For Prospective Postdoctoral Fellows

The King Center Postdoctoral Fellows Program offers fellowships to outstanding new PhDs who have a demonstrated ability to generate high-quality, policy-relevant research on critical issues related to global development.

The program is intended for promising new PhD recipients—coming from fields such as computer science, earth systems science, economics, engineering, health policy, political science, and sociology—to pursue policy-relevant research on topics related to international development and poverty alleviation. Postdoctoral Fellows should expect to be active members of the community of development researchers at Stanford University.

Postdoctoral Fellows are also eligible to apply for Global Development Research Funding at the King Center.

The King Center’s Postdoctoral Fellows Program particularly encourages applications from women and minority PhD recipients, and from scholars from low- and middle-income countries, as well as from others whose backgrounds and experience would contribute to the diversity (broadly defined) of the program.

The King Center provides a competitive fellowship stipend, plus support for travel and research expenses.

The King Center is no longer accepting applications for this year. The application for the following year will be posted in fall 2023.

See current and former Postdoctoral Fellows

Eligibility

Applicants must have received a PhD from an accredited university before the appointment start date. Visa sponsorship and work authorization is possible for successful applicants.

Although all are welcome to apply, reviewers may give greater weight to applicants who do not currently hold a postdoctoral fellowship or tenure-track faculty position or to those with PhDs from institutions other than Stanford. Applicants should address their circumstances in their applications.

Stanford is an equal opportunity and affirmative action institution and welcomes applications from all qualified applicants. Consistent with its obligations under the law, Stanford prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, marital status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.  

Evaluation and selection

Candidates will be evaluated by faculty reviewers in their own fields and in related fields. Reviewers will evaluate candidates according to their academic accomplishments, the alignment of their research agenda with the King Center’s mission, their potential contribution to the postdoctoral fellows program and the educational activities of the King Center, and their potential for faculty careers that will contribute to advancing diversity and equal opportunity through their teaching, research, and service.
 
Faculty reviewers also may consider the availability of a King Center Faculty Affiliate to provide relevant and field-specific mentoring.

Application

Candidates will need to upload the following materials in PDF format:

• a CV;
• a cover letter;
• an education and background statement of no more than 500 words describing your personal background and contributions to and/or demonstrated commitment to diversity and equal opportunity through your academic career;
• a job market paper or academic writing sample.

In your application, you will also be asked to identify King Center Faculty Affiliates who could serve as a faculty mentor if you are selected as a King Center postdoctoral fellow. There is no need to reach out to faculty at this stage in the application process.

You will also be requested to provide contact details for three references. After your application is submitted, the online application will send emails directly to your three references requesting that they upload their recommendation letters through a provided URL that will connect the uploaded documents to your online application. You must submit your application before the online system will send the URL and instructions to your references.