Philosophers at Risk Visiting Scholar

The Program on Ethics and Public Life at Cornell University invites applications to the Philosophers at Risk Visiting Scholar Fellowship for the academic year of 2024-25.

The visiting position is for a duration of 2–4 months, anytime during the academic year at Cornell. The fellowship provides air-travel expenses; a monthly stipend (see below for standard amount); assistance with US visa application; full access to library and other scholarly resources at Cornell; and other, informal, academic assistance as may be needed. The visiting fellow will be hosted by the Sage School of Philosophy at Cornell.

The monthly stipend is determined based on the following: 

  • $2,400 per month for individual 
  • $1,200  per month for spouse 
  • $500 per month for one child and $400 per month for each additional child, if spouse is coming and will provide childcare
  • $1,100 per month per child, if child is coming without J-2 spouse 

*Applicants do not need to specify in their application the amount of funding needed/ number of family members.

Cornell University is a member of the Scholars at Risk Network, an organization that was established to protect scholars and promote academic freedom.

Who may apply

Application is open to any scholar with a PhD working in philosophy, who is:

  • at serious risk of political, ethnic, or religious harassment or persecution in their country of residence
  • a refugee or in danger of having to emigrate for political or safety reasons
  • at risk in their life or work due to persecution or violence of any kind

The applicant’s field of research has to be in philosophy, broadly construed. The fellowship neither prioritizes nor excludes any method, sub-field, or tradition in philosophy.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted via the application form. The required items to submit are:

  1. CV in English
  2. A brief statement (up to one page) explaining the applicant’s “at risk” status
  3. A writing sample (e.g. article or book chapter) in English
  4. A brief (up to one page) description of the research plans for the visit, including the preferred length of visit
  5. Name and contact information for two senior scholars who can provide letters of reference on your behalf

When to apply

Applications for the academic year 2024-25 can be submitted anytime until May 15, 2024.

The fellowship will be awarded on a competitive basis, reviewed by the steering committee, taking into account academic excellence, urgency of needs, and other relevant circumstances.

For further information please send your query to epl@cornell.edu.

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