The University of Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies is inviting applications for its Visiting Research Fellows Program for the 2027–28 academic year. The fellowship offers experienced scholars an opportunity to conduct research in peace studies while engaging with an international academic community at the University of Notre Dame in the United States.
Selected fellows will receive a stipend of $30,000 per semester, furnished accommodation in Institute apartments at no cost, and access to university research resources. Applicants may apply for a single semester or a full academic year, depending on their research plans and available funding.
Applications opened on September 10, 2026, and the deadline is November 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
About the Kroc Institute Visiting Research Fellows Program
The Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, based at the University of Notre Dame, supports research and scholarship focused on understanding and addressing conflict and building sustainable peace.
Through its Visiting Research Fellows Program, the Institute brings outstanding scholars to Notre Dame for a semester or a full academic year. The programme is intended for researchers with substantial academic and research experience whose work connects with the Institute’s ongoing research initiatives.
Fellows are expected to contribute to the Institute’s intellectual community while advancing research that can inform policy, professional practice and peacebuilding efforts.
Research Areas for 2027–28
For the 2027–28 fellowship cycle, applicants are invited to submit proposals addressing one or more of three priority research themes.
1. Intersection of Gender, Race, Class and Peacebuilding
This research area focuses on how intersecting identities and social structures influence peacebuilding processes, power relations and experiences of violence.
The Institute welcomes interdisciplinary research using qualitative, participatory and feminist methodologies. Relevant topics include identity, representation, inequality, structural violence and the relationships between social hierarchies and peace.
2. International Mediation
This theme examines approaches to preventing and ending high-intensity conflicts through international mediation, preventive diplomacy and national dialogue.
Researchers may explore mediation processes, diplomatic interventions and strategies for resolving conflicts before they escalate or supporting efforts to bring existing conflicts to an end.
3. Sustainability, Climate Change, and Peace
This research area explores the connections between environmental sustainability, climate change and peacebuilding, particularly in vulnerable regions.
Potential topics include illegal mining, deforestation, food security, livelihoods and environmental peacebuilding. Fellows working in this area will have opportunities to interact with the broader sustainability fellowship cohort connected to the University of Notre Dame’s Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative.
Across all three themes, preference will be given to proposals with clear relevance to public policy and practical peacebuilding.
Fellowship Benefits
The Kroc Institute Visiting Research Fellowship provides financial and institutional support to help scholars undertake their proposed research.
Benefits include:
- $30,000 stipend per semester for selected fellows.
- Free furnished accommodation in Institute apartments.
- Access to University of Notre Dame library resources.
- Internet access and document retrieval services.
- Opportunities to participate in the Institute’s academic and intellectual activities.
- Engagement with scholars working on peace studies, conflict resolution and related research areas.
- An opportunity to develop research with potential policy and practical applications.
Fellowships begin at the start of a University of Notre Dame semester, in August or January. The duration may be one semester or a full academic year, depending on the applicant’s preference and available funding.
Eligibility Requirements
The programme is intended for experienced scholars with a strong research background and a clear connection to the Kroc Institute’s work.
Applicants must have completed a doctoral degree or an equivalent qualification. Candidates currently enrolled in a PhD programme must complete their doctoral degree before the fellowship begins.
Applicants who have previously held a Kroc Visiting Research Fellowship must wait seven years before applying again.
The Institute also expects applicants to demonstrate academic excellence, explain how their research connects with existing Institute initiatives and show their anticipated contribution to the intellectual life of the institution.
The published eligibility information does not specify a nationality restriction.
Required Application Documents
Applicants must submit a complete application through the Interfolio application system. The required materials are as follows.
1. Cover Letter
The cover letter must not exceed two pages. It should state whether the applicant is seeking a one-semester or two-semester fellowship and identify the relevant research theme.
2. Research Project Proposal
The proposal must be no longer than 10 double-spaced pages, including the bibliography.
It should clearly describe the proposed research, including its sources, data, methodology and analytical approach. Applicants must also provide a research timetable and outline the expected outputs. The bibliography should include citations relevant to the proposed project.
The proposal should explain the significance of the research, why the Kroc Institute is an appropriate place to conduct it and how the project builds on existing scholarship in the field.
3. Curriculum Vitae
Applicants must provide an up-to-date CV highlighting their academic qualifications, research experience, publications and other relevant scholarly achievements.
4. Two Confidential Letters of Recommendation
Applicants must request two confidential recommendation letters through the Interfolio system. These letters should support the applicant’s academic qualifications, research capabilities and suitability for the fellowship.
How Applications Will Be Evaluated
A faculty committee at the Kroc Institute will review applications and make recommendations to the Institute Director.
The selection process considers academic excellence, the strength of the connection between the proposed research and existing Institute initiatives, and the applicant’s anticipated participation in the Institute’s intellectual community.
Successful applicants are expected to contribute to a collaborative research environment while developing work that advances understanding of peace, conflict and related policy challenges.
Applicants selected for the 2027–28 programme will be notified in February 2027.
How to Apply for the Kroc Institute Visiting Research Fellowship
Interested scholars should prepare their application documents and submit them through the official Interfolio application portal.
Application deadline: November 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
For questions about the application process, contact Juan Flores Ramirez at [email protected].
Final Remarks
The Kroc Institute Visiting Research Fellows Program 2027–28 offers an opportunity for doctoral-level scholars to advance research on peacebuilding, international mediation, climate change and sustainability at the University of Notre Dame.
With a stipend of $30,000 per semester, free furnished housing and access to academic research resources, the programme may be particularly valuable for experienced researchers whose work connects scholarship with practical peacebuilding and policy development.
Eligible applicants should ensure that their proposals align with one of the three research themes and that all required documents are submitted before the November 30, 2026 deadline.
