The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation (HFG) is now accepting Letters of Interest (LOIs) for the 2026 Emerging Scholar Awards, a prestigious international funding opportunity designed to support promising doctoral researchers whose work examines critical issues related to violence and aggression. Formerly known as the Harry Frank Guggenheim Dissertation Fellowships, this program continues the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to advancing rigorous, policy-relevant research on violence in its many forms.
The LOI submission window runs from January 1 to February 1, 2026, and eligible candidates from any country are encouraged to apply.
About the HFG Emerging Scholar Awards
The HFG Emerging Scholar Awards recognize PhD candidates in the final year of their doctoral studies who are completing dissertations that make a significant contribution to understanding violence. The Foundation supports research from the natural sciences, social sciences, and allied disciplines, provided the work deepens insight into the causes, manifestations, consequences, and prevention of violence and aggression.
Priority is given to research that addresses urgent, real-world problems of contemporary violence, especially studies that demonstrate clear relevance for public policy, prevention strategies, or interventions aimed at reducing violence.
Key Research Areas of Interest
The Foundation takes a broad and interdisciplinary view of violence. Proposals may focus on, but are not limited to, the following areas:
- War and armed conflict
- Crime and criminal justice
- Terrorism and political violence
- Family violence and intimate-partner abuse
- Climate instability and competition over natural resources
- Racial, ethnic, and religious conflict
- Political extremism and nationalism
While the Foundation is interested in research that explores the fundamental mechanisms that produce violence, strongest consideration is given to projects that can demonstrate how findings may inform practical policies or interventions. Historical research is also welcome, provided it clearly connects past events to current or emerging forms of violence. Similarly, studies on the effects or consequences of violence are encouraged when these outcomes are shown to contribute to future cycles of violence.
Award Value and What It Covers
Each Emerging Scholar Award provides USD 25,000 for one year. The funding is intended to support a doctoral candidate during the final year of dissertation writing, enabling timely completion of the PhD.
Important to note:
- The award does not fund primary doctoral research or fieldwork.
- It is strictly for dissertation completion support.
- Awards are available only to students in the final stage of their PhD.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the 2026 HFG Emerging Scholar Awards, applicants must:
- Be enrolled as PhD candidates at the dissertation stage
- Have completed most or all fieldwork, data collection, or experiments
- Be actively writing or ready to begin writing the dissertation at the start of the award period
- Be confident that the dissertation can be completed within one year
Applicants from any country and studying at any accredited university worldwide are eligible. In experimental disciplines where research and writing can be completed within the same year, candidates may also apply.
Application Timeline
The application process has two stages:
Stage 1: Letter of Interest (LOI)
Opens: January 1, 2026
Deadline: February 1, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET)
- Submitted online as a short questionnaire outlining the proposed dissertation and research design
- LOIs are reviewed for relevance and suitability. Only shortlisted applicants will move to the next stage.
Stage 2: Full Proposal Application
By invitation only
Deadline: March 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET)
Final award decisions are made by the HFG Board of Directors in June 2026, and applicants will be notified promptly via email.
Award Start Date
The award year typically begins on September 1, 2026. However, applicants may request a different start date, subject to approval by the Foundation.
How to Apply
Interested candidates must apply online by creating an account on the HFG Grant Application Portal. Application guidelines and detailed advice for applicants are available through the Foundation’s official resources.
The process begins with submission of the Letter of Interest, followed—if approved—by a comprehensive proposal.
Recent Award Recipients
Recent Emerging Scholar Award recipients reflect the program’s global and interdisciplinary reach, with awardees from institutions such as Yale University, Stanford University, the University of Cape Town, the University of California–Berkeley, and Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. Their research spans topics including police violence, firearm homicide disparities, online radicalization, authoritarian repression, and post-conflict peacebuilding.
Why This Opportunity Matters
The HFG Emerging Scholar Awards offer more than financial support—they provide recognition from a globally respected foundation and position recipients as emerging leaders in violence research. For doctoral candidates seeking to influence policy, practice, and academic debate on some of the world’s most pressing challenges, this award represents a significant career milestone.
Application opens January 1, 2026. Early preparation is strongly advised.
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