2026 – 2027 DAAD Post-Doctoral Fellows

The Paul H. Nitze School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS) is pleased to announce the opportunity for outstanding scholars to conduct research in Washington, D.C., on “The United States, Europe, and World Order.”

During the academic year 2026-2027, up to two post-doctoral fellowships will be awarded. Both fellowships will be available for a minimum of nine (9) and maximum of twelve (12) months between July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. Applicants should indicate their preferred start and end dates in the application.

DAAD Post-Doctoral Fellows are closely integrated into the SAIS academic community and will be affiliated with the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs. A division of Johns Hopkins University, SAIS is a global institution that provides interdisciplinary professional education to prepare a diverse student body for internationally related positions of responsibility; to foster research, scholarship and cross-cultural exchange; and to contribute knowledge, expertise, and leadership to the global community.

The Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs is home to a distinguished faculty of scholars and practitioners working to address some of today’s most complex global challenges. Through its innovative research, curricula, and programs, the Kissinger Center seeks to integrate historical scholarship with rigorous analysis of geostrategy and statecraft.

The Fellowships are funded through a grant from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with the generous support by the German Federal Foreign Office.

During the academic year 2026-2027 research and related activities will focus on “the roles of the United States and Germany at a crucial moment in world history.” DAAD Post-Doctoral Fellows will focus on this subject during a regular series of high-level seminars, peer review sessions, and opportunities for direct engagement with senior foreign policy practitioners and leading scholars of statecraft and world order. Each Fellow is expected to complete a research paper related to the theme during the period of residence in addition to continuing to work on their own research projects. The Fellows will also work with the Helmut Schmidt Distinguished Visiting Professor and the Kissinger Center on a German-US conference on issues of international security, historically informed statecraft and strategy and/or transatlantic relations taking place in Germany and a summer workshop on grand strategy and international security for early career academics and policymakers in Washington, D.C.

Salary

Each DAAD Post-Doctoral Fellow will receive a monthly salary of up to $6,000, minus U.S. taxes; access to a computer and shared workspace; internet access; access to Johns Hopkins University libraries and other facilities. Each Fellow is expected to take care of his/her accommodation and living expenses. A basic health care package is available for all Post-Doctoral Fellows. For non-US citizens one economy class roundtrip airfare will be provided. Furthermore, research funding of up to $3,000 for a 12-month stay will be available for each Fellow as well as one economy class roundtrip airfare to the above-mentioned conference in Germany. Health benefit premiums for accompanying dependents can also be covered ($560 per month if one dependent or $880 per month if more than one dependent).

Applicants for the DAAD Post-Doctoral Fellowships at SAIS must have a doctorate or be at the post-doctorate level, have demonstrated research capacity, and be fluent in English. EU and U.S. citizens are welcome to apply. EU citizens should be currently affiliated with a German university or research institution and be eligible for a J-1 visa. Preference will be given to those who are no more than 6 years beyond completing their dissertation, although others are also eligible.