Predoctoral Fellowship Program

The predoctoral program is a one- to two-year fellowship open to college graduates from all disciplinary backgrounds who are interested in studying under-represented groups while pursuing a PhD in the SNF Agora disciplines. Predoctoral fellows will be paired with two faculty mentors and one graduate student mentor and devote approximately 40 hours per week to pursuing multidisciplinary learning.

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in any field, awarded no earlier than 2021, and must not currently be enrolled in a PhD program. We encourage applications from individuals who plan to pursue a PhD in political science, sociology, or history.

The program actively encourages applications from scholars who are first-generation college graduates; or who come from limited-income backgrounds; or who attended Minority-serving Institutions (MSIs), including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). In accordance with federal, state, and local law, the selection process will not consider scholars’ race, ethnicity, or gender.

The SNF Agora Academy seeks fellows who will engage actively in a multidisciplinary scholarly community, benefit from academic and professional mentorship, and take part in research development opportunities. Applicants must show interest in topics that directly relate to the institute’s mission.

Program Structure

Predoctoral Fellows will work with two faculty mentors and one graduate student mentor. They will take part in events and opportunities across campus and will commit to 40 hours per week of multidisciplinary learning. Fellows will manage their own schedules, dividing time as follows:

Research Experience (50%)

• • Work as a research assistant for faculty mentors

  • Pursue independent research interests, literature reviews, and writing

Intellectual Engagement (25%)

• • Attend bi-weekly academic seminars within the institute and related departments

Scholarly Preparation (25%)

• • Take one graduate-level course per semester to build skills and knowledge for future doctoral study

  • Participate in monthly fellow cohort meetings

The SNF Agora Institute will appoint fellows for a one-year renewable term. Fellows will also take the GRE and complete graduate school applications with support from faculty, graduate students, and campus resources. The program aims to prepare each fellow to enter a PhD program of their choice after their two-year tenure.

Fellows will receive a stipend, a modest relocation allowance, and a modest conference and research budget. The institute will cover the cost of two GRE sittings, ten graduate school applications, and the submission of official transcripts and test scores.

For more information about this program, email [email protected].