Stanford University

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Eligibility:

 

Which fellowship should I apply for?

CDDRL welcomes applications from pre-doctoral students at the write-up stage and from post-doctoral scholars working in any of the four program areas of democracy, development, evaluating the efficacy of democracy promotion, and rule of law.

Pre-doctoral fellows must be enrolled currently in a doctoral program or equivalent through the time of intended residency at Stanford and must be at the dissertation write-up (post course work) phase of their doctoral program.

Post-doctoral fellows must have earned their Ph.D. within 3 years of the start of the fellowship, or plan to have successfully defended their Ph.D. dissertations by July 31, 2025.

 

I received my doctorate degree 3 or more years ago. Why am I not eligible? 
The university views postdoctoral fellowships a training opportunity for recent graduates. This is why they require that all appointed fellows have received their degree within 3 years at the start of the appointment. Since you received your degree over 3 years prior to the upcoming academic year, you are already considered a professional in your field thus making you ineligible for our program. 

 

I'm not a Stanford student, can I still apply? 
Yes. Our fellowship program is open to applicants from outside of Stanford University.

 

Do you accept applications from outside of the United States? 
Yes. We accept applications from around the world.

 

May I apply for a fellowship if I am not a U.S. citizen?

Yes.
 

Is a visa available through the CDDRL fellowship?

Yes. International postdocs are sponsored on J-1 Research Scholar visas. Prospective postdocs in the U.S. on student visas may be appointed as postdocs for the period of their EAD card validity during their post-completion F-1 OPT. The initial 12-month F-1 OPT period may be extended an additional 24 months for postdocs who hold a degree in certain STEM (STEM extension) fields.

General Application Questions:

 

What is a "letter of application"? 
The letter of application is basically a cover letter to your CV. It gives you an opportunity to introduce yourself to give us a better idea of your fit within our center. (research, accomplishments, goals ...etc.)

 

Should the research proposal be single or double spaced? 
Either will be fine.

 

How should I submit my OFFICIAL PhD Transcripts?

All pre- and postdoctoral applicants must also include an official Ph.D. transcript.  Electronic Transcripts must originate from the university registrar's office via a secure site formally linked to the sending institution. Send to cddrl_fellowship@stanford.edu.

 

Do transcripts need to be translated into English?

Yes. All application documents must be in English.
 

I attend a university that does not issue transcripts to doctoral students. What should I do?

We will require a certificate from the school stating that you are a doctoral candidate.  A list of the courses which you have completed would be helpful, as well as a degree or transcript from your masters program.  Send to cddrl_fellowship@stanford.edu.
 
 

Submitting your application packet:

 

How do I submit my application?

The CDDRL Pre and Postdoctoral Fellowship program uses the SlideRoom application system to manage all incoming applications.

Applicants are required to submit a completed application form, letter of application of no more than 3 typed pages, current CV, three letters of recommendation, a statement of proposed research (5-10 pages), and a complete set of transcripts (undergraduate and graduate).  *You may upload unofficial transcripts with your application.  

 

What are the requirements for submission via SlideRoom?

Applicants are required to submit a completed application form, letter of application of no more than 3 typed pages, current CV, three letters of recommendations, a statement of proposed research (5-10 pages) and a complete set of transcripts (undergraduate and graduate). 

 

How can my recommenders submit their recommendations using the SlideRoom system?

When prompted to, you (the applicant) should put in the name/email of all the recommenders you want to write you a letter. Recommenders will then receive an email with a unique link to submit their letter of recommendation for you (the applicant). Recommenders will receive email reminders to submit their recommendations online.

 

Follow-up:

 

Can I contact you to find out if my application packet is complete?

We are able to check if the documents you uploaded were received, but please wait until a week after the deadline to check if your application is complete. Please note that it is incumbent upon the applicant to follow with their recommenders. 

 

When will we be notified?

Mid to late February 

 

Other Questions:

 

How long is the fellowship?

Fellowships are granted for a term period of 9 months
 

What about fieldwork?

This is a residential fellowship intended to support writing and research while in residence at Stanford, as such, we are not able to accommodate fieldwork or extended travel.

 

Does the fellowship come with a stipend, benefits, and housing?

CDDRL predoctoral fellows receive stipends comparable to that awarded by the Stanford Graduate Fellowships program. The Center also pays non-matriculated student tuition for predoctoral fellows as required by Stanford University. Predoctoral fellows will be enrolled in Stanford's student medical insurance plan – Cardinal Care.
 
Post-doctoral fellows receive salaries commensurate with experience and with consideration given to university established minimums for a term period of 9 months.  Postdoctoral fellows will attend a mandatory benefits orientation soon after they arrive on campus and are provided health benefits. Fellows have the option of purchasing additional coverage for dependents.
 
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide housing. We can, however, refer fellows to the housing information that Stanford provides.

 
 

If I do not need funding, should I apply for a fellowship?

Yes, you should. Non-stipendiary applicants are considered in the same pool as those requesting stipends.
 
 

How many of each (pre-doc/postdoc) are you planning on selecting this year?

We are planning on awarding two or more fellowship appointments this year. 

 

If I were to be selected as a postdoctoral fellow, but was unsuccessful at conferring the degree in time will I lose my fellowship appointment? 
We may be able to appoint you as a pre-doctoral fellow for the full academic year, at the lower stipend level. 

 

What other fellowship opportunities does CDDRL offer?  
Please visit our website at http://fsi.stanford.edu/fellowships for other fellowship opportunities.

 

I did not get selected, and/or was not eligible to apply for the CDDRL Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowship. What other options are there? 
Occasionally (but rarely) we accept applications for visiting scholars and visiting researchers at our center. Please contact Kristin Chandler at kdchandl@stanford.edu for more information.

Additional Resources:

For information about being a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford, such as housing, cost of living, and other resources, please visit the website of Stanford's Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.

 
For questions and information related to international scholars, please visit the website of Stanford’s Bechtel International Center.