Stanford Tinker Postdoctoral Fellowship is offered annually through Stanford University’s Center for Latin American Studies. Its purpose is to provide an early-career scholar with time and institutional support to advance research connected to Latin America while contributing to the intellectual community at Stanford.
A major advantage is its interdisciplinary eligibility. Stanford does not limit applicants to political science, history or another single field. Researchers from any discipline can be considered as long as their research is substantively related to Latin American Studies, including research concerning the Caribbean and Brazil.
That could make the fellowship relevant to researchers working across fields such as sociology, economics, anthropology, history, public policy, gender studies, education, literature, environmental studies and related disciplines.
Who Can Apply?
Candidates must meet specific postdoctoral eligibility requirements.
Applicants must have received their PhD no more than three years before September 1, 2027.
They must also have been formally awarded their PhD by August 31, 2027, immediately before the fellowship begins.
There is an important nationality requirement.
Applicants must be either:
- A United States citizen, or
- A citizen of a Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking Latin American country.
This means the programme is internationally accessible within a defined geographic citizenship group rather than being open to every nationality worldwide. Stanford particularly encourages applications from people who earned their PhDs at Latin American universities.
Is the Fellowship Open to Women?
The fellowship is not restricted to women but rather gives opportunities for women to apply. Stanford explicitly states that applications are welcomed from qualified candidates including women scholars and members of traditionally underrepresented groups. That makes it relevant to women researchers across Latin America seeking an opportunity to strengthen their research profile, teach at Stanford and participate in a major interdisciplinary Latin American Studies community.
Who Is Not Eligible?
Stanford identifies several categories that cannot apply. Lecturers, Visiting Assistant Professors, tenure-track faculty and Stanford PhD recipients are not eligible. Applicants should therefore verify their current employment category carefully before investing time in the application.
Funding and Benefits
The fellowship is a 12-month appointment. Stanford lists the expected base pay at: US$79,000
The appointment runs from September 1, 2027 through August 31, 2028. Stanford makes clear that the final pay offered to the successful candidate may depend on factors including qualifications and budget availability. This distinction matters: the official call describes $79,000 as expected base pay rather than a guaranteed flat scholarship stipend.
What Will the Fellow Do?
The successful candidate must live in the Stanford area during the fellowship. Alongside pursuing their research, the fellow will:
- Teach one course during the academic year
- Participate in regular activities organised by the Center for Latin American Studies.
The fellowship therefore combines research with teaching and academic-community participation. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate both a compelling research agenda and the ability to translate their expertise into graduate-level teaching.
What Does the Application Require?
All application materials must be submitted in English. Applicants need to provide several substantial components.
- The research statement can be up to 1,250 words and should explain the work the applicant plans to pursue during the fellowship year.
- A writing sample is also required. Applicants may submit a dissertation chapter or another academic paper, with the main written content limited to 7,500 words.
- Candidates must additionally develop a master’s-level course proposal.
The proposed course can address any appropriate topic but must develop core skills in Latin American Studies and include training in specific research methods with broad interdisciplinary applicability. Applicants must also provide a current curriculum vitae containing their educational qualifications, current position and employer, mailing address and email address.
English Language Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate English-language proficiency. This can be established in several ways, including having English as a primary language, earning a qualifying degree from an institution where instruction was conducted entirely in English, or having at least two consecutive years of full-time professional or educational experience in English during the previous 10 years.
- Qualifying current TOEFL or IELTS scores can also be used.
- Applicants whose doctoral work was not conducted in English should pay particular attention to this requirement.
Recommendation Letters
Three recommendation letters are required. Importantly, one letter must come from the applicant’s primary doctoral adviser.
- Referees submit their letters directly through Stanford’s application system.
Recommendation letters are due one week after the December 1 application deadline. Applicants should still contact potential referees well in advance rather than relying on the additional week.
Key Dates and Details
Applications opened: September 1, 2026
Application deadline: December 1, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Fellowship begins: September 1, 2027
Fellowship ends: August 31, 2028
Duration: 12 months
Expected base pay: US$79,000
Location: Stanford University, California, USA.
Tips for a Strong Application
Make the connection between your research and Latin America unmistakable. Interdisciplinary eligibility is broad, but the regional research focus is not. Your research statement should also explain what you can realistically accomplish during one year at Stanford rather than describing an entire career research agenda.
Take the course proposal seriously. It is not an administrative extra: teaching one course is part of the fellowship.
Finally, approach your three referees early, particularly your doctoral adviser, whose recommendation is mandatory.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted online through Stanford University’s official system.
- Official Stanford Tinker Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027–2028
- CLICK HERE TO APPLY The official application portal is linked directly from that page. For eligible women researchers from Latin America, this newly opened fellowship offers something particularly valuable: 12 months of funded research time, teaching experience and access to Stanford’s interdisciplinary academic environment. If your PhD timing, citizenship and research area meet the requirements, review the official call now and start developing your research statement, writing sample and course proposal well before December 1, 2026.
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