Johns Hopkins University University Opened DAAD Postdoc Fellowship 2026
A prestigious, fully paid post-doctoral research opportunity has officially opened for the 2026–2027 academic year, inviting early-career scholars from around the world to carry out high-impact policy research in the very heart of global diplomacy. The DAAD Post-Doctoral Fellowships hosted at Johns Hopkins University through its renowned Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) are now accepting applications, offering a rare chance to work where academic research meets real-world international affairs and policy engagement. For scholars aiming to shape debates on global order, security, and transatlantic relations, this is one of the most powerful fellowship platforms available in 2026.
This fellowship is a full-time, salaried post-doctoral appointment funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with support from the German Federal Foreign Office. For the 2026–2027 cycle, up to two fellows will be selected to spend 9 to 12 months in Washington, D.C., conducting advanced research on transatlantic relations and the evolving global order. The fellowship runs between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, with flexible start dates available until 1 October 2026, allowing scholars to align the opportunity with their academic schedules.
For the upcoming cohort, fellows will focus on the theme “The United States, Europe, and World Order,” with special attention to the changing roles of the United States and Germany at a critical moment in international history. Fellows will be fully integrated into the SAIS academic environment and affiliated with the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs, where they will engage in high-level seminars, peer-reviewed research discussions, and direct interaction with senior policymakers and leading scholars in international security, geostrategy, and statecraft. Each fellow is expected to complete a major research paper aligned with the program theme while continuing their independent scholarly agenda.
What truly sets this opportunity apart is the depth of financial and professional support. Selected fellows receive an annual stipend of up to USD 72,000 (around USD 6,000 per month before U.S. taxes), along with research funding of up to USD 3,000 for a 12-month stay. The package also includes economy-class round-trip airfare to the United States, additional travel support for participation in a German-US conference in Germany, and basic health-care coverage, with dependent premiums covered where applicable. Fellows gain full access to office space, computing facilities, high-speed internet, and Johns Hopkins libraries, as well as guaranteed participation in a summer workshop on grand strategy and international security in Washington, D.C. While accommodation is arranged independently, the fellowship salary is structured to support a professional standard of living in the U.S. capital.
This opportunity is designed for early-career researchers with strong academic trajectories in international affairs, political science, security studies, history, or closely related disciplines. Applicants must hold a completed doctorate or be firmly at the post-doctoral stage, demonstrate scholarly independence and research excellence, and be fully fluent in English. Candidates should typically be within six (06) years of completing their PhD, with limited flexibility for exceptional cases. Both EU and U.S. citizens are eligible to apply; EU applicants should be affiliated with a German university or research institution and eligible for a J-1 visa. The selection committee places particular weight on academic merit, thematic relevance, and the applicant’s potential contribution to the SAIS and Kissinger Center intellectual community.
For scholars ready to step into the world of high-level policy research, the timeline is decisive. Applications for the 2026–2027 DAAD Post-Doctoral Fellowship at SAIS must be submitted online at https://facultyjobs.jhu.edu/Home/Position?reqId=A-177831-36, and the final deadline is 14 January 2026, by 11:59 PM U.S. Eastern Time. Successful candidates will be notified in February 2026, with fellowship start dates running between 1 July and 1 October 2026 and concluding on 30 June 2027. For early-career scholars seeking to shape global policy conversations from one of the world’s most influential academic and diplomatic hubs, this fellowship represents a truly career-defining opportunity.
