Fellowships

The Clough Center for the Study of Constitutional Democracy is delighted to invite applications for the 2025-2026 academic year. We are currently accepting applications to the Doctoral Fellowship and Junior Fellowship programs, as well as the faculty affiliate program.

Please note: All applicants, especially those pursuing Fellowship programs, are strongly encouraged to address the Clough Center’s annual theme in their application materials. The Center’s annual theme for 2025-'26 is “Democratic Resilience.” For more information, please refer to the Annual Theme tab.

Annual Theme

Theme statement: Democratic Resilience

Democracy–the rule of the many–is a fragile thing, tending, as the greatest political minds have always known, toward rule by the few. At its best, constitutional democracy protects popular government while safeguarding individual freedoms, yet even constitutions may erode under pressures from above or below. Despite these dangers, the resilience of democracy is one of the central questions of our age. In the 2025-2026 academic year, the Clough Center aims to understand democratic resilience: the capacity of democratic institutions and peoples to endure economic strain, demographic shifts, stark cultural and political polarization, and numerous other challenges.

As we enter the second quarter of the twenty-first century, the Clough Center will bring together scholars and students, commentators and thought leaders, to consider the forces that bolster–and those that undermine–democratic resilience. What institutions promote long-term democracy? How do ideas and values shape and support democratic rule? Perhaps most importantly, when are democratic governance and individual rights mutually reinforcing, and when must the one give way to the other? The Clough Center invites the Boston College community and the interested public to join us as we examine the past and present of democratic resilience.

Doctoral Fellowships

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 2025-26 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. For Academic Year 2025-26, the Center is also specifically interested in applicants whose work relates to the future and prospects of democracy in the U.S. and around the world. Doctoral students engaged in all stages of research are welcome to apply.

For the 2025-2026 academic year, the Doctoral Fellowship will include both incoming doctoral students and current Boston College graduate students. Clough Doctoral Fellows will attend a weekly seminar and contribute to the annual journal and spring symposium. Like all Fellows, they will be required to attend official Clough events, which is a condition of the Fellowship. Clough Doctoral Fellows will receive up to $6,000 in three installments.

Deadline: Monday, March 17, 2025

Required Documents for Clough Doctoral Fellows:

A cover letter briefly laying out your research interests and describing how they align with the Clough Center's mission and annual theme. We recommend you articulate a new research question, related to the annual theme, that you hope to explore during your Fellowship year. Previously serving Fellows should also indicate how their participation has benefitted their scholarship (no more than 2 single-spaced pages, or 3 double-spaced pages).
An updated CV or resume
Graduate and/or 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).
One letter of recommendation, preferably from your principal academic advisor
Writing sample of academic work (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)

Apply

Letter of Recommendation Submission

Junior Fellowships

In 2025-'26, the Clough Center will launch a "Junior Fellows" program for talented undergraduates with an interest in the interdisciplinary study of constitutional democracy. We are delighted to welcome applications!

The core of the Junior Fellows program will be a biweekly, seminar-style discussion. Junior Fellows, drawn from across the University, will read key excerpts of important works, from Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America to Robert Dahl’s Polyarchy, then meet to discuss them over lunch. In addition to participating in these discussions, Junior Fellows will attend the various Clough Center events throughout the academic year, such as our Distinguished Lectures, Fall Colloquium, and Spring Symposium.

Each Junior Fellow will be awarded a stipend of $4,000 and will have the opportunity to apply for additional funding for research and conference expenses.

How to Apply

A complete application will include the following documents in a single PDF. Applications should be emailed to clough.center@bc.edu.

Your application should begin with a letter describing your interest in our 2025-2026 theme, Democratic Resilience, as well as your interest in the work of the Clough Center. In your letter, please also let us know if you wish to be considered for both the Junior Fellowship and for part-time employment at the Clough Center.
Next, please include a 1-2-page submission to our annual What the Constitution Means to Us event. Examples may be found here; videos of the event are available here and here.
Thirdly, please provide an unofficial BC transcript.
Lastly, applicants must request one letter of recommendation from a faculty member. The recommender should send his or her letter directly to the Center (clough.center@bc.edu).

Applications must be submitted no later than March 17, 2025.

Apply

Letter of Recommendation Submission

Clough Correspondents

Clough Correspondents are paid undergraduate or graduate student fellows who conduct research and provide administrative and/or creative support for the center’s projects, publications, and programming. Applicants may apply for either Summer 2025 (up to 40 hours/week), the Fall 2025-Spring 2026 academic year (up to 20 hours/week), or both.

