Fellowships
The Clough Center for the Study of Constitutional Democracy is delighted to invite applications for the 2022-2023 Fellowship year. Applications are open to Boston College students for two Fellowship programs: 1) Clough Research and Public Service Fellowships and 2) Clough Doctoral Fellowships. Several new undergraduate research positions as Clough Correspondents for Summer 2022 or Fall 2022 are also open for application. This call expands the categories of eligible students who may apply for public service fellowships to include undergraduates, law students and PhD candidates.
The Clough Center will provide summer grants ranging from $1,500–$4,000 to Boston College undergraduate, graduate, and Law students engaged in research or public service that aligns with the center’s mission to study and advance constitutional democracy. All grant recipients will become Clough Center Research and Public Service Fellows for the 2022-23 academic year. As Fellows, they will be expected to attend program meetings and events, and will also enjoy Fellows-only events and discussions, providing a unique forum for intellectual discourse.
Interested undergraduate and graduate students may apply to be either Research Fellows or Public Service Fellows. Interested Law students may apply to be Public Service Fellows. An individual student may not apply to be both a Research and a Public Service Fellow within the same program year.
The Clough Center will support, as Research Fellows, undergraduate and graduate students in the Social Sciences (Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology) and the Humanities (Classical Studies, English, History, Philosophy, Theology), undertaking research projects during the summer of 2022 that explicitly focus on topics pertaining to constitutional democracy. Such topics include, but are not limited to, state/society relations; the relationship between political economy and democracy; practices and institutions of democratic self-government; democratic norms and values; and the role of the media, arts, humanities, and/or religious traditions in democratic societies. Students unsure of whether their research falls within the Center’s field of interest are welcome to inquire. Applications from pre-senior thesis and pre-dissertation research candidates are especially encouraged.
Deadline: Monday, April 11, 2022
Required Documents for all Fellows:
- An updated CV or resume
- Undergraduate and graduate university transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable
Additional Required Documents for Research Fellows:
- A cover letter briefly summarizing your research project, how it aligns with the Clough Center's mission, and how it would be assisted by membership in the program (no more than 1 single-spaced page, or 2 double-spaced pages). Previously serving Clough Fellows should indicate how their participation has benefitted their scholarship
- A more detailed description of your research project, summarizing specific research tasks to be undertaken during summer 2022, describing your methodology, and explaining the connection between this project and your thesis/dissertation (if applicable). Please state here how much funding you are seeking and why. This document should be no more than 3 double-spaced pages
- Two academic letters of recommendation
- A writing sample of no more than 30 pages
All documents must be submitted in PDF format and include name & document description in their title (ex: Noel Gilmour Personal Statement)
The Center will support, as Public Service Fellows, undergraduate, graduate, or Law students engaged in part-time or full-time work on behalf of government, non-profit, or other civic organizations during the summer of 2022 that would otherwise be voluntary or poorly compensated. The organizations in question may be located either in the United States or abroad (contingent on university travel restrictions in place). This fellowship may be used by PhD students to explore professional alternatives to traditional academia, with their advisor’s permission. PhD and Law students may apply for up to $6,000. Note: Political campaigns or Political Action Committees on behalf of a candidate are not eligible for Public Service Fellowships.
Deadline: Monday, April 11, 2022
Required Documents for all Fellows:
- An updated CV or resume
- Undergraduate and graduate university transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)
Additional Required Documents for Public Service Fellows:
- A cover letter describing the reasons for your interest in the position and how it aligns with the Clough Center's mission. (no more than 1 single-spaced or 2 double-spaced pages)
- A description of your service internship, detailing the organization for which you will work, along with a brief summary of the work you will perform, including number of weeks and hours per week of internship term and exact payment arrangement, if any. Please state here how much funding you are seeking and why. If you are currently enrolled in a PhD program, please address your long-term professional plans and job market outlook. (no more than 2 double-spaced pages)
- One academic letter of recommendation and the name and contact details of another faculty member familiar with your academic work and goals. PhD students must submit one letter from their principal advisor.
- An offer letter from the organization where you will be working (this is mandatory)
All documents must be submitted in PDF format and include name & document description in their title (ex: Noel Gilmour Personal Statement)
The Clough Center invites applications from Boston College doctoral students with research interests pertaining to the past, present or future of constitutional democracies worldwide to participate in the Clough Center Doctoral Fellowship Program for the 2022-23 academic year. The Center seeks to appoint Fellows from among graduate students in the Social Sciences (Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology) and the Humanities (Classical Studies, English, History, Philosophy, Theology), as well as the other professional schools at Boston College. Fellows’ areas of research may include, but are not limited to, state/society relations; the relationship between political economy and democracy; practices and institutions of self-government; democratic norms and values; and the role of the media, arts, humanities, and/or religious traditions in democratic societies.
Clough Doctoral Fellows attend a weekly seminar and receive a stipend of $7,500 in three installments, beginning September 2022. Graduate students engaged in all stages of research are welcome to apply, including current Clough Graduate Fellows. Incoming PhD students may be nominated for a Fellowship by their department at time of admission to Boston College. Please note: For the 2022-2023 application cycle, doctoral students applying to the Doctoral Fellowship may also apply to be Clough Research Fellows during the summer of 2022.
Deadline: Monday, April 18, 2022
Required Documents for Clough Doctoral Fellows:
- A cover letter briefly laying out your research interests and how they align with the Clough Center's mission. Previously serving Fellows should indicate how their participation has benefitted their scholarship (no more than 1 single-spaced page, or 2 double-spaced pages).
- An updated CV or resume
- Graduate and undergraduate university transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)
- A more detailed description of your research agenda and interests (i.e. a research statement), including as much as is known about the dissertation project (no more than 5 double-spaced pages).
- Two (2) letters of recommendation (including one from principal academic advisor)
- Writing sample of academic work (no more than 30 pages)
- A short statement describing one or two points that you think the general public would benefit from knowing about your research (no more than 2 double-spaced pages).
All documents must be submitted in PDF format and include name & document description in their title (ex: Noel Gilmour Personal Statement)
Clough Correspondents are paid undergraduate research fellows who report on events and publications about democratic politics and societies for the Center’s website and newsletter. They will also conduct research for an online project studying religion and democracy. Fellows are paid $15/hour and may apply for either Summer 2022 (up to 40 hours/week, June 1-Aug. 15) or Fall 2022 (up to 20 hours/week, August 29 – Dec. 15). Applicants may also submit a proposal for the Clough Research and Public Service Fellowship, and in certain cases may be awarded both. Summer Correspondents may be renewed for the Fall semester, and Fall Correspondents may be renewed for the Spring.
Deadline: Monday, April 11, 2022
- A cover letter describing the reasons for your interest in the position and how your interests align with the Clough Center's mission. Please also discuss any relevant experience with writing, graphics, layout or web design and indicate whether you are available for 10, 20, 30 or 40 hours/week (summer only) (no more than 1 single-spaced page, or 2 double-spaced pages).
- An updated CV or resume
- University transcript (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)
- One academic letter of recommendation and the name and contact details of another faculty member familiar with your academic work and goals.
- Writing sample of academic work (no more than 20 pages)
- Choose an online event or town hall meeting that was recently recorded at the National Endowment for Democracy or the National Constitution Center and write a lively, 600-word report about the hour-long discussion.