USIP seeks applications from doctoral candidates at U.S. universities with high-quality, policy relevant research that will deepen our understanding of conflict management, peacebuilding, and security issues. Applicants must have completed all required Ph.D. coursework and comprehensive exams and have an approved dissertation research proposal. Priority will be given to applications closely related to the USIP Issue Areas and/or research priorities of the Minerva Research Initiative.

Special consideration will be given to proposed research in the following areas*:

• Reducing violence and addressing other factors, including organized crime, that destabilize communities and fuel migration from Central and South America, the Caribbean, and other regions.
• Promoting democratic transitions and counteracting violent extremism in strategic regions, including West Africa, the Sahel, and East Africa.
• De-escalating tensions in the areas of the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the Indo-Pacific where deterrence mechanisms are underdeveloped, under stress, or breaking down.
• Countering the tactics used by U.S. adversaries to incite conflict and undermine U.S. influence in countries of strategic importance.

*See the USIP FY'25 Congressional Budget Justification for more information on the above topics.

Application Requirements

Applications will be selected based on the strength of the proposed research and its potential to make original contributions to the field. Applications that do not address a topic listed above or draw a clear connection to either the USIP or Minerva mission will not be considered.

Application Process

Applicants must prepare and submit an online application. USIP will not provide status updates on submitted applications.

Please note that applications for the 2025-2026 fellowship are now closed.

Important Dates

• Application opens: Thursday, September 12, 2024
• Application deadline: Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 4pm EDT

Peace Scholar Fellowship Details

USIP funds up to 18 Peace Scholars for a 10-month, non-residential fellowship. Peace Scholars receive stipends of up to $20,000 paid directly to the individual in three tranches. Peace Scholar awards may not be deferred.

Peace Scholars are required to participate in an annual workshop, in-person in Washington, D.C. in Fall 2025. The Peace Scholar is required to submit a copy of their completed and committee approved dissertation to USIP at PeaceScholarFellows@usip.org.

For more information, see the Peace Scholar Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Please direct questions about usage of USIP’s online application system to PeaceScholarFellows@usip.org.

Please note that applications for the 2025-2026 fellowship are now closed.

All application materials must be submitted through the USIP Peace Scholar Fellowship online application.

The online application includes the following sections:

• Applicant Information
• Personal Statement
• Project
• Project Details
• Attachments: Curriculum Vitae and Bibliography
• References (two: your Ph.D. advisor and one other reference)
• Certification Information

Narrative Questions on the 2025-2026 USIP Peace Scholar Fellowship Application

Personal Statement: Why are you applying to the USIP-Minerva Peace Scholar Fellowship? Tell us who you are and why you are a strong candidate for this fellowship. What do you expect to accomplish after this fellowship? (2,000 character limit) 

Project Summary: Provide a brief description of your project. It should be written for a non-specialist audience. Explain its potential contribution to the field of conflict management, peacebuilding and related security studies. Include the case studies and the focus countries or regions. The summary is a critical part of the application as it is the first item that reviewers will read to determine the substance and relevance of the project. Additionally, it will serve as the project abstract during the review process. (2,300 character limit)

Contribution: Describe how your research is innovative or a unique contribution to advancing the fields of conflict management, peacebuilding and related security studies. How does your research enhance USIP's and/or Minerva's understandings of the social, cultural, behavioral and/or political forces that shape the issues and dynamics of conflict? Be sure to make direct references to current USIP programs and/or the Minerva research agenda. (2,300 character limit)

Relevance: Show a direct link between your research and the USIP mission, and/or the Minerva Research initiative mission. Describe the relevance of your project to the theory, policy or practice of the fields of conflict management, peacebuilding and related security studies. Applications with no clear connection to either mission will not be considered for the competition. (2,300 character limit)

Research Integrity: Explain how you will analyze the research evidence to test your hypotheses or answer your projects' defining questions. Describe your methodologies. Describe how your research findings will be generalizable across time, geopolitical regions, and/or other socio-cultural domains. Will your findings have predictive value? What is the broader significance of your project and what will be the likely lessons learned? (2,500 character limit)

Work Plan: Provide a timetable indicating the schedule of completion for your dissertation. Indicate which portions of your work (research, data collection, analysis, writing, etc.) are already finished, and which tasks remain to be completed. Please be as realistic as possible, taking into account the work that can be completed during the course of the scholarship. The institute expects scholars to complete work described in the timetable or as agreed in subsequent consultation with the program staff. (2,300 character limit)

If you have additional questions, please email PeaceScholarFellows@usip.org.

Who may apply for the Peace Scholar fellowship?

The competition is open to Ph.D. candidates enrolled at U.S. universities who have successfully completed all required classwork and comprehensive exams.

Are non-U.S. citizens eligible to be Peace Scholars?

Yes, non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply. They must be Ph.D. candidates currently enrolled at a U.S. university. Students at international and satellite universities are not eligible.

I am not a Ph.D. candidate, but I would like to apply for the Peace Scholars Fellowship. Am I eligible?

All applicants must be Ph.D. candidates at the time of application. Master’s students or other students pursuing graduate coursework are not eligible to apply.

Is there an age requirement for the Peace Scholar competition?

