Summer Program in Social Science

      An International and Interdisciplinary Initiative for 
           Early-Career Scholars from the Global South

                   Program Dates: October 8-18, 2024 
               Application Deadline: December 1, 2023 
               Application Results: by January 31, 2024                                                         

Applications are closed

Eligibility 
• Applicants must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent, awarded no later than the application deadline.

• Applicants must be from Africa, the Middle East or Latin America. 

Requirements 
Applicants must provide a CV, a research proposal, and two letters of recommendation.

About the Program 
The School of Social Science at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, has organized for the past nine years the Summer Program in Social Science (SPSS), which is designed to draw together twenty early-career scholars from countries in Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. The program aims to enrich and expand the realm of the social sciences through the confrontation of different intellectual traditions and perspectives; to facilitate and enhance the dialogue between various scientific disciplines and communities; and to strengthen international networks across continents.

Fellows pursue and present their own research projects during the program. This research is expected to be at an advanced stage of development so as to render discussions of its object, method and conclusions richer and intellectual interactions among the fellows more fruitful. During workshops, special attention is paid to local contexts of production and global modalities of circulation of knowledge, and the participants are invited to exchange their research experiences.

The program is open to scholars from all social sciences, including anthropology, sociology, history, psychology, economics, law, and political science, as well as neighboring humanity disciplines such as philosophy, political theory, and literary studies. All research themes are welcome, and all transportation, meals and accommodation expenses for the participating scholars is covered.

Initially supported by the Swedish Riksbankens Jubileumsfond and the Wolfensohn Family Foundation, the program is currently funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. This innovative program takes place over a two-year cycle, beginning with a two-week session held in English at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, from 8 to 18 October 2024, followed by one week in Spanish at the National University of Colombia or in English the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Continuous communication is facilitated among the scholars throughout the two-year period. All transportation, meals and accommodation expenses for the participating scholars will be covered.

The program is led by Didier Fassin, James D. Wolfensohn Professor in the Institute’s School of Social Science, in collaboration with Pr. Mara Viveros (Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá) and Pr. Sarah Nuttall (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg).

The Scientific Committee of the program is composed of Keith Breckenridge (University of the Witwatersrand), Didier Fassin (Institute for Advanced Study), Stefania Gallini (Universidad Nacional de Colombia), Achille Mbembe (University of the Witwatersrand), Jonathan Morduch (New York University), Alondra Nelson (Institute for Advanced Study), Tania Pérez-Bustos (Universidad Nacional de Colombia), Mara Viveros Vigoya (Universidad Nacional de Colombia).

Frequently Asked Questions

Programs and Cohorts:

2021-2023

2018-2019

2015-2017

News from Fellows