Faculty Fellowship (EXPIRED)

The Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study (NDIAS) promotes issue-engaged, inclusive, and interdisciplinary study of questions that affect our ability to lead valuable, meaningful lives. Each year, the NDIAS convenes a diverse group of 8-10 Faculty Fellows to conduct research on projects related to its yearly research theme.

During the 2024-2025 academic year, the Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study is sponsoring residential research projects that investigate The Good Life.

The Good Life fellowship program will bring together ethicists, humanities faculty, scientists, social scientists, policy scholars, and artists with projects that advance our understanding of human flourishing. We are particularly interested in projects that contribute to ethical research and debates surrounding flourishing, including foundational topics in philosophy and psychology but also applied questions across many different disciplines. We seek scholars who will deepen our understanding, teach us novel methods, and translate the institute’s discussions into interdisciplinary and public debates about the good life.  

Faculty Fellows typically have a faculty appointment at their home institution, but the Fellowships are also open to independent researchers, public practitioners, postdoctoral scholars, those who have recently received their Ph.D. (or equivalent terminal) degree, those who are pursuing the creative arts, and faculty from Notre Dame. Scholars from outside the U.S. are welcome to apply–there are no citizenship requirements for these fellowships. Current graduate students are eligible to apply only if they will receive their terminal degree by August 1, 2024.

Faculty Fellows receive half their base salary per academic year (up to $75,000), a housing subsidy (for those who currently reside outside of the South Bend area), a research allowance of $500 per semester, and a private office at the NDIAS. Fellows' home institutions provide the remainder of their salaries as well as all benefits, including health insurance.

Postdocs are welcome to apply and receive a stipend of up to $60,000 paid directly to them (rather than to a home institution). Postdocs are also provided health insurance benefits.

All NDIAS Fellows are expected to reside in the South Bend area and to remain in residence at the University of Notre Dame during the period of their fellowship (except for vacation periods, holidays, and University breaks). Preference is given to those who can join the NDIAS for the entire academic year (August - May), but fellowships for shorter periods of time may be possible.

Applications must be submitted through Interfolio and should include the following:

1) Cover letter

2) Curriculum vitae (no more than four pages, single-spaced)

3) Proposal abstract (no more than 400 words)

4) Fellowship research proposal (no more than six pages double-spaced; research proposals may include a works-cited or bibliography page, which does not count toward the 6-page limit). In the research proposal, applicants should provide an explanation of the project they intend to pursue at the NDIAS, including:

• How the proposed research aligns with the research theme and mission of the Institute (see ndias.nd.edu/about);
• Preliminary objectives for the research to be conducted (i.e., whether the research might result in a book, journal article, art work, etc.);
• The proposed work plan (including what research or work has already been accomplished, what will be done during the fellowship period, the methodology to be employed, and the organization of the scholarly project, book, or other work).

5) Public-engagement proposal (no more than two pages, double sided). In the public-engagement proposal, applicants should explain how they plan to engage a public audience with their proposed research project (e.g., through a newspaper op-ed, public discussion, podcast episode, etc.).

6) Two Letters of Reference. The letters should address the strength of the applicant’s proposed research project, its fit with the 2024-2025 theme of The Good Life, and the applicant’s collaborative potential and collegiality.

7) (Optional) Up to two pages of non-text materials supporting the research proposal.

Finalists will be asked to be available for a brief Zoom conversation with committee members during the final stage of the selection process.

All 2024-2025 NDIAS Faculty Fellowship applications, including letters of reference and supporting documentation, must be received by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday, October 2, 2023.