Application Deadline March 10, 2025

Pre-Dissertation Fellowship

Opportunity

The Watson Ph.D. Fellows program is seeking pre-dissertation fellowship applications from first- and second-year Brown Ph.D. students in the core Watson departments — anthropology, economics, history, political science or sociology — who are working in the areas of development, governance and/or security. Up to six recipients would be on a year-long fellowship in their second or third year (2025-26), during which they would serve as teaching assistants for one semester, stay active in the fellows program, and be eligible to request up to $5,000 in research funding. The fellowships are supported by the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs.

Eligibility

First- or second-year Ph.D. students in one of Watson's core departments — anthropology, economics, history, political science or sociology — are eligible and encouraged to apply for a full year of support (including a stipend and health fees) if they are in good standing in their home departments and interested in acquiring the interdisciplinary skills and knowledge they'll need to study development, governance and/or security, broadly defined, in the years to come. 

Selection criteria

Fellows will be selected by the Graduate Affairs Committee on the basis of their faculty references, scholarly performance to date, and demonstrated potential and fit with the program's goals and pedagogical needs.

Requirements

In addition to staying in good standing in their home departments, fellows are expected to meet three additional program requirements:

  • Teaching: During their year-long appointments, fellows will be required to serve as a teaching assistant for one semester for an International and Public Affairs (IAPA) Foundations course in development, governance or security (e.g., IAPA 1001: Foundations of Development, IAPA 1002: Foundations of Policy and Governance, IAPA 1003: Foundations of Security). During their non-teaching semester, they will be on fellowship.  

  • Coursework: Fellows must take a graduate-level IAPA course or a graduate course related to development, governance or security that is (1) offered in one of the four core Watson departments outside of their home department and (2) approved by the Graduate Affairs Committee. 

  • Participation: Fellows are also expected to participate informally in broader Watson activities, including lectures, workshops, collaborative research and social activities.

Research and travel funding

Fellows can access up to $5,000 in research and/or travel funding. This funding has a separate application process, the details of which can be found here.

Applicants must submit the following via UFunds:  

  1. A current CV.

  2. A 500-750 word statement explaining the applicant's interest in the program, the relationship of their research to one or more of the core Watson themes of development, security or governance, how their research would benefit from the program, and their teaching preferences and experience.

  3. A copy of the applicant's internal Brown transcript.

  4. A sample of a relevant research paper, article or book chapter.

  5. A letter of recommendation (to be submitted by faculty via UFunds) from a Brown faculty member who can speak to the applicant's research and fit with the program. 

Applicants with questions should contact Hayden Reiss at Watson_Fellows@brown.edu or the Incoming Director, Andrew Schrank, at Andrew_Schrank@brown.edu. 

Applications are due March 10, 2025, and decisions will be made by April 4.