Stanford Next Asia Policy Lab (SNAPL) Fellowships 2026-2028

If you are an early-career scholar, researcher, or mid-career professional with deep interest in Asia’s evolving social, political, and economic landscape, now is your chance. The Stanford Next Asia Policy Lab (SNAPL) is accepting applications for its 2026–2028 Postdoctoral Fellowships and 2026–2027 Visiting Fellowships. These fellowships offer a unique opportunity to join a policy-oriented, interdisciplinary research environment at Stanford’s APARC (Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center). Here's everything you need to know.

🎓 Fellowship Summary

• Location: Stanford University, California, USA (APARC / Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center)

• Host Center: Stanford Next Asia Policy Lab (SNAPL), within APARC, Freeman Spogli Institute

• Programs Offered:

  • Postdoctoral Fellowships (2 years, 2026–2028) 

  • Visiting Fellowships (1 year, 2026–2027) 

• Target Audience:

  • Postdoctoral: recent PhD recipients (or those within 3 years of PhD conferral) with high potential in interdisciplinary, Asia-focused research

  • Visiting: researchers or professionals (often from the Asia-Pacific region) with PhD or substantial record of achievement

• Research Themes / Focus Areas:

    1. Talent Flows & Development

    2. Nationalism & Racism

    3. U.S.–Asia Relations

    4. Democratic Crisis & Reform

• Compensation / Stipend:

  • Postdoctoral: USD 80,000 per year + benefits 

  • Visiting: USD 30,000 supplementary stipend 

• Duration:

  • Postdoctoral: 2 years (fall 2026 – summer 2028)

  • Visiting: 1 academic year (fall 2026 – spring/summer 2027)

• Application Deadlines:

  • Postdoctoral Fellowships: December 1, 2025

  • Visiting Fellowships: March 1, 2026

🧭 Fellowship Overview

SNAPL is structured to be a dynamic, collaborative hub for researchers examining Asia’s emergent challenges.

1). Postdoctoral Fellowship (2026–2028)

• Two postdoctoral positions will be offered starting fall 2026.

• Fellows will lead and coordinate one thematic collaborative research group in one of SNAPL’s research tracks.

• They will also help support student programming within SNAPL, publish individual and co-authored research, and participate intensively in Lab and APARC events.

• Fellows must be in residence at Stanford for the full term, engaging with SNAPL and APARC academic life.

• Access to Stanford’s research infrastructure, events at FSI and across campus, and opportunities to interface with other programs and centers will be included.

2). Visiting Fellowship (2026–2027)

• SNAPL will host two visiting scholars beginning fall quarter 2026. One of these positions is dedicated to research on the Philippines, reflecting SNAPL’s Asia-Pacific orientation.

• Visiting fellows will collaborate closely with postdocs, Stanford faculty, and students on their research themes.

• Fellows are required to reside at Stanford for the full academic year and actively partake in Lab programming and APARC events.

• They will receive the USD 30,000 supplementary stipend, audit relevant coursework (with instructor permission), and access campus events and research resources.

🎁 Benefits & Coverage

• Competitive Salary / Stipend:

  • Postdoctoral: $80,000/year + benefits

  • Visiting: $30,000 supplementary stipend

• Full Access to Stanford Resources: Libraries, databases, lab facilities, events across Stanford and FSI.

• Audit Privileges: Visiting fellows may audit Stanford courses (subject to instructor approval) at no additional tuition cost.

• Intellectual Community & Networking: Connection with SNAPL’s emerging cohort, APARC scholars, and policy/praxis networks across Asia.

• Leadership & Collaboration Experience: Postdocs get to lead thematic research groups; visiting fellows contribute to collaborative projects.

• Programmatic Engagement: Fellows support and participate in seminars, colloquia, public events, policy dialogues, and student engagement.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Postdoctoral Fellows

• Applicants must have earned (or expect to have conferred) their PhD within three years of the fellowship start date.

• They must submit proof of degree conferral by the deadlines SNAPL requires (e.g. dissertation approved by June, formal certification by August)

• Strong record of research, publication, or demonstrable promise in areas aligned with SNAPL’s themes is expected.

• Willingness to be in residence full-time and actively contribute to Lab programs.

Visiting Fellows

• PhD holders or equivalent professionals with a strong publication or professional track record are eligible.

• Affiliation with a non-Stanford institution (i.e. you must come from an external base).

• Preference given to mid-career professionals with strong research portfolios.

• English proficiency is required: all materials, participation, and collaboration will be in English.

• Full-residence commitment for the duration of the fellowship tenure.

📝 Application Procedure

1). For Postdoctoral Fellowship

1. Online Application Form – complete in English.

2. Upload (PDF):

   • A formal letter of request / research statement, indicating past and planned research, including solo and collaborative publication goals.

   • A full curriculum vitae (CV) with publications list.

3. Letters of Recommendation – THREE (3) letters must be emailed to Kerstin Norris (SNAPLcontact@stanford.edu), with your name and email at the top, by December 1, 2025.

4. Some tracks may allow overlap, so you may indicate interest in more than one research theme.

2). For Visiting Fellowship

1. Online Application Form – complete in English.

2. Upload (PDF):

   • A formal letter of request / proposal, explaining your proposed research at SNAPL, how it connects to one or more research themes, and plans for collaboration/publication.

   • A full CV, including publications.

3. Letters of Reference – TWO (2) letters should be emailed to Kerstin Norris (SNAPLcontact@stanford.edu), with your legal name and email at the top, by March 1, 2026.

ℹ️ All application materials must be in English and PDF format unless otherwise specified.

🔎 Selection Criteria

Fellows (both postdoctoral and visiting) will be evaluated based on:

• The originality, clarity, and feasibility of their research proposals.

• Their prior academic or professional achievements, including publications, policy engagement, or field impact.

• Fit with SNAPL’s thematic priorities (Talent Flows, Nationalism & Racism, U.S.–Asia Relations, Democratic Reform).

• Commitment to residence and active engagement with the Lab and APARC community.

• For postdoctoral applicants, their promise to lead a thematic group and mentor/cooperate with peers.

Preference may be given to applicants offering an interdisciplinary angle or comparative dimension bridging Asia with global trends.

💡 Tips & Additional Info

• Because the Bay Area cost of living is high, carefully assess whether the stipend/salary plus benefits will suffice, and consider additional institutional or external support if needed.

• Engage early with potential referees; share your research proposal well in advance so their letters can be strong and timely.

• Highlight how your work is policy-relevant or has scalable implications, not only academic.

• If your research overlaps multiple themes, clearly articulate how it integrates or bridges them.

• Reach out to former or current SNAPL/ APARC fellows or staff to get a sense of expectations, culture, and daily life at Stanford.

• Stay alert to any updates or changes in the SNAPL / APARC website ahead of deadlines.

🔗 Official Website

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