Deadline: December 1, 2025
Are you an early-career academic eager to connect your research with global policy impact? Applications are now open for the Perry World House Lightning Scholars Program 2026-2027 at the University of Pennsylvania. This fully funded fellowship offers a unique opportunity for emerging scholars worldwide to deepen their research, engage policymakers, and advance real-world change through innovative global policy engagement.
About the Perry World House Lightning Scholars Program
The Perry World House Lightning Scholars Program 2026-2027 is hosted by the Perry World House at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA. The programme supports untenured or tenure-track faculty from research universities across the globe.
Scholars are invited to join Perry World House for a semester or the full academic year to focus on developing a major writing project or book. During their residency, fellows engage with policymakers, practitioners, and the University of Pennsylvania community, building bridges between cutting-edge academic research and pressing global policy challenges.
Thematic Focus Areas
Applicants are expected to align their work with one or more of Perry World House’s four central global themes:
- Climate and Sustainable Development
- Democracy and Global Order
- Global Justice and Human Rights
- Global Security and Emerging Technologies
These themes reflect the institution’s commitment to advancing interdisciplinary solutions that address the world’s most urgent problems.
Benefits of the Lightning Scholars Program
Selected scholars will:
- Spend a semester or full academic year in residence at Perry World House, University of Pennsylvania.
- Receive financial support negotiated on a case-by-case basis to enable full participation in the residency.
- Gain access to the University’s rich intellectual ecosystem, including interdisciplinary workshops, policy dialogues, and networking opportunities.
- Collaborate with peers and experts to transform academic research into actionable global policy insights.
The programme is designed to provide space and support for intensive writing, reflection, and policy engagement, positioning fellows as leaders in their fields.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Perry World House Lightning Scholars Program 2026-2027, applicants must:
- Be untenured or tenure-track faculty members at research universities worldwide.
- Hold a Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree.
- Conduct research relevant to the programme’s thematic focus areas (climate, democracy, justice, or security).
- Be available to reside in Philadelphia for the fellowship period (semester or full year).
Note: Applicants outside the tenure-track system (e.g., lecturers or adjuncts) may not be eligible unless otherwise specified by the programme.
Application Details
- Application Deadline: 1 December 2025
- Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Fellowship Duration: One semester or full academic year (2026–2027)
- Funding: Fully funded (negotiated to match the scholar’s institutional leave needs)
- Open to: Scholars from all countries
Applications are submitted through Interfolio, the University’s official platform for fellowship and faculty opportunities.
Tips for a Strong Application
- Highlight policy relevance: Clearly show how your research connects with pressing global policy issues.
- Align with the themes: Explicitly tie your project to at least one of the programme’s four focus areas.
- Demonstrate impact: Illustrate how your work can inform real-world decisions or inspire collaboration between academia and practice.
- Prepare early: Start assembling your CV, research proposal, and letters of recommendation well before the deadline.
- Negotiate institutional leave: Coordinate with your home university to ensure you can fully participate in the residency.
Why Apply for the Perry World House Lightning Scholars Program
This fellowship goes beyond traditional academic sabbaticals. It allows scholars to write, engage, and lead within a dynamic interdisciplinary and international environment.
If you are a rising academic who wants to shape global conversations, the Perry World House Lightning Scholars Program 2026-2027 offers the ideal platform to expand your impact, grow your network, and contribute to global policy innovation.
Application Deadline: 1 December 2025
📄 Click here to Apply via Interfolio
🔗 Read more about the Perry World House Lightning Scholars Program
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