The Cornell Brooks Center on Global Democracy Non-Resident Fellowship Program is designed for academics and practitioners to engage in research on democracy and policy. The CGD Fellowship Program is a one-year, non-residential fellowship designed to expand networks, encourage research collaboration, and engage with scholars from around the world.

APPLY TO BECOME A CGD NON-RESIDENT FELLOW

Who is eligible?

 We are looking for scholars and policymakers/ practitioners who are working on research related to the CGD mission, with a focus on the annual themes (2025 – 2026):

• civic education and citizens’ democratic engagement
• crisis, governance, and development
• democracy and technology
• democracy and climate
• democratic backsliding, resilience, and resistance
• media, political communications, political psychology, and democracy

FAQs

• We will engage your expertise on specific collaborative research projects on the above themes, and you will be provided opportunities to present your work in person (conferences, speaker series) and in writing through CGD outlets with support from our communications and research team.
• The stipend is $2000 (upon completion)
• The position lasts one academic year (October 15, 2025 – October 14, 2026)
• A cover letter (2 pages maximum) is required in addition to a CV, and a writing sample (academic article and/or policy brief), in addition to the questions asked in the form.

Benefits

Research Reach
The CGD will assist you with dissemination of your research expertise to a variety of public, policy, and academic audiences. As a fellow, you will be featured in CGD’s networks and prioritized for communications and research team support in writing rapid response and research summaries. When writing a policy brief paper with CGD, you will receive assistance promoting your paper through policy briefs, podcasts, social media, and infographics. We also encourage fellows to spread awareness about the work of other CGD members to relevant actors and communities.

Available Research Assistance
Access our new DARE (Democratic Attacks and Resistance Events) datasets, perform insightful analyses, and get assistance in your work from our research team while doing so. You are also guaranteed 20 hours of research assistance per semester from CGD’s undergraduate research assistants, including literature reviews, fact-finding, referencing assistance, etc.

Expanding a policy community of Democracy Research and Practice
CGD wishes to promote an intellectual community where academics and practitioners can learn and work together. Fellows will be a key part of this collaborative community by participating in CGD seminars and workshops, connecting with the CGD network, a monthly media spotlight for each Fellow, and attending our CGD conferences and speaking opportunities.

What’s expected from Fellows?

• Participate in invited CGD conferences, seminars, and workshops (in person and online)
• Produce 2 CGD Policy Briefs and 2 media outreach (CGD podcast, op-ed, or other)
• Collaborate on ongoing research projects as a coauthor, or other contributions determined in consultation with CGD on the 2025 – 2026 research theme.
• Participate in a CGD Service Activity, such as reviewing working papers, chairing or discussing a CGD Work-in-Progress session, or assist with CGD student mentoring
• Propose and organize an online workshop, special issue, or call for papers
• Conduct and/or disseminate research that aligns with the CGD mission and annual substantive themes

Timeline