Vitor Martins Dias and Vladimir Chlouba
Visiting Researchers

Postdoctoral Visiting Fellowships

Since 1983, the Kellogg Institute for International Studies has offered visiting fellowships to promote interdisciplinary international research in a supportive community of scholars. In recent years, this widely respected residential program has offered space for post-doctoral students to work as peers to our Visiting Fellows. The Kellogg Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship offers time to pursue scholarly development, advance your research portfolio, and develop your skills as you prepare to enter the academic job market. 

As a postdoctoral fellow, pursue research related to the Kellogg Institute’s themes of democracy and human development, interact and engage with Kellogg Faculty Fellows, present your work to the Institute’s community, and engage with other scholars and practitioners from around the world. Fellows also have the opportunity to publish in Kellogg’s peer-reviewed Working Paper Series.

An Ideal Scholarly Environment

While at the Kellogg Institute, postdoctoral fellows interact with leading scholars one-to-one and through the Institute’s seminars and lectures, international conferences, roundtable discussions on world affairs, and cultural events.

The facilities at the Hesburgh Center are ideal for scholarly research. Fellows have spacious offices, on-site information technology support, and full access to library services, as well as other campus facilities.

Postdoctoral Visiting Fellowships include:

  • Very competitive stipend
  • Research funding
  • Medical insurance benefits
  • Partial housing subsidy for the Hesburgh Center Residences adjacent to the Kellogg Institute offices, or other on-campus housing conveniently located
     

Who is Eligible?

We invite applications from scholars who conduct international research on our themes of global democracy and/or human development. Applicants may come from any country and must have earned a PhD no more than three years prior to the beginning of the fellowship.

Most successful applicants will work in a social science discipline or in history. Advanced ABD graduate students may apply, but awards are contingent on their having completed the PhD before June 30 of the starting fellowship year.
 

Eligibility Considerations (for non-US citizens/residents)

For non-US citizens/residents please consider: 

  • Advanced English language proficiency is required.
  • Foreign nationals must have a valid passport and be able to obtain a J-1 Visa.
     

Other Considerations

According to US immigration regulations, an individual who completes a period of stay of less than five years as a J-1 professor or research scholar and does not have another appointment immediately following the termination of said stay, cannot return to the US as a J-1 professor or research scholar until the individual has been outside the US for a minimum period of two years. This two-year bar is different from the two-year home residency requirement normally issued to J-1 scholars.

For program information, please contact Lupe Ramírez at gramirez@nd.edu

Application Process

Kellogg Institute fellowship applications are submitted through our online system in Interfolio.

A complete application will consist of the following documents uploaded through the online application system, along with filling out the Visiting Fellowship Application Form and Institutional Required Information Form (IRIF):

  • Cover letter addressing your interest in the fellowship and specifying your preferred term of stay
  • Curriculum vitae
  • A research project statement (6–10 double-spaced pages)
  • Project Abstract (150 words max)
  • Short Bio (200-300 words)
  • Three names and email address for letters of recommendation
Competition for A/Y 2026 -27 - Applications open August 1, 2025 - October 1, 2025

 


Fellowship Terms

Postdoctoral fellowships are awarded for an entire academic year (August to May.) Two-year postdoctoral fellowships may be offered upon demonstrated interest by the applicant and are subject to renewal with the Kellogg Institute during the first year.

Annual Visiting Fellow Competition

The application for the 2026-27 academic year opens on August 1, 2025 with the deadline of October 1, 2025.


How Are Fellows Selected?

Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis. A committee composed of Kellogg Institute Faculty Fellows evaluates the applications based on the following selection criteria:

  • The individual's scholarly record and potential
  • The problem being addressed and the interest and importance within and beyond the researcher’s field
  • The study's relationship to the research themes of the Kellogg Institute
  • The quality of the research design, including basic hypotheses, research methodology, and the kinds of data or evidence the researcher is considering
  • The importance and originality of this project and it’s clarity to someone outside the applicant’s discipline
  • The quantity and quality of work the researcher would be able to complete during his/her time at the Institute
Frequently Asked Questions

Visiting fellows are given the option to lease a subsidized and furnished on-campus faculty apartment.

As full-time salaried employees, Visiting Fellows have coverage through Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield and other providers for medical, dental, and vision insurance; and access to an onsite medical facility.

The stipend is $80,000/year.

One-year postdocs are paid over 12 months; if a second year is approved, the second-year stipend is paid over the additional 12 months.

Yes, $2,000/year is available in travel funds.

Expectations

Residency

Fellows are expected to be in residence during their tenure at Kellogg. Absences of more than a few days are discouraged and require the Director’s permission.

Presentation

Fellows are expected to give at least one presentation of their current research.

Participation

Our visitors are an important part of the scholarly community at the Institute. We expect fellows to attend and participate in the weekly seminar and lecture series and most Kellogg events.

Publication

We expect fellows to publish the results of research undertaken and/or completed during their stay. We ask that such publications contain an acknowledgment of Kellogg Institute support.

Working Papers

Kellogg has its own peer-reviewed Working Paper series to which fellows must submit at least one paper for consideration, either during or shortly after their stay.

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