Deadline: Monday, March 17, 2025

Required Documents for Clough Correspondents:

A cover letter describing the reasons for your interest in the position and how your interests align with the Clough Center's mission and/or annual theme.
- 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)

Apply

Letter of Recommendation Submission

Clough Faculty Affiliates

Every year, the Clough Center invites a number of Boston College faculty from across the University to participate in the life of the Center as Faculty Affiliates. Faculty Affiliates enjoy invitations to all of the Center’s events, including its Doctoral Seminars. Faculty Affiliates receive a $500 stiped each semester and are eligible for targeted funding from the Center to support their research. Finally, Faculty Affiliates are invited to participate in the shaping of the Center’s annual program, at whatever level of engagement interests them.

Faculty Affiliates in the 2025-26 academic year must commit to attending at least three of the Center's public events, such as our Fall Colloquium, and a minimum of three meetings of our Doctoral Seminar, which we hold approximately every other Tuesday from noon to 1:15 pm. Finally, we ask that Faculty Affiliates contribute either a brief essay to our annual "What the Constitution Means to Us" event or a short article to our yearly Journal.

All faculty whose work touches on the Center’s annual theme (“Democratic Resilience”) are encouraged to inquire about joining the Center as a Faculty Affiliate in 2025-26. For further information, and/or to communicate your interest, please write to us directly at clough.center@bc.edu. Interested faculty should include a 1-2 page submission to our What the Constitution Means to Us event or an article abstract.

Research and Public Service Fellowships

The Clough Center will provide 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. For Academic Year 2025-26, the Center is also specifically interested in applicants whose work touches on issues related to “Democratic Resilience,” as described further on the annual theme page. Grants may be sought to support both summer research and internships, and/or research or public service projects undertaken during the academic year.

All Clough Research and Public Service Fellows will be required to attend monthly Clough meetings and events. Interested students may apply to be either Research Fellows or Public Service Fellows, but not both. Students applying to this Fellowship may not apply to the Doctoral Fellowship. Students unsure of whether their proposed research or public service falls within the Center’s field of interest are encouraged to inquire.

Research Fellows

Further Guidelines for Research Fellows: Interested applicants may be at any stage in their research, and may apply for funding to support summer or term-time work. Applications from pre-senior thesis and pre-dissertation research candidates are especially encouraged.

Deadline: Monday, March 17, 2025

Required Documents for Clough Research Fellows:

An updated CV or resume
Undergraduate and graduate university transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)
A cover letter briefly summarizing your research project, how it aligns with the Clough Center's mission and/or annual theme, 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 the period for which you are seeking funding (summer, fall, etc.) 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
One academic letter of recommendation
A writing sample of no more than 30 pages

Public Service Fellows

Further Guidelines for Public Service Fellows: Interested applicants may pursue service placements either in the United States or abroad (contingent on university travel restrictions in place). The Clough Public Service Fellowship may be used by PhD students to explore professional alternatives to traditional academia, with their advisor’s permission. Note: Political campaigns or Political Action Committees on behalf of a candidate are not eligible for Public Service Fellowships.

Deadline: Monday, March 17, 2025

Required Documents for Clough Research Fellows:

An updated CV or resume
Undergraduate and graduate university transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)
A cover letter describing the reasons for your interest in the position and how it aligns with the Clough Center's mission and/or annual theme. (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)

NOT HIRING: Clough Postdoctoral Fellow

The Clough Center is not currently accepting applications for this position.

The Clough Center for the Study of Constitutional Democracy invites applications from scholars whose research and writing relate to the theme of “Envisioning Democratic Futures,” for appointment as a Clough Postdoctoral Fellow during the 2025-2026 academic year. The Postdoctoral Fellow will support the center’s programming while advancing their own research agenda. This Fellowship is supported by a joint collaboration with the University of Bern.

About the Clough Center
The Clough Center for the Study of Constitutional Democracy explores questions pertaining to the past, present, and future of constitutional democracy from a global and interdisciplinary perspective, bringing leading academics together with public intellectuals and civically engaged practitioners from multiple professions. The Center maintains a sizable cohort of undergraduate and graduate Fellows. Each year, the Center chooses an annual theme to serve as a focus for its research, programming, and public events. Our theme for the 2025-2026 academic year is “Democratic Resilience” (please see the annual theme tab for more information).

