5 pages maximum)
Curriculum Vitae (including publications)
Research proposal (maximum of 3 pages, single spaced)
One writing sample (article or book chapter, maximum of 50 pages)
The names and email addresses for three referees, who will be contacted automatically by the online application system with an invitation to upload their letter of recommendation to the system by the application deadline. (*Please note: all letters of reference should be submitted by your referees before the November 16, 2026, deadline.*)