Social Science Research Council (SSRC) LEGO Foundation Fellowship 2026

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About SSRC LEGO Foundation Fellowship

The LEGO Foundation Fellowship is a global initiative supporting researchers working to deepen our understanding of how children thrive. Spanning disciplines from education and psychology to public health, data science, and humanitarian studies, the fellowship brings together early- and mid-career scholars whose work has the potential to generate evidence that matters for children’s lives.

• Sponsor Organisation: Social Science Research Council (SSRC)

Benefits of SSRC LEGO Foundation Fellowship

The fellowship offers:

• Flexible research funding of USD 300,000 over three years, inclusive of 15% indirect costs.
• Funding administered by the fellow’s host institution.
• Support for eligible research costs, including research personnel, professional travel, equipment, dissemination, trainee support, and related project costs.
• Access to a cohort of fellows working on children’s thriving across disciplines and contexts.
• Opportunities for exchange with other fellows, researchers, practitioners, and partners including at convenings hosted by the LEGO Foundation.
• Media channels to disseminate your work to a broader audience.
• Recognition as part of the LEGO Foundation’s network.

SSRC LEGO Foundation Fellowship Requirements

The fellowship is open to early- and mid-career researchers from around the world who are employed by a university or research institute and have received their PhD or equivalent research doctorate within the past 10 years.

Applicants should demonstrate:

• A strong record of research accomplishment relative to career stage.
• A clear and original research agenda related to one or more fellowship themes.
• Strong methodological grounding and a feasible plan for the fellowship period.
  Interest in engaging with an interdisciplinary fellowship cohort.

Applicants must:

• Hold a PhD or equivalent research doctorate by July 31, 2026.
• Have received their PhD within the past 10 years, subject to any approved career-break policy.
• Be employed by a university or research institute at the start of the fellowship.
• Be able to have fellowship funds administered by their host institution.
• Submit an individual application.
• Propose work that aligns with one or more fellowship themes.

Application Date and Process

Application materials

• A standard online application form

• A resume or CV (two page limit)

• A research abstract (250 word limit)

• A personal statement (500 word limit) that explains a) your inspiration for pursuing research into childhood development; b) how the proposed research will contribute to scholarly knowledge on the topic; and c) how the proposed research will support your capacity for leadership in moving discovery into practice. 

• A research proposal (5 page limit) that includes:

  • Relevance. Clearly articulate the research question you will answer.

  • Original contribution. Describe the practical implications of the proposed research. How will your research findings be useful to other scholars, practitioners, and/or policy makers?

  • Methods. Describe the methods you will use for your research, the type of data you will collect, how you will analyze these data, and steps you will take to ensure that the data and analysis are reliable. Explain why you have chosen the proposed approach for the given question. If your research includes human subjects, you must include your plans for obtaining IRB approval.

  • Feasibility. What practical, conceptual, or logistical challenges do you anticipate? How do you plan to address them during the fellowship term

  • Work to date. A brief description of related research work done to date, noting any preliminary analysis informing the proposed research.

  • A budget (1 page limit) and budget justification (2 page limit).

• A selected bibliography (2 page limit) relevant to the proposed research.

Application Deadline

31 July, 2026

Opportunity Application

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