GRADUATE JUSTICE FELLOWSHIP

Apply Your Research to Questions of Justice

The Graduate Justice Fellowship provides graduate and professional students with the opportunity to develop moral purpose in their discipline, gain an understanding of how their work can be a force for justice, and develop an interdisciplinary community to enhance their education.

In this selective year-long fellowship, graduate and professional students work with faculty and a community of other graduate students on questions of justice broadly conceived from any disciplinary perspective. Fellows work with invited scholars and leaders from the University and beyond to sharpen research plans through interdisciplinary dialogue and workshops. The fellowship is also an opportunity for students to develop and workshop research and teaching plans with other early-career scholars to enhance quality, relevance, and impact.

“Being a Graduate Justice Fellow means embracing a broad, interdisciplinary understanding of justice. As a socio-legal researcher and trained attorney, I had my own definitions of justice, but through my connection with the Institute for Social Concerns and a diverse group of individuals from various disciplines, I’ve learned that justice is not a one-size-fits-all concept.”

– Pavithra Rajendran, 2024-25 Graduate Justice Fellow

Benefits

Stipend or research support of $3,000 for successful completion of the fellowship
Consultation with faculty exemplars and field/community experts whose scholarship addresses the demands of justice
Opportunities to develop and workshop your research/teaching plans with other early-career scholars to enhance quality, relevance, and impact

Who should apply

Doctoral students of any college/school (preferably 2nd to 4th year students)
Professional and masters level students with strong interest in the theme and support from their department/school

Expectations of fellows

Demonstrated interest in the themes of the fellowship
Local residency at Notre Dame during the academic year
Attendance and thoughtful participation at all fellowship events (approximately 7 meetings per semester)
Presentation at one gathering of the fellow’s interests and research
Development of brief public essay (or blog entry) in the fellow’s area of interest, facilitation of a relevant discussion in fellow’s home department, or a similar contribution the fellow may want to offer