SSRC Just Tech Fellowship 2026

The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) is now accepting applications for its Just Tech Fellowship 2026. This fellowship supports innovative, community-grounded work that explores how technology shapes society and public life.

📝 About the SSRC Just Tech Fellowship

The Just Tech Fellowship is designed for researchers, artists, and practitioners whose work advances thoughtful, practical, and imaginative approaches to how technology is designed, governed, and experienced in public life.

Key Details:

• Sponsor Organization: Social Science Research Council (SSRC)
• Fellowship Period: January 2027 – December 2027

🎁 Benefits of the Fellowship

• Funding: A one-year unrestricted award of up to $60,000 to support research, creative practice, or community-engaged work.
• Professional Development:
  • Monthly virtual gatherings.
  • Individualized mentoring.
  • One in-person workshop for collaboration and exchange.
• Seed Funding: Fellows can apply for additional funding to support collaborative projects within or across Just Tech cohorts.
• Networking: Ongoing access to the broader Just Tech network beyond the award year.

✅ Fellowship Requirements

Residency

• Open to citizens of any country.
• Fellows must reside in the United States for the duration of the fellowship year.
• Note: The SSRC does not sponsor visas.

Education

• No formal degree requirements.
• Applicants may hold academic credentials or demonstrate a sustained record of research, creative practice, or public-facing work.

Time Commitment

• Fellowship runs from January 2027 to December 2027.
• Fellows are expected to:
  • Participate in monthly virtual gatherings.
  • Attend mentoring sessions.
  • Join one in-person workshop.
  • Make sustained progress on their proposed project.

Experience

• Applicants should demonstrate engagement with substantive questions related to technology and society.

Student Status

• Individuals currently enrolled as full-time students are not eligible to apply.

📅 Application Process

Required Documents:

1. Résumé/CV: Up to two pages.
2. Personal Statement:
   • Written statement (up to 1,000 words) OR
   • Recorded video statement (up to 5 minutes).
   • Should describe your research or creative practice, areas of focus, and guiding questions.
3. Work Proposal:
   • Submit as either:
     • Written document (maximum 3,000 words), OR
     • Project deck (up to 10 slides).
   • The proposal should address:
     • Concept Description: Central idea and research question.
     • Engagement with Technology: How the project engages with digital or emerging technologies.
     • Approach and Contribution: Unique perspective or method and its contribution to broader conversations.
     • Feasibility: Anticipated challenges and plans to address them.
     • Field Context: Relation to other individuals, initiatives, or organizations working on similar questions.
     • Public Contribution: Broader societal impact and forms of engagement or dissemination.
4. Work Samples:
   • Two samples reflecting your research, creative practice, or public-facing work.
   • Include brief descriptions explaining your role in each work.

📌 Application Deadline

28 June 2026

🌐 Additional Information

For more details about the fellowship, visit the official SSRC Just Tech Fellowship page.

To apply, visit the application portal.

• One-year unrestricted award of up to $60,000.
• Monthly virtual gatherings and individualized mentoring.
• One in-person workshop for focused collaboration.
• Access to the Just Tech network beyond the award year.