Postdoctoral Fellows Program
The Watson Institute offers a range of postdoctoral opportunities for outstanding young scholars in the social sciences. The aims of the program are to support participants in their own research, enhance their interdisciplinary literacy and contribute to meaningful and enduring collaborative exchange.
Postdoctoral Fellows Program
The Watson Institute offers a range of postdoctoral opportunities for outstanding young scholars in the social sciences. The aims of the program are to support participants in their own research, enhance their interdisciplinary literacy and contribute to meaningful and enduring collaborative exchange.
The Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University aspires to promote a just and peaceful world through research, teaching, and public engagement. Central to this mission is the Watson Postdoctoral Fellows Program, an effort to galvanize the careers of young social scientists conducting research related to the Institute’s three core thematic areas: development, governance/public policy, and security. Participants in this program will join an interdisciplinary community of scholars engaged in theoretically and substantively important research addressing the most pressing global issues of our time. Fellows receive two years of support, with the expectation that they will pursue research and participate fully in the intellectual life of the Institute. Fellows will also teach one course per year in the undergraduate international and public affairs program. Watson Institute is especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute, through their research, teaching, and/or service, to the diversity and excellence of the academic community.
Applying to the Program
The application for the Watson Institute Postdoctoral Fellows Program 2025-2027 will be open from early September to October 19, 2024.
Full application details, and the application itself will be posted on Interfolio.
The fellowship competition is open to candidates from the social sciences, including anthropology, economics, history, political science, and sociology. The selection process, open with regard to nationality and geographic area of research, is highly competitive and typically 6 fellowships are awarded in a given year. Scholars who have received their PhDs within two years of the application deadline are eligible to apply. Individuals who are currently – or have previously been – postdoctoral fellows in other programs are not eligible to apply. Fellows will receive an annual stipend of $75,000, for this benefits-eligible position. Additional funding will be made available for research expenses and research-related programming on campus. Candidates selected for the Postdoctoral Fellows program must have defended their dissertation by July 1, 2025. To receive full consideration, the following materials should be submitted by October 19, 2024 to the application portal.
- A cover letter stating the applicant's academic field, status of their dissertation, and proposed research to be conducted during their fellowship period. The cover letter should not exceed 2,000 words and should make clear where in the Institute's core areas of security, development, or governance the proposed research best fits. Please also include a statement about teaching in a diverse and inclusive classroom.
- An up-to-date curriculum vitae.
- A copy of each graduate transcript.
- A writing sample, preferably of publish ready quality.
- A proposed syllabus for an upper level undergraduate course in the area of international and public affairs.
- Three letters of recommendation from scholars familiar with the applicant’s research.
Review of applications will begin on October 19; to receive full consideration applications should be received by that date. Awards will be announced by January 31, 2025.
For further information regarding the Watson Institute Postdoctoral Fellows Program, please contact:
- Professor Rose McDermott, Faculty Director of the Watson Postdoctoral Fellows Program, rose_mcdermott@brown.edu.
- For information about the application process, please email: Watson_Applications@brown.edu or contact Interfolio at help@interfolio.com
- Program Manager: Hayden Reiss; hayden@brown.edu.
Research and Media
View All Research and Media NewsNews from Watson
View All Postdoctoral Fellows Program NewsCurrent Fellows
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Laura Acosta
Postdoctoral Research Associate in International and Public AffairsAreas of Expertise Ethnic Conflict & Civil War, Social Movements -
Volha Biziukova
Postdoctoral Fellow in International and Public Affairs -
Tomás Gold
Postdoctoral Research Associate in International and Public AffairsAreas of Expertise Democracy & Elections, International Institutions, Political Economy, Social Movements -
Sonia Planson
Postdoctoral Research Associate in International and Public Affairs and SociologyAreas of Expertise Children & Families, Education, Immigration, Displacement & Borders, Race, Identity & Ethnicity -
Apekshya Prasai
Postdoctoral Research Associate in International and Public AffairsResearch Interests Ethnic Conflict & Civil War, Gender -
Averell Schmidt
Postdoctoral Research Associate in International and Public AffairsResearch Interests Human Rights, International Institutions, US Foreign Policy -
Catherine Sirois
Postdoctoral Fellow in International and Public Affairs, 2023-2024Areas of Expertise Bureaucracy, Children & Families, Criminal Justice, Health & Welfare, Inequality & Poverty -
Latoya M. Teague
Postdoctoral Fellow in International and Public Affairs, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Simmons CenterAreas of Expertise Children & Families, Education, Gender, Human Rights, Race, Identity & Ethnicity -
Leyla Tiglay
Postdoctoral Research Associate in International and Public AffairsAreas of Expertise Nuclear Weapons, Science & Technology Policy, US Foreign Policy -
Kimberly Turner
Postdoctoral Fellow in International and Public Affairs -
Saul Wilson
Postdoctoral Fellow in International and Public AffairsAreas of Expertise Bureaucracy, Political Economy, Urban Policies & Politics, Urbanization -
Yan Xu
Postdoctoral Fellow in International and Public AffairsAreas of Expertise Entrepreneurship, Political Economy, Science & Technology Policy, Supply Chains, Technology & Innovation