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Visiting Fellows Program

2025-26 Call for Applications

UC San Diego’s Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies (USMEX) at the School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS) hosts the largest residential fellowship program in the U.S. for research on Mexico and U.S.-Mexico relations. Each year, the program brings together top scholars from the social sciences, humanities, and related fields to form a multidisciplinary cohort of researchers.

Application Overview

Applications are accepted from Ph.D. candidates who are ABD (All But Dissertation) and have completed a substantial portion of their dissertations. Professors on sabbatical are also welcome to apply. You must be concurrently enrolled/employed at their home university to receive a cost-of-living allowance from USMEX. Residential periods are three, six or nine months, with fellowships starting in September or January.

Fellowships are not available during the summer months (July – August). Those accepted into the program receive a cost-of-living allowance. This allowance will depend on various factors, including the length of the residential period, and will not exceed 22,500 USD. The cost-of-living allowance is also contingent upon your compliance with the program’s requirements, or any contingency affecting the center’s endowment could hinder our ability to meet this commitment.

Priority will be given to proposals that are scientifically and/or policy-relevant, present a feasible plan of action, and/or contribute toward a better understanding of Mexico and/or U.S.-Mexico relations. Applications from Mexican scholars are strongly encouraged.

Postdoctoral scholars

USMEX welcomes applications from postdoctoral scholars with extramural funding that meets or exceeds the UC Salary Scale rate requirements for the appropriate years of experience as a postdoctoral scholar. For specific inquiries related to postdoctoral scholar support please contact USMEX with the subject line “Postdoctoral Scholar Inquiry.”

Non-resident Fellows

Beginning with the academic year 2024-25, non-resident fellowships are by invitation only and are not eligible for cost-of-living allowance, except for travel reimbursements up to 1,000 USD.

Application Process

Applicants must submit a one-page letter of intent describing the work they intend to complete while in residence. Letters should be submitted to usmex-applications@ucsd.edu.

The deadline for the letters is Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. Applicants will be notified by Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, if they are invited to submit a complete application for a fellowship during the academic year.

For more information, visit usmex.ucsd.edu or contact ccamachobolanos@ucsd.edu with the subject line “Visiting Fellows Program 2025-26 Inquiry.”

Application Cycle Timeline

2024
Sept.: Fellow Recruitment to Submit Letters of Intent
Nov. 8: Letters of Intent Deadline
Nov. 20: Responses to Submit Full Applications

2025
Jan. 22: Application Deadline
Feb. 24-28: USMEX Fellowship Selection Committee Meeting
March 17: Final Notifications

Note: Committee dates are subject to change.

Application Deadline:

Jan. 22, 2025

Questions?

For questions about the program, please email usmex-fellows@ucsd.edu with the subject line: Visiting Fellows Program 2025-26 Inquiry.

Yuriko Takahashi, 2021-2023 USMEX Fellow

“My experience at USMEX enormously helped advance my research. Interactions with other fellows, attendance at a variety of seminars and participation in research projects greatly inspired me as well as deepened my understanding of U.S.-Mexican relations. I benefited a lot from the extensive network of the past and current fellows as well.”

— Yuriko Takahashi, 2021-2023 USMEX Fellow