Stanford Next Asia Policy Lab Fellowships

About the Stanford Next Asia Policy Lab

The Stanford Next Asia Policy Lab (SNAPL) is committed to addressing emergent social, cultural, economic, and political challenges in Asia through interdisciplinary, problem-oriented, policy-relevant, and comparative studies and publications. The lab is housed at Shorenstein APARC under the directorship of Professor Gi-Wook Shin. It focuses on four research themes: “Talent Flows and Development,” “Nationalism and Racism,” “U.S.-Asia Relations,” and “Democratic Crisis and Reform.”

Call for Applications: 2026-2028 Next Asia Policy Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Lab invites applications for two 2-year postdoctoral fellowships for scholars with a strong interest in interdisciplinary research and policy engagement on contemporary Asia. The Lab is particularly interested in scholars who are enthusiastic about collaborating closely with other Lab members across diverse thematic areas. Applications for fall quarter 2026 admission are due by December 1, 2025.

SNAPL is offering two postdoctoral fellowships (two years in length) to begin in fall quarter 2026. There are four fellowship tracks and applicants can apply for any of them: "Talent Flows and Development,” "Nationalism and Racism," "U.S.-Asia Relations," and "Democratic Crisis and Reform." While all tracks are open, we especially welcome applications for the "Nationalism and Racism" track. Each postdoctoral fellow will lead one thematic collaborative research group and support student programming for SNAPL alongside general research and publication activities.

Duration

The appointment is for two years, with a possibility of extension contingent on satisfactory performance and funding.
 

Compensation

Each fellow will be offered an annual salary of $80,000 plus benefits. Postdoctoral fellows are required to be in residence at the Center for the duration of the appointment and are expected to participate in Center and Lab activities throughout the academic year. Additional privileges include access to Stanford research facilities and the opportunity to participate in events at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and elsewhere on campus.
 

How to Apply

Candidates interested in becoming postdoctoral fellows at SNAPL must complete the following:

I. Fill Out the Following Online Application Form:

II. Upload the Following Materials to the Online Form, in PDF Format:

• A formal letter of request detailing their relevant research and experiences related to one of the research themes, including plans for solo and collaborative, co-authored publications;
• A formal and complete academic CV, including a list of publications.

III. Submit the Completed Application Form

IV. Email Letters of Recommendation
Email THREE (3) letters of recommendation to Ms. Kerstin Norris at SNAPLcontact@stanford.edu by December 1, 2025. The candidate’s legal name and email address must be included at the top of each required document.

In cases where there are overlapping interests, candidates are permitted to apply for more than one postdoctoral fellowship track.

Please note the following requirements: Candidates who will have received their PhDs within three years of the fellowship start date are eligible to apply. Recent PhDs are eligible to apply but must have their dissertation submitted and approved for conferral by June 30, 2026. Certification of degree completion and conferral must be submitted no later than August 31, 2026.

Call for Applications: 2026-2027 Next Asia Policy Visiting Fellowship

The Lab offers two visiting scholar positions to researchers from Asia. Applications for the 2026 fall quarter admission are due by March 1, 2026.

SNAPL invites researchers and professionals from the Asia-Pacific region to apply for our visiting fellow positions to begin in fall quarter 2026. Two visiting fellow positions are available, with one of them specifically dedicated to research on the Philippines. The lab seeks scholars and professionals with PhD degrees or substantial records of professional achievement related to four research themes: “Talent Flows and Development,” “Nationalism and Racism,” “U.S.-Asia Relations,” and “Democratic Crisis and Reform.”

The visiting fellows will work alongside postdoctoral fellows, affiliated Stanford faculty, and students to conduct research on one or more of the four themes listed above. The deadline to apply for fall quarter admission is March 1, 2026. Please see below for information on how to apply.

Duration

The appointment is for one academic year.
 

Stipend

Each visiting fellow will be offered $30,000 as a supplementary stipend. Visiting fellows are required to be in residence at the Center for the duration of the appointment and are expected to participate in Center and Lab activities throughout the academic year. Additional privileges include access to Stanford research facilities, the opportunity to audit relevant University lecture courses without a fee (subject to permission of the instructor), and the opportunity to participate in events at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and elsewhere on campus.
 

How to Apply

Candidates interested in becoming visiting fellows must complete the following documents:

I. Fill Out the Following Online Application Form:

II. Upload the Following Materials to the Online Application Form (in English):

• A formal letter of request containing a detailed proposal of the work they wish to carry out at the Lab, including how s/he can collaborate with the lab team on research and publications;
• A formal and complete academic CV, including a list of publications; and

III. Submit the Completed Application Form

IV. Submit Letters of Recommendation
Email TWO (2) letters of reference to Ms. Kerstin Norris at SNAPLcontact@stanford.edu by March 1, 2026. The candidate’s legal name and email address must be included at the top of each required document.
 

Selection Criteria

The application is open to candidates of all ranks with a PhD and with an ongoing affiliation with an external institution. There is a preference for mid-career professionals with a strong research and publication record. Visiting fellows are selected on the basis of prior professional achievements, quality of research, and publication proposals. Applicants must be proficient in the English language.

Stanford University is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome applications from diverse backgrounds that would bring additional dimensions to the university's research and teaching missions. Diversity includes, but is not limited to, culture, socioeconomic background, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, physical capabilities, and life experience.

Contact

For questions about the fellowships and application process, please contact Kerstin Norris at SNAPLcontact@stanford.edu or norrisk@stanford.edu.

For information about being a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford, such as housing, cost of living, and other resources, please visit the website of Stanford's Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.

For questions and information related to international scholars, please visit the website of Stanford’s Bechtel International Center.