Selected fellows will receive comprehensive support and resources throughout their residency at the University of Pennsylvania. The Lightning Scholars Program is fully funded and provides scholars with the opportunity to spend an academic year at Perry World House, where they will have full access to research funding, administrative assistance, and university facilities. Fellows will benefit from an intellectually stimulating environment that encourages collaboration with Penn faculty, students, and visiting researchers from around the world. They will also have the opportunity to present their work in seminars, participate in policy dialogues, and engage directly with global policymakers, enabling them to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world impact. In addition, fellows will gain international exposure, professional growth, and access to an influential global network of scholars and practitioners committed to addressing the world’s most urgent challenges.

The Lightning Scholars Program welcomes applications from untenured, tenure-track faculty at accredited research universities across the globe. Eligible applicants must hold a Ph.D., J.D., or equivalent terminal degree, and be actively involved in research that contributes to solving pressing global issues.

Ideal candidates are scholars whose work connects to one or more of Perry World House’s central themes, including global order and disorder, climate change and environmental governance, human rights and global justice, democracy and governance, and international security.

The program is open to applicants from all disciplines, such as political science, economics, international relations, law, public policy, and related fields. Applicants should be committed to bridging the gap between academia and global policymaking and demonstrate a strong interest in engaging beyond their disciplinary boundaries.

Open to all countries worldwide

Click the official link below to apply for this opportunity