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Description
Perry World House (PWH) is the University of Pennsylvania's hub for global policy engagement. Across its research agenda - broadly focused on Security, Climate Change, Democracy, and Global Justice and Human Rights - PWH convenes scholars and practitioners to bridge the gap between academia and the policy world.
This call for Faculty Fellowship Projects (FFPs) invites Penn faculty to propose a project that brings their research to bear on global policy. We are looking to partner with faculty who have ongoing research with potential global policy impact, with a preference for one of PWH's core areas, and who will work with us on a concrete vision for how to translate that research into policy action. The strongest proposals will articulate both the research and the translation: what the research is, why it matters for policy, and what a two-year collaboration with PWH would make possible. FFPs are not grants. They are a two-year collaboration through which PWH puts its resources, convening power, and practitioner network in service of the project. PWH provides the policy infrastructure to help faculty reach the relevant audiences and decision-makers who can act on it.
Eligibility & Minimum Requirements
To be eligible, applicants must:

• Hold a full-time faculty appointment at the University of Pennsylvania
• Submit a two-page concept note, according to the instructions
• If selected to submit a full proposal, outline a two-year project with a clear global policy dimension aligned with PWH's mission, as described below, starting in January 2027 and concluding in December 2028
• Have the time to engage in PWH programming and fulfill project commitments
• Agree to use PWH as a secondary affiliation on relevant scholarly (and popular media, where relevant) work produced during and informed by the project if published later
• Secure written support from Department Chair and/or Dean prior to submitting a full proposal

Criteria
All eligible proposals will be reviewed by a selection committee. In addition to meeting the core eligibility requirements, stronger proposals will demonstrate:

• Relevance to PWH mission and core pillars of inquiry. These are security, climate change, democracy, and global justice and human rights.
• Global Policy Relevance & Impact Potential. The project addresses a significant global challenge. There is a credible and specific pathway from the research to policy influence. Priority will be given to projects where the applicant can articulate not just what they will study, but who they are trying to reach, why, and how.
• Scholarly Strength. The proposed research is grounded in rigorous scholarship. The applicant has a demonstrated record of relevant work. This scholarship will be featured in the project's written outputs.
• Student Engagement. The project offers substantive opportunities for PWH-affiliated undergraduate and graduate students.
• Feasibility. The proposed project activities are realistic within the two-year timeframe and proposed budget.
• Convening Vision. Propose one workshop, one public event, two non-resident visiting fellows, and corresponding written and other outputs that are well-conceived - with a clear purpose, target participants, and intended outcomes related to PWH's mission and the projects goals - rather than generic ideas.
• Breadth of Perspectives. The project brings together a range of disciplinary, geographic, and/or methodological viewpoints on the topic.

What FFPs Support
Project Activities | If selected, over a two-year period, PWH will fund and provide resources for one or more faculty leads of a project to lead on, at a minimum:

• One policy-relevant workshop - Workshops provide faculty with the opportunity to engage in substantive discussions with a diverse range of policymakers, practitioners, and scholars across varied institutional, national, and academic contexts. Typically held at PWH, these convenings vary in size based on their design and purpose, with a maximum of 75 participants. Workshops leverage PWH's convening power to translate research into actionable policy solutions and pathways. PWH will collaborate with you to design an impactful event. Here is a recent PWH workshop on sanctions and corruption that resulted in this series of articles published by Just Security.
• One policy-relevant public event - Public events bring together up to four experts and a moderator for a one-hour hybrid discussion on the PWH stage. These events accommodate up to 120 in-person attendees with unlimited virtual participation via Zoom, making them well-suited for general audiences seeking accessible entry points into complex policy issues. Public events are recorded and shared across PWH's YouTube channel and social media platforms, amplifying your research's reach and visibility beyond the event itself. PWH will help you design and execute your public event.
• Two non-resident visiting fellows (as part of PWH visiting fellowship program) over the two-year term - The PWH Visiting Fellows Program brings leading experts to Penn for up to nine days of structured on-campus engagement. Fellows participate in, inter alia, private briefings, meetings, and guest lectures, and are featured in public events. For the duration of their visit, fellows are provided dedicated office space at PWH. Each fellow's bespoke agenda is designed to foster meaningful collaboration that extends well beyond their time on campus - many fellows contribute articles, participate in interviews, and remain engaged with PWH in a variety of ways before and after their visit. PWH will help you invite, engage, and host your fellow.
• One authored or co-authored white paper published on the PWH website - White papers offer faculty a rigorous platform to present original research, analysis, and policy recommendations to expert and practitioner audiences. Typically ranging from 6,000 to 10,000 words, with flexibility depending on the scope and complexity of the topic, white papers will undergo an editorial and review process. Upon publication, either on the PWH website or at an external venue, PWH will promote the whitepaper maximizing the reach and impact of your work.
• Other project-related activities and outputs, as agreed upon, over the two-year term.

