Deadline: January 16, 2026
Applications are open for the Wilson Center Research Fellowship Program 2026-2027. The Wilson Center invites scholars, practitioners, journalists, and public intellectuals to take part in its flagship Fellowship Program. Fellows conduct research and write in their areas of interest, while interacting with policymakers in Washington and other fellows. The Center accepts policy-relevant, nonpartisan fellowship proposals that address key foriegn policy challenges confronting the United States and the world.
Fellows will work remotely during their tenure with the Wilson Center. The program will include a trip to Washington D.C. at the start and end of the fellowship, as paid for by the Wilson Center. The fellowship will commence on June 1, 2026 and end on May 30, 2027.
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars aims to unite the world of ideas to the world of policy by supporting pre-eminent scholarship and linking that scholarship to issues of concern to policymakers in Washington. The Wilson Center promotes nonpartisan research as a commitment to evidence-based scholarship that seeks to inform, but not advocate for a particular political viewpoint.
Stipend
- The Center offers a stipend of $10,000 per month for a twelve-month fellowship.
Eligibility
- Applicants from academia must have a PhD and have published a book or monograph beyond the PhD dissertation.
- Applicants from government, policy, or the nonprofit sector must have achieved a level of professional distinction and experience equivalent to advanced academic standing. This is typically at least 10 years of relevant experience and a record of substantial policy impact, publication, or leadership in their field.
- Applicants must be proficient in English, as the Center is designed to encourage the exchange of ideas among its fellows and provide educational opportunities to Congress.
The focus of each fellow’s tenure will be their research project. Project proposals must meet the following criteria to be considered:
- Projects must be nonpartisan in nature.
- Projects must focus on at least one of the following scholarship pillars of the Wilson Center: strategic competition, economic statecraft, technology and innovation, and regional scholarship.
- Primary project outputs may include but are not limited to a book manuscript, series of long-form articles, or a briefing roundtable series for policymakers. Additional projects demonstrating a high-level of scholarship may be considered.
- Primary project outputs may not include rewriting or completion of doctoral dissertations; projects in the visual arts, dance, or musical composition; editing of texts, papers, and documents; or preparations of textbooks, anthologies, translations, or memoirs.
Application
A complete application must include the following:
- The completed Fellowship Application Form.
- A current CV that does not exceed 3 pages, using 12-point font.
- A project proposal that does not exceed 5 pages, using 12-point font.
- A description of how you intend to contribute to the Wilson Center community, that does not exceed 200 words.
- 2 letters of reference.
All materials must be submitted in English. Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 pm ET on January 16, 2026.
For more information, visit Wilson Center Research Fellowship.