Predoctoral Fellowship, 2027-2028

The Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas at Austin seeks applications from current PhD candidates for its Predoctoral Fellowship Program.

Consistent with the Clements Center’s emphasis on history, strategy, and statecraft, applicants from all disciplines whose research bears directly on foreign and defense policy, diplomacy, intelligence, or international security are welcome to apply. While our Center tends to emphasize the discipline of history, or research with a strong historical component, we also highly encourage applications from PhD students in political science, political philosophy, public policy, language studies, area studies, and classics, whose research contributes to traditional political and military history or makes meaningful contributions to the practice of statecraft. This fellowship is designed specifically to help expedite dissertation completion, so applicants should be in the dissertation writing phase and within one or at most two years of anticipated dissertation submission. Successful applicants will spend their time as fellows working on their own research and writing projects, while taking advantage of the many academic and professional resources available at the Center and across the University of Texas-Austin. Additionally, Fellows will actively participate in the Clements Center’s programs and activities such as guest lectures and conferences. Additional, specific responsibilities will only occur through mutual agreement between the Fellow and the Clements Center leadership. Fellows accepted to the program will be offered a competitive stipend, full use of UT facilities, and office space at the Clements Center. Each appointment is for one year and in exceptional cases may be considered for renewal for a second year.

Fellows whose work addresses intelligence, nuclear weapons, or Asia may also request an affiliation with our Intelligence Studies Project, Nuclear Policy Program, or Asia Policy Program, respectively. Faculty members in those units of the Clements Center can provide additional, theme specific intellectual and professional mentorship. If you would like an affiliation with one or more of our specialty units, please indicate that in your cover letter.   

Applications open on October 3, 2026. Apply on the Clements Center’s website. Applicants should submit a current C.V, cover letter, graduate school transcripts, a brief (no more than two-page, single-spaced) research statement, and three letters of recommendation. Applications are due no later than December 4, 2026 at 10:59 p.m. Central Time.

 Please direct any questions to Emily Burch at [email protected].

Applications are due by 4 December 2026 at 10:59 p.m. CST

Applicants will need to submit a C.V., cover letter and a brief statement of proposed research.

Applicants are also required to submit three letters of recommendation and graduate school transcripts.