TrustLAB International Research Fellowships 2026–2027 — at Dublin City University

Omran Aburayya
Oct 16
4 min read

If you are an early- to mid-career researcher (2–10 years post-PhD) working on trust — in organizations, technology, public life, or society — the TrustLAB International Research Fellowship (Dublin City University) is now open for applications. This two-year research fellowship (January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2027) supports collaboration with TrustLAB members, offers a modest stipend for research and travel, and expects active co-production of conference and journal outputs. Applications close 1 December 2025. Here's everything you need to know.

🎓 Fellowship Summary

Location: TrustLAB, DCU Institute for Business & Society — Dublin City University (Dublin, Ireland)
Research level: Early- to mid-career research appointment (post-PhD fellowship)
Target group: Researchers awarded a PhD between 2015 and 2023 (2–10 years post-PhD at application)
Fields of Focus: Trust research — organizational trust, digital trust, trust in public policy, interdisciplinary work across management, psychology, information systems, sociology, communications, public policy, etc.
Value & coverage: €4,000 total (over two years) — to support approved research activities and travel
Duration: 2 years (January 2026 – December 2027)
Application deadline: 1 December 2025
Start date: January 2026

📚 Fellowship Overview

The TrustLAB International Research Fellowship is a research-focused appointment designed to:

Recognize exceptional early-to-mid career researchers working on the study of trust.
Support innovative theoretical, empirical, or methodological work that advances trust research.
Build long-term collaborative relationships between the Fellow and TrustLAB researchers at DCU.

Over the two-year appointment the Fellow will work closely with TrustLAB faculty and members, contributing to seminars, workshops and joint publications. While much collaboration will be virtual, the fellowship requires a minimum two-week in-person visit to Dublin within the first six months.

✏️ Fellowship Structure & Activities

This is not a taught programme; rather it is a structured research appointment with these planned activities and expectations:

Two-year appointment (Jan 2026–Dec 2027) with integration into the TrustLAB research community.
Mandatory Dublin visit: one two-week stay during the first six months — deliver a research seminar and lead a collaborative workshop.
Ongoing virtual engagement: attendance at online TrustLAB meetings (~1 hour every 6 weeks).
Fellowship reviews: biannual (6-monthly) review meetings with the TrustLAB lead.
Research outputs: submission of at least one conference paper and one co-authored journal article with TrustLAB members during the fellowship.
Community contribution: mentoring early-career researchers, hosting or co-designing workshops, and representing TrustLAB at relevant events.

💲Fellowship Benefits (what is covered)

Stipend: €4,000 in total (to be used for approved travel, research expenses, data collection, workshop costs, etc.).
Academic access: affiliation with TrustLAB and access to DCU Institute for Business & Society networks and resources.
Mentorship & collaboration: opportunities to co-author with established researchers and participate in multidisciplinary projects.
Visibility: enhanced profile through TrustLAB seminars, workshops and co-authored publications.

Note: The stipend is modest — most fellows will combine this fellowship with institutional employment or other funding. The main value is the network, collaboration and publishing opportunities.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

PhD awarded between 2015 and 2023 (i.e., 2–10 years post-PhD at application).
Demonstrable research contributions (published work, conference presentations, applied research) related to trust or clearly transferable to trust research.
Proposed research agenda must align with TrustLAB’s focus on trust in organizational, technological or societal contexts.
Readiness to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration with TrustLAB faculty and contribute to the research community.
Open to scholars from management, psychology, sociology, information systems, public policy, communications and related fields.

📝 Application Procedure

Application format: Single document, maximum 2 pages.

📆 Deadline: 1 December 2025 (send by email).

📧 Where to send: Email completed application to lisa.vanderwerff@dcu.ie and/or niamh.daly@dcu.ie (inquiries to same addresses).

🗂️ What to include (in your 2-page application):

Name & current position (institutional affiliation, academic title).
Link to Google Scholar or ORCID (or similar profile demonstrating research output).
Overview of current & recent projects / papers in progress (short bullets).
Summary of contributions to trust research to date (key findings / innovations).
Overview of proposed research during the fellowship (objectives, methods, expected outputs).
Plan for collaboration with TrustLAB (who you’d work with, how you will engage, potential co-production).
Optional (recommended): a very short, indicative budget for how the €4,000 stipend would be used (travel, workshop costs, data access), and names of TrustLAB researchers you hope to work with (if you have already made contact).

🔍 Selection & Commitments

Successful applicants will be appointed for Jan 2026 – Dec 2027.
Fellows must: complete the two-week Dublin visit within the first six months; attend regular online meetings; participate in 6-monthly reviews; and deliver at least one conference paper and one journal article co-authored with TrustLAB during the appointment.

✏️ Application Tips & Practical Advice

Be concise and concrete. With only 2 pages, use short, clear sections and bullets.
Show fit to TrustLAB. Mention how your topic maps to TrustLAB themes (e.g., digital trust, trust repair, institutional trust, organizational trust during crises).
Highlight prior collaboration and co-authorship potential. If you have collaborated internationally before, mention it.
Offer a feasible, focused research plan with realistic outputs for the 2-year period (e.g., conference presentation in year 1, journal submission in year 2).
Include a brief budget paragraph describing how you’d use the €4,000 (travel + small research expenses) — this signals financial realism.
Contact the leads early for fit questions. Reach out to Dr Lisa van der Werff (lisa.vanderwerff@dcu.ie) or Dr Niamh Daly (niamh.daly@dcu.ie) to confirm fit and show initiative.