There is no age requirement for Peace Scholars.

What research topics are eligible for the Peace Scholar Award?

This fellowship supports research that deepens our understanding of conflict management, peacebuilding and security studies. USIP strongly prefers applications closely related to the USIP mission and/or research priorities of the Minerva Research Initiative. Applicants are encouraged to consult USIP’s budget justification to Congress (PDF) where the Institute describes its key priorities and initiatives.

The fellowships cannot support research focused on U.S. domestic issues, however, research on U.S. foreign policy may be eligible for support. Fellowships will not be awarded for dissertation projects that constitute policymaking for a government agency or private organization, focus to any substantial degree on conflicts within U.S. domestic society, or adopt a partisan, advocacy, or activist stance.

For examples of Peace Scholar research that USIP has supported in the past, please see the list of Former Peace Scholars.

What are the requirements of the Peace Scholar Fellowship?

Peace Scholar fellows carry out their fellowship work at their universities or other sites appropriate to their research. Peace Scholars are expected to devote full attention to their work and provide the following:

• Participate in-person at the annual Peace Scholar workshop in Washington, D.C. in September 2025;
• Submit quarterly dissertation progress reports to be signed by the dissertation advisor;
• Submit updates for the USIP Peace Scholar seasonal newsletter;
• Participate in two virtual roundtable discussions;
• Submit a copy of your completed and committee approved dissertation to USIP;
• Submit copies of any other publications, including articles and books, resulting from the fellowship.

What is the timeline for the 2025-26 Peace Scholar Fellowship competition?

• Completed applications are due by 4:00 PM EDT on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
• Letters of recommendation are due by 4:00 PM EDT Tuesday, December 5, 2024.
• Awards are announced by spring 2025.

How do I apply for the Peace Scholar Fellowship competition?

All applications and documents related to this competition must be submitted online.

Starting and submitting an online application:

• Applicants must submit all application materials through the USIP web application.
• Check your work before submitting your application. Once an application has been submitted, it cannot be edited or changed.

How many recommendation letters are required?

Two letters of recommendation must be included as part of your application. One letter must be from your dissertation advisor, and one from another professor who knows your work well.

When are letters of recommendation due?

All letters of recommendation for the 2025-26 Peace Scholar competition must be submitted by 4:00 PM EDT Thursday, December 5, 2024.

How are letters of recommendation submitted?

Letters of recommendation from an applicant’s advisor and another professor are uploaded once an applicant submits their completed application. Once the application is submitted, an email with an upload link and instructions on how to submit the letters of recommendation will be sent to the references.

If you or your references experience technical difficulties, please email the Fellowship team at PeaceScholarFellows@usip.org.

Is there a deadline to send the letter of recommendation link to my recommenders?

Applicants should complete their applications as soon as possible to ensure the recommendation link is sent to their dissertation advisor and professor.

Does the link to submit recommendation letters expire?

No, the link does not expire. We recommend contacting your recommenders prior to beginning an application and then, emailing them when you’ve submitted your application.

If my references encounter difficulty while submitting their recommendation letter, who should they contact?

If your reference is not able to upload their recommendation letter to the application, they may email the letter, in PDF format, to PeaceScholarFellows@usip.org. The name of the applicant should be included in the subject line of the email.

Can I submit my application before my advisor or professor has submitted the recommendation letter?

Yes, applications may be submitted before the recommendation letters are submitted.

How many Peace Scholar Fellowships are awarded each year?

USIP awards up to 18 Peace Scholar Fellowships each year.

What is the duration of the Peace Scholars fellowship?

The Peace Scholar Fellowship last for 10 months, starting on September 1 of each year, and ending on June 30 of the following year.

What is the amount of the award?

Peace Scholar fellows receive a stipend of up to $20,000, paid directly to the fellow in three tranches.

Can this award be combined with other fellowship awards?

A combined amount of $50,000 is the maximum total that a Peace Scholar can receive in fellowship funding from USIP and other funders during the 10-month USIP Peace Scholar Fellowship period. The intent of the fellowship award is for the Peace Scholar fellow to work on their dissertation.

Is it possible to defer the Peace Scholar Fellowship to another year?

No. The fellowship cannot be deferred. It must be used for the year it is awarded.

What is the difference between the USIP Peace Scholar Fellowship and the Minerva Research Initiative Peace and Security Fellowship?

The fellowship requirements, timeline and stipend amount are the same. The only difference is the source of the funding. On your application form please indicate the funding source for which you would like to be considered:

• The USIP Peace Scholar Fellowship,
• Minerva Research Initiative Peace and Security Fellowship, or,
• No preference.  

Where can I find more information on the Minerva Research Initiative?

More information about the Minerva Research Initiative can be found at https://minerva.defense.gov.

What is the difference between the Peace Scholar Fellowship program and the Jennings Randolph Senior Fellowship?

USIP's Peace Scholar Fellowship program awards non-residential fellowships to PhD candidates enrolled at U.S. universities who are writing doctoral dissertations on topics related to conflict management, peacebuilding and security studies. The Jennings Randolph Senior Fellowship is an eight-month residential fellowship for senior experts across various disciplines.

Visit the list of current Peace Scholars.

Visit the list of former Peace Scholars.