Lightning Scholar (EXPIRED)

Perry World House at the University of Pennsylvania invites applications for its 2024-2025 Lightning Scholars Program. This program brings untenured, but tenure-track, faculty at either the assistant or associate level from around the world to Philadelphia for a semester or year of writing, fellowship, and bridging the gap between academia and the policy world.

Since launching in 2016, Perry World House has catalyzed interdisciplinary and policy-relevant research by scholars at Penn and around the globe and convened conversations in Philadelphia on the most pressing global challenges. With fellowship and scholar programs, Perry World House has connected Penn’s students and faculty with the world’s leading academics and policy makers, infusing our research, teaching and, engagement with the ideas, wisdom, and experience of those shaping world events.

This fellowship program allows untenured faculty members at leading research universities around the world to join Perry World House and the Penn community for a semester or full academic year in residence in Philadelphia to produce a major research project or book. While the fellowship program is for faculty working on global affairs topics, preference will be given to faculty working on subjects broadly related to the following themes:  climate change and the environment, Asia-Pacific, transatlantic relations, security and defense, urbanization, immigration/migration, democracy, global health, emerging technologies, and peace and security, and whose work can provide practical policy implications.

This is an in-residence fellowship based in Philadelphia for the semester or year. The ideal candidate can be away from their home institution and settle into the Perry World House community, which will provide the space and support to write as well as the opportunity to collaborate with an interdisciplinary and vibrant group of global affairs scholars and practitioners.

The program’s compensation is significant and negotiated on a case-by-case basis. The program is intended to allow the selected Lightning Scholar to take a comfortable leave from their home institution, often by supporting the difference between a one semester sabbatical provided by the home institution and a full year leave. Although final compensation will depend on the circumstances of each applicant, the program will provide at least $50,000 as well as relevant fees and health insurance, if needed. The fellowship will also include $5,000 in research support, as well as the opportunity to help shape workshops and colloquia at Perry World House.

 Qualifications

Applications, which should be submitted via Interfolio, are welcome from scholars who have either a PhD or equivalent degrees (including a JD), are standing faculty members at a college or university, and are on the tenure track but still untenured. Application for the 2024-2025 Lightning Scholar Fellowship will close at midnight on January 22, 2024.