Just Tech Fellowship

The Just Tech Fellowship, offered by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), supports researchers, artists, and practitioners doing original, community-grounded work at the intersection of technology and society.

The fellowship provides an unrestricted award of up to $60,000 USD for a one-year period running from January 2027 through December 2027. It's open to a wide range of practitioners — social scientists, humanists, artists, journalists, technologists, and community-based researchers — whose work deepens public understanding of how technology is designed, governed, and experienced.

What the fellowship includes:

• Up to $60,000 unrestricted award
• Monthly virtual gatherings with your cohort
• Individualised mentoring throughout the year
• One in-person research workshop
• Opportunity to apply for additional seed funding for collaborative projects
• Ongoing access to the broader Just Tech network beyond the fellowship year

What you'll need to submit:

• Résumé/CV (up to 2 pages)
• Personal statement (up to 1,000 words or a 5-minute video)
• Work proposal — written (up to 3,000 words) or slide deck (up to 10 slides) — covering your central concept, how it engages with technology, your approach and contribution, feasibility, field context, and public contribution
• Two work samples with brief descriptions of your role

Eligibility:

• Citizens of any country may apply, but fellows must reside in the United States for the full fellowship year
• No formal degree requirements — a sustained record of practice is sufficient
• Full-time students are not eligible
• SSRC does not sponsor visas

Fellows are expected to dedicate sustained time to their project, participate in monthly virtual gatherings, engage in mentoring, share work in progress with peers, and submit midterm and final reports.

Applications close 28 June 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST. This is the only application window for the 2027 cohort.