Apply to be a Visiting Researcher

On an occasional basis, the Foundation has one or two available office spaces and considers applications for short-term fellowships by scholars who are conducting research relevant to the Foundation’s priority areas. These positions do not come with any Foundation financial support and are available for visits up to five months, between September 1 and June 30, as space permits. In rare circumstances, visits up to ten months may be considered. However, researchers interested in a full-year fellowship to complete a book or other major project that would necessitate a longer stay should consider applying to the Foundation's Visiting Scholars Program.

RSF’s fellowships support the research and writing of individuals who are in residence at the foundation. Through these programs, RSF seeks to promote interdisciplinary dialogue among social scientists, journalists and the foundation staff and foster professional research collaborations. Fellows often remark on the professional benefits of daily lunch discussions, weekly seminars, and informal socializing with an interdisciplinary cohort. To foster this engagement and community building, RSF expects that Visiting Researchers will actively engage with their class and the RSF staff by attending all weekly seminars, being available for discussion at lunch, and interacting with other scholars and journalists in residence. Fellows are expected to spend at least 75% of their fellowship period at work at the Foundation’s offices. Limited travel for scholarly purposes is naturally anticipated, but extended trips (more than one week) are not allowed during periods when the foundation is open. If you have any questions about this policy, please let us know.

Visiting Researchers are provided with an office at the Foundation, computers and software, and library access. Applicants who reside outside of the greater New York City area may be provided with a partially-subsidized apartment near RSF, if available.

Eligibility:

Visiting Researchers must be several years beyond the PhD and have a publications record and current research project that is relevant to the Foundation’s program areas. Priority will be given to RSF-sponsored grantees and scholars who are seeking to complete existing work, although we welcome applications from scholars carrying out innovative work related to our current program areas.

To apply:

  1. Visit our online application portal, create an account, and complete the application form;
  2. Submit a letter describing the work to be undertaken while in residence at the Foundation [No more than 5 pages describing the project, single-spaced, with standard 11 or 12-point font, and 1 inch margins];
  3. Submit an up-to-date abbreviated CV (maximum of 5 pages).

The letter should outline the basics of the project to be carried out while in residence, how the project is relevant to RSF's program areas, how the residency and interactions with the Foundation's Visiting Scholars and staff would be beneficial to the project, and the expected outcome of the work. The letter should also specify the time period for which you would like to be in residence.

Letters of recommendation are not accepted. All applications will be peer-reviewed. Applicants are notified of the Foundation’s interest and space availability as soon as possible after submitting a letter of interest; acceptances cannot be deferred.

If you have questions about the program or the application process, please contact Program Director James Wilson at programs@rsage.org.

RSF

RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal of original empirical research articles by both established and emerging scholars.

Grants

The Russell Sage Foundation offers grants and positions in our Visiting Scholars program for research.

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