Practitioner Fellowship
Purpose
Launched as a pilot program in 2025-26, practitioner fellows are intended to help bridge the work being done in traditional academia to the world, and are living examples of how the social and behavioral sciences are used across a number of sectors. They are selected to be curious about the work of the current fellows, have an interest in translating the work being done at CASBS to significant and everyday problems, and have a record of excellence in the practical use of social and behavioral sciences.
Expectations
Practitioner fellows can be in residence for the for the entire fellowship year (September – May/June), or have a shorter period of residence for the fall (September – December/January) or the winter/spring (January-May/June). They will be expected to have an ongoing physical presence at CASBS throughout their fellowship period (at least 3 days onsite per week) and to attend all the orientation activities in September, weekly seminars during their residential period, and other events. This includes lunch at least 3 days per week. Practitioner fellows will be active participants, sharing their knowledge of how social sciences are made use of in their sector and beyond. They will also be required to give a presentation about how behavioral and social sciences form and underlie the work they do as part of the regular fellows’ seminar series.
Practitioner fellows may not hold a concurrent teaching appointment or have commitments, including research or collaborations, that result in prolonged or frequent absences from the Center. We ask fellows to limit their travel to the absolutely essential for the fellowship year.
This is an uncompensated role, designed for someone who is motivated by curiosity and learning and the opportunity to engage with the other fellows. There is an opportunity for a small housing stipend for practitioner fellows coming to CASBS from out of the area. For our purposes, this means greater than a 15-mile radius of the Center and moving within the 15-mile radius for the residential period.
Practitioner fellows will be people who habitually apply and make use of the social and behavioral sciences. In this way, the role is ideal for someone who already works in the behavioral sciences and feel that they would benefit from being around cutting-edge social science and could contribute thinking about the role of social science in solving problems.
Application Process
The application found can be found here Practitioner Fellowship Application. You will be asked to supply a CV or resume, answer 3 short questions, and provide a description of a project you plan to work on during your time at CASBS. You will also need a letter of recommendation who can speak to your ability to engage in an intellectual community.
Applications for the 2026-27 year are due on March 31, 2026. Applicants will be notified of decisions via email by May 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Practitioner Fellowships
What items are needed to accompany my application?
All prospective fellows will need to submit the following materials with their application:
- Curriculum vitae (three-page maximum)
- Project statement
- One reference letter
My documents are Microsoft Word files. Can I submit those with my application?
No.
To ensure the integrity of your CV and personal statement, we can only accept PDF files. Creating PDF files from other formats, such as Microsoft Word, is easy to do. If you need assistance, please read these instructions on converting documents to PDF.
Are paper applications accepted?
No.
Applications are submitted only via an online application system.
Do I have to complete my application all at once?
Yes. There is not an option to “save” the application in process.
What are typical activities during the fellowship year?
Many activities offer fellows significant opportunities to engage with one another (as well as with other accomplished scholars on the Stanford campus):
- a required weekly seminar series in which fellows are invited to present and discuss their work
- informal working groups that emerge during the year, giving fellows with broadly overlapping interests a basis for sustained conversation
- occasional symposia hosted by the Center
- daily lunches at the Center
- special events and recreational activities organized by the Center
- Stanford campus colloquia and seminars
What is the Center policy regarding health care benefits?
Neither Stanford University nor the Center provides health care coverage (or subsidies for health care coverage) to fellows or their families. International scholars should note that proof of health insurance is now required during the J-1 (visiting scholar) visa application process.
What privileges does a CASBS fellow have at Stanford University?
Center fellows receive an official “Stanford fellow” designation and are given an identification card through which they are accorded library privileges at the Stanford University Libraries and sports privileges at Stanford's sports facilities.
What services are provided to CASBS fellows?
The Center provides a range of services designed to make fellows more effective and efficient while in residence, including:
- library research assistance
- desktop support
- fax and mail services
- limited administrative services
- pleasant work spaces at the Center
- housing information for relocating to the Palo Alto area for the fellowship year
Can fellowships be awarded for a single semester only?
Yes.
A fellowship may be awarded for the fall semester (September-December/January), spring semester (January-May/June) or full fellowship year (September-May/June.
Are non-US citizens able to receive CASBS fellowships?
CASBS welcomes international scholars, who must be eligible to come to the Center on a J-1 scholar visa. To check your eligibility, inquire with your nearest US consulate, or read the information about J-1 scholar visas at Stanford’s Bechtel International Center website.
Is there space and are there services for spouses and partners?
Spouses and partners are an important part of the culture at the Center, and they are invited to participate in many aspects of the intellectual and social life of the Center. Staff support services are reserved for CASBS fellows.