Brazil Futures Fellowship

Columbia University Brazil Futures Fellowship

The Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies (LCBS) and the Institute for Latin American Studies at Columbia University are seeking applicants for the Brazil Futures Fellowship, a unique opportunity for scholars, activists, and practitioners to spend a 2-month visiting period at Columbia University, engaging in research, contributing to public programming, and interacting with faculty and students. The program is open to those with diverse disciplinary and professional backgrounds related to social impact in Brazil, who are researching, reflecting upon, and creating new futures for Brazil.

Applications are welcome from:

  • Practitioners with public policy experience through work in private or non-governmental organizations.
  • Those with public policy experience in government as public servants or elected or appointed officials.
  • Public intellectuals and artists.
  • Professionals and Academics in mid- or advanced-career stages, with preference for those with a doctoral degree.

The program will focus on proposing and creating new futures for Brazil in various areas, or as we say in Portuguese, novos projetos de país. We especially welcome applicants who bring innovative approaches to studying and/or addressing major challenges, such as education, public health, socioeconomic inclusion, public safety, culture, urban development, environmental protection, technological development, engineering infrastructure, and sustainable development. Applicants should have at least 10 years of professional experience.

Program Benefits & Fellow Support

 Among the benefits that Fellows receive are:

  • Opportunity to conduct research under the guidance of Columbia faculty
  • Opportunity to share the results of their research or other projects through on-campus events
  • A monthly salary from the LCBS
  • A round-trip ticket from the Fellow’s city of residence to New York.
  • Office space at the LCBS/Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS)

Visas

In order to come to the United States, foreign applicants will need a J-1 visa. Columbia can provide selected fellows with a DS-2019 form, which you must present to U.S. Consulate authorities when applying for a J-1 visa.

Housing

The Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies is unable to assist visiting fellows in obtaining housing in the Columbia-New York area, and Columbia housing is not provided. On-campus housing options may be available (to be paid for by the fellow), but availability is not guaranteed. Information on on- and off-campus housing is available on the Columbia Residential website.

Application Procedures & Eligibility

Applications consist of an online application form, a CV, and a Statement of Interest. We will request letters only from finalists. A university committee will review applications through a competitive process. The application deadline for the current call is November 1st, 2026, for consideration for the following options:

  • March-April 2027
  • September-October 2027
  • October-November 2027

 

As part of the application, we request that applicants submit a 2-3 page Statement of Interest with the following:

  • A description of the applicant’s experience and background, highlighting unique qualifications, major accomplishments, and interests.
  • A brief description of one or more projects, initiatives, and deliverables with which the applicant will engage during and after the stay. Examples of such projects and initiatives could include (but are not limited to):
    • Conferences or events in NY and/or in Brazil
    • A series of lectures
    • The organization of an edited book
    • Writing or concluding a book
    • Writing academic articles
    • Starting a new research project
    • Proposing a new public policy initiative
    • Executing a new artistic or cultural project
    • Creating a social impact project
    • Creating a new media project, in traditional or new media
  • The potential short- and long-term impact of the projects in Brazil.
  • A timeline of execution of the projects, which should preferably include activities both before and after the applicant’s stay at Columbia.
  • An articulation of why the candidate is uniquely qualified to conduct the projects and activities proposed
  • An explanation of how the applicant will benefit from Columbia’s unique resources, students, and scholars, as well as New York City’s academic, cultural, and/or artistic environment
Application
About You
Please provide a brief biography highlighting your main professional positions and accomplishments (500 words or less)
Please attach a PDF copy of your CV
One file only.
128 MB limit.
Allowed types: txt, rtf, pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xlsx, gif, jpg, png, svg.
Fellowship Dates
Please select the fellowship options in which you are interested. Please check all options that apply.

Research Interests

 

Statement of Interest: Please attach a 2- to 3-page Statement of Interest as a PDF. The statement should include:

  • A brief description of one or more projects, initiatives, and deliverables with which the applicant will engage during and after the stay.
  • The potential short- and long-term impact of the projects in Brazil.
  • A timeline of execution of the projects, which should preferably include activities both before and after the applicant’s stay at Columbia.
  • An articulation of why the candidate is uniquely qualified to conduct the projects and activities proposed
  • An explanation of how the applicant will benefit from Columbia’s unique resources, students, and scholars, as well as New York City’s academic, cultural, and/or artistic environment
One file only.
128 MB limit.
Allowed types: txt, rtf, pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xlsx, gif, jpg, png, svg.

References

Please provide contact information for potential references who have agreed to provide a letter of reference. You don't need to request letters at this stage of the application process. Columbia will contact references only for applicants selected as finalists for the Fellowship. 
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