Fung Global Fellows Program — Fellowship

The Fung Global Fellows Program hosts six early-career scholars at Princeton University for one academic year of research, writing and collaboration. It is run by the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS) and directed by Michael Laffan, Paula Chow Professor of International and Regional Studies. Each cohort works around a single announced theme.

The 2026-27 theme is “the Politics of the Archive”; 2025-26 was “Postimperial Spaces of Amnesia”. Fellows hold faculty or professional research posts outside the United States, spend the year in residence at Princeton, present their work in a public seminar series, and return to their home institutions afterwards. The program was endowed by William Fung, a 1970 Princeton engineering graduate and chairman of the Hong Kong group Li & Fung; it marked its tenth anniversary in 2023 and the 2026-27 group is the 14th cohort.

Benefits & funding

Appointment at the rank of Visiting Research Scholar for the academic year. The post pays a salary, issued at the end of each month, in place of a fellowship stipend. The program site does not publish the salary figure.
Princeton health insurance for the duration of the appointment; J-1 holders choose between the Aetna HMO and the J-1 Visa Plan.
J-1 visa sponsorship handled by Princeton’s Davis International Center, with visa fees covered for the fellow and dependants.
Round-trip economy flights and ground transportation to Princeton, arranged by the program.
On-campus housing is usually offered, in furnished units at Olden House or unfurnished apartments at Merwick-Stanworth. It is not guaranteed, and assignments are typically made in June.

Eligibility

A PhD or equivalent degree, generally received after 1 September 2016.
Applicants still enrolled in a PhD program, or employed as postdocs, are not eligible.
A faculty appointment or professional research appointment outside the United States is required, and fellows are expected to return to that position at the end of the year.
Open to any disciplinary background in the humanities and social sciences; research may address any region of the world.
Selection weighs the research project, its relationship to the annual theme, previous scholarly work, the ability to contribute to the intellectual life of the program, and work experience outside the United States.

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Education required
PhD

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Application process

1
Check the program’s Applications page from late August 2026 for the 2027-28 research theme and the open call.
2
Prepare a cover letter of at most 1.5 pages, a CV with publications, a research proposal of at most 3 single-spaced pages, and a writing sample of at most 50 pages.
3
Collect the names and email addresses of three referees.
4
Submit through Princeton’s online application portal, linked from the Applications page. Mailed, faxed and emailed applications are not accepted.
5
Wait for the review. Candidates are contacted around early-to-mid February.
6
On acceptance, arrange the J-1 visa with the Davis International Center and plan to arrive in Princeton on or by 1 September.

Program timeline

17 November 2025
previous cycle (2026-27) closed, 11:59 p.m. EST
Mid-summer 2026
2027-28 research theme announced
Early September 2026
applications open for 2027-28
16 November 2026
application deadline for the 2027-28 year
candidates contacted with decisions
Early-to-mid February 2027
September 2027
fellowship year begins; fellows arrive on or by 1 September