Fellowship Description
During the term of their appointment, the Postdoctoral Fellow will work closely with the Clough Center’s Director, Prof. Jonathan Laurence, and be responsible for Clough Center activities under three main categories:

1) Management of Clough Fellowship Programs

Coordinate program & meetings of Doctoral Seminar
Coordinate program and meetings for All-Fellows Gatherings
Develop community building activities for Fellows
Manage Clough Correspondents [Paid graduate and undergraduate interns at the Center]

2) Program Development

Assist with planning, organizing, and managing events for the 2025-26 academic year
Assist with editorial preparation of center-related Publications

3) Postdoctoral Research

Pursue original research agenda in collaboration with partners at the University of Bern. The Fellow’s research project should align broadly with the theme of “Democratic Resilience.”

Eligibility & Qualifications:
The Fellowship is open to US and international applicants with a PhD in the humanities or social sciences, pertaining to historical or contemporary democratic themes. These include, but are not limited to, anthropology, area studies, art, cultural studies, economics, geography and cartography, history, international relations, language and literature, law, philosophy, political science, religious studies, sociology, and theology. Applicants must have their Ph.D. in hand by the time of commencing the position. In addition to scholarly promise, applicants must also have demonstrated administrative ability. Ideal applicants will have experience in program development and/or administration at academic or academic-adjacent institutions.

Compensation:
All Postdoctoral Fellowship salaries at Boston College start at $65,000 plus benefits, and increase based on experience.

Application Process:
Interested candidates for the Clough Postdoctoral Fellowship may submit their application to clough.center@bc.edu, addressed to Prof. Jonathan Laurence, Director of the Clough Center. Applications should be organized in a single PDF and must include:

A cover letter indicating interest and qualifications for the position, and specifying how the candidate’s work relates to the Center’s annual theme.
A brief statement of research plans (3-5pp.);
A current curriculum vitae;
Names and email addresses of two persons who can provide confidential
letters of recommendation; and
One writing sample (article- or chapter-length).

Inquiries concerning the position may be directed to clough.center@bc.edu.

Non-Discrimination Policy
Boston College is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. In concert with our Jesuit, Catholic mission, Boston College is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications for women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and covered veterans. To learn more about how BC supports diversity and inclusion throughout the university please visit the Office for Institutional Diversity at https://www.bc.edu/diversity.

NOT HIRING: Clough Visiting Fellow

The Clough Center is not currently accepting applications for this position.

The Clough Center for the Study of Constitutional Democracy invites applications from scholars whose research and writing relate to the theme of “Envisioning Democratic Futures,” for appointment as a Clough Visiting Fellow during the 2025-2026 academic year. The Visiting Fellow will support the center’s programming while advancing their own research agenda.

Fellowship Description
The Clough Visiting Fellow program brings an early or mid-career scholar whose research interests align with the Center’s annual theme to Boston College. The Visiting Fellow will be a regular participant in the Center’s own vibrant intellectual community, working alongside our undergraduate and graduate Fellows and faculty affiliates. In particular, the Fellow will contribute to the planning and facilitation of the Center’s major event of the year, a spring symposium (March 20-21, 2025) related to our annual theme.

The Fellowship appointment may be for one or two semesters, to be negotiated with the candidate. During the term of their appointment, the Fellow is expected to be in residence at Boston College. To support their residency,the Visiting Fellow will receive $5,000 per month, intended to cover the cost of living, including housing and medical insurance; a small additional fund is set aside to support roundtrip travel to BC. The Fellow will have access to all of the facilities and resources of Boston College. They will also be provided with a shared office space at the Clough Center, to conduct their research and meet with students.

During their appointment, the Visiting Fellow will be expected to attend and contribute to the Center’s seminars and events. In addition to their role in planning the annual Symposium, they will also assist with editing the Center’s annual journal, which publishes original student and faculty research related to the annual theme (see our inaugural 2023 issue here).

Eligibility & Qualifications:
The Fellowship is open to US and international applicants with a PhD in the humanities or social sciences. These include, but are not limited to, anthropology, area studies, art, cultural studies, economics, geography and cartography, history, international relations, language and literature, law, philosophy, political science, religious studies, sociology, and theology.

Application Process:
Interested candidates for the Clough Visiting Fellowship may submit their application to clough.center@bc.edu, addressed to Prof. Jonathan Laurence, Director of the Clough Center. Applications should be organized in a single PDF and must include:

A cover letter indicating interest and qualifications the position, and specifying how the candidate’s work relates to the Center’s annual theme
A brief statement of research plans (3-5pp.);
A current curriculum vitae;
Names and email addresses of two persons who can provide confidential letters of recommendation; and
One writing sample (article- or chapter-length).

Inquiries concerning the position may be directed to clough.center@bc.edu.