PWH Staff Support | Perry World House will dedicate a percentage of staff time to support your project.
Upon project acceptance, PWH will work closely with you to design a staff bespoke support plan tailored to your project's specific goals, outputs, and timeline. We will ensure that PWH support for your project is well-matched to your needs and ambitions as well as to staff availability. You should plan as if you will have part of a PWH staff member's time devoted to supporting your project.
Communications | PWH will provide communications support for the project.
PWH's communications team will work with you to design a tailored communications strategy suited to your project's goals and intended audiences. The nature of that support will vary by project, but may include editorial guidance on thought pieces, event summaries, white papers, and other written outputs; production of explainers, Q&As, videos, and other multimedia content where relevant and feasible; and amplification of project outputs across PWH's media channels and networks. PWH will also work to support the placement of written outputs in popular venues, though publication cannot be guaranteed.
Community & Access | PWH will also provide to the extent possible:

• Invitations to high-level PWH events, briefings, and convenings
• Priority access to PWH spaces for project-related workshops and conferences and other meetings as needed
• Engagement with PWH high-level guests and fellows during their time on campus

What FFPs Do Not Support
FFPs support policy-engaged research and convenings. The following are outside the scope of this initiative:

• Projects without a clear global policy dimension or relevance to PWH's mission
• Solely discipline-internal academic work with no defined pathway to policy impact
• Course development or curricular initiatives
• Faculty salaries or graduate student stipends or indirect costs

Additional Faculty Expectations and Requirements
Selected faculty are expected to be active participants in the PWH community. Specifically, for the duration of the project, in addition to specific project activities, Faculty Project Leads will:

• Serve on the PWH Faculty Council that provides advice to PWH leadership on overall direction and strategy.
• Use PWH as a secondary affiliation on relevant scholarly and policy work produced during and informed by the project, if published later, including any outputs for media.
• Attend the weekly PWH seminar and PWH events when possible.
• Meet with and engage PWH visiting fellows during their time on campus, including by hosting them as guest lecturers in your courses or other teaching contexts where appropriate.

Application Instructions
FFPs use a two-stage application process to reduce burden on applicants. PWH aims to select 2-3 projects in this cycle.
Application Timeline
Call for concept notes opens: May 26, 2026
Concept note deadline: June 16, 2026
Invitations to full proposal: June 30, 2026 or before if possible
Full proposal deadline: July 31, 2026
Selection decisions communicated: August 28, 2026
Planning period: September-December 2026
Projects launch: January 2027
Stage 1: Concept Note Due: June 16, 2026
Applicants submit a concept note of 1-2 pages (1,500 words maximum). Concept notes should address:
1. The proposed research topic and its global policy relevance
2. The core vision for impact - the policy community/stakeholders you are trying to reach and how
3. Any early thinking on workshops, public events, and outputs (written, convening, media)
4. Any early thinking on potential visiting fellows from the policy world that could be associated with the project
5. Any early thinking on interdisciplinarity and student engagement opportunities
Concept notes should be submitted via https://apply.interfolio.com/187160. There is no required format, but applicants are encouraged to write for a generalist audience.
Applicants continuing to the next round of consideration will be notified on or before June 30, 2026, and asked to submit a full proposal. Those not immediately selected to submit a full proposal will remain in the pipeline until further notice. Those asked to submit a full proposal will be offered the opportunity to meet with PWH leadership to discuss the project concept and opportunities for improvement of the full proposal.
Stage 2: Full Proposal Due: July 31, 2026
Full proposals must address all elements listed in the Criteria (section above) and include:
• Project narrative (2,500-3,000 words maximum, excluding bibliography). In addition to discussing the elements in the criteria sections, the narrative should include insight regarding:
• A project workshop
• A public event
• Ideas for at least 2 potential Visiting Fellows that could be associated with the project
• A white paper and other outputs
• Biographical sketch(es) for the PI and any co-PIs (250 words each)
• A timeline of proposed activities with narrative justification
• A timeline of written outputs inclusive of a white paper of 25-50 pages in length, along with any other written products you may wish to produce, publish, or use to advance your policy impact
• Written support from Department Chair and/or Dean
Proposals should be submitted via https://apply.interfolio.com/187160.
Selection | Decisions Communicated August 28, 2026
Full proposals will be reviewed by the PWH selection committee against the criteria outlined in the Criteria for Priority Consideration section. PWH may invite finalists for a brief conversation with PWH leadership prior to final decisions. Selected Faculty Project Leads will be notified in late August and publicly announced shortly thereafter.
Planning Period | September-December 2026
Selected faculty will work closely with PWH program managers and leadership during a structured four-month planning period to design how PWH will support your project and to create a plan of action before a project formally launches. Faculty and program managers will use this period to:
• Confirm and schedule activities for Year 1
• Identify and begin outreach to proposed visiting fellows as necessary
• Finalize the project budget and workplan, including written outputs
• Develop a communications strategy for the project
• Establish a rhythm for regular check-ins between the Faculty Project Lead and PWH
Project Launch | January 2027
Projects formally launch at the start of the Spring 2027 semester and run for two years through December 2028.