The Duke Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) is now accepting departmental nominations for the Program for Advanced Research in the Social Sciences (PARISS) Fellowship for the 2026–27 academic year.
The PARISS Fellowship provides advanced Duke Arts & Sciences Ph.D. students with an interdisciplinary environment in which to further develop and apply their social science research methodology skills as they work toward completion of their dissertations. In addition to financial support (including tuition and a graduate stipend) Fellows participate in a range of training and professional development opportunities through SSRI.
PARISS Fellows join a cross-disciplinary intellectual community of graduate students and faculty from across SSRI-affiliated programs. During the fellowship period (one semester or one year), Fellows are expected to engage in SSRI programming for up to eight hours per week. These activities may include presenting original research, developing collaborations with other scholars, and advising students conducting independent research.
In accordance with Duke Graduate School policy, students may not hold a full-time research or teaching assistantship during any semester in which they receive a PARISS Fellowship.
Fellows are selected annually through a competitive application process based on departmental nominations. Eligible nominees must be advanced A&S graduate students who are actively working toward their dissertation and who demonstrate strong interest and achievement in social science research methodology.
Nomination Guidelines
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Each department may nominate up to two candidates.
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Nomination deadline: March 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
Nomination materials should be submitted via email and must include:
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A brief letter of nomination from the student’s Director of Graduate Studies
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A brief letter of support from the student’s dissertation advisor
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The student’s CV (including software proficiency)
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A writing sample (e.g., dissertation chapter or conference paper)
Departments are encouraged to highlight nominees’ specific methodological interests and skills in submitted materials.
Please circulate this call within your department to identify qualified students who may be interested in the PARISS Fellowship.
For questions about the nomination process, please contact SSRI.