Visiting Research Scholar | Fung Global Fellows Program

Princeton University; United States; On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Princeton University invites applications for the Fung Global Fellows Program at PIIRS. The program selects early-career scholars to be in residence for 10 months and to engage in research and discussion around the theme Democracy in Crisis?

Candidates must hold a faculty or professional research appointment and plan to return to their current position after the fellowship. The work location is on campus in Princeton, with the fellowships awarding at an academic year with scholarly contribution

Qualifications

• Eligible applicants must have earned a Ph.D. (or equivalent) generally after Sept 1, 2017.
• Fellowships awarded to scholars employed outside the United States with faculty or professional research appointments.

Responsibilities

• Engage in research and participate in discussions around the theme “Democracy in Crisis?.”
• Be in residence at Princeton for an academic year (10 months) and share work with the PIIRS community.

Education

Ph.D. (or equivalent)

Job description

Organisation/Company Princeton University Department PIIRS Research Field Political sciences History Anthropology Sociology Economics Other Researcher Profile Established Researcher (R3) Positions Other Positions Application Deadline 16 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (America/New_York) Country United States Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 36.25 Offer Starting Date 1 Sep 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Princeton University is pleased to announce the call for applications to the Fung Global Fellows Program at the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS). 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.

During the 2027-28 academic year, the program theme will be " Democracy in Crisis? " We invite applications from scholars who study the challenges confronting democratic governance and/or the sources of democratic resilience. Projects might explore the drivers and dynamics of populism; the erosion of democratic norms and institutions; the role of media, technology, and disinformation in shaping political life; the relationship between economic inequality and democratic legitimacy; or the strategies through which citizens, civil society, and institutions have defended or renewed democratic practice. We are equally interested in work that interrogates the conceptual and normative foundations of democracy itself – what it means, who it serves, and how it has been imagined and contested across different political and cultural traditions.

Applicants may address any region of the world and can bring contemporary and/or historical perspectives to bear. We welcome scholars from across the humanities and social sciences and hope to bring together a cohort whose comparative and interdisciplinary conversations will deepen our understanding of democracy's vulnerabilities and its capacity for renewal.

Should an offer be made, successful candidates who hold faculty appointments or professional research appointments will be required to submit an official letter from their current employer affirming that they would be permitted to accept the offer and to spend the academic year at Princeton University.

The work location for these positions is in-person, on campus at Princeton University. These positions are not eligible for sponsorship of an H-1B visa requiring consular processing; other visa sponsorships may be available, as appropriate.

Qualifications

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. For more information, see: https://funggfp.princeton.edu/applications .

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

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.

Additional Information

Pay Transparency Disclosure

The University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's qualifications, work experience, education/training, key skills, market, collective bargaining agreements as applicable, and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The posted salary range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate for a full-time position; salaries for part-time positions are pro-rated accordingly.

The University also offers a comprehensive benefits program to eligible employees. Please see this link for more information.