2025-2026 PWH Graduate Fellows Program

Description

The new Perry World House Graduate Fellows Program is designed for graduate students who want to connect their research to global policymaking and effectively communicate the policy implications of their work to broader audiences. This initiative provides students opportunities to practice presenting their work to wider audiences and to interact meaningfully with policy practitioners, distinguished visiting fellows, and leading university faculty.

The core objectives of the program are:

• To encourage graduate students to undertake interdisciplinary research that addresses global policy challenges.
• To facilitate sustained, meaningful dialogue between scholars and policymakers.
• To strengthen students’ abilities to clearly and effectively communicate their research to policy audiences.
• To build a long-term community among graduate students, Perry World House faculty, and global policy experts.

The program will consist of the following components:

• Policy Seminar: The seminar will meet every two or three weeks and will have two core components:
  • Research presentations: Students will talk about their research ideas and practice presenting their work to a more general audience. Modeled on a dissertation seminar, this will be faculty-led and have opportunities for students to receive both substantive and stylistic feedback on their work. PWH visiting fellows will be encouraged to attend to give further feedback from a policy perspective.
  • Skills development: These sessions will focus on topics such as effective policy memo writing, structured briefing, strategic communications, media engagement, and stakeholder management.
• Policy Simulation: Opportunities to participate in interactive policy games and mock negotiations will also be provided.
• Policy Engagement with Visiting Fellows: Graduate fellows will get special access to the distinguished visiting fellows and policy leaders who visit PWH throughout the year.

Selection

We will conduct an annual competitive selection process open to graduate students across all academic disciplines but with a preference for research relevance to the PWH thematic areas. Selection will be based on depth and policy relevance of research, intellectual rigor, interdisciplinary perspective, and potential impact on policy discussions.

Application Instructions

If this seems like the right program for you, please upload the following materials no later than Friday, May 9, 2025 to http://apply.interfolio.com/150986. 

• Your current CV / Resume
• A statement of interest of 450-600 words explaining what you hope to gain from your participation in this program  
• For PhD students: A statement of 400-600 words that describes your research and its policy relevance to policymakers. Please upload this document in the "Additional Documents" section.

Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered. Include your last name in all uploaded documents (e.g., “Smith_CV.pdf”).

For more information about Perry World House, please visit our website

 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.