Drugs, Security and Democracy Fellowship

The Drugs, Security and Democracy (DSD) fellowship program supports research on drugs, citizen security and democratic governance, with a goal of producing evidence-based knowledge and influencing drug policy.

The fellowship seeks to develop a concentration of researchers who are interested in policy-relevant outcomes and membership in a global interdisciplinary network.

FELLOWSHIP RESEARCH AGENDA

DSD funded research must address the primary theme of drugs in relation to security and/or democracy in Latin America or the Caribbean. These topics may include, but are not be limited to, the following issues and areas of study: the relationship of drugs to crime and violence, the impact of drug policy innovations (decriminalization, etc.), and the impact of drug markets on public health and human rights. Proposals must demonstrate the potential of the research to contribute to a sound and credible knowledge base for informed advocacy and decision making for drug policy. Projects that do not have a primary focus on the theme of drugs will be eliminated from the competiton.

The program encourages interdisciplinary and comparative projects and those that address transnational and trans-regional issues. We encourage research in or about countries or themes that have been underrepresented in the program’s previously funded projects.

ELIGIBILITY

Applications are welcome from PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers conducting research that addresses the primary theme of drugs in relation to security and/or democracy in Latin America or the Caribbean. Eligible applicants will fall into one of the following two categories:

• Dissertation Fellowship: This competition is open to PhD and JSD candidates worldwide who have an approved dissertation prospectus by July 1, 2014, but have not completed writing for final submission.
• Postdoctoral Fellowship: The competition is open to PhD and JSD recipients worldwide who have completed their PhD within 7 years of the application deadline (on or after January 20, 2007).

If you are proposing to conduct research in a non-native language, you should provide evidence of the necessary proficiency to carry out the project.

FELLOWSHIP TERMS

The DSD Program provides support for a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 12 months of research. Candidates based outside of Latin America or the Caribbean must spend at least three months conducting research in the region. Fellowship amounts vary depending on the research plan; however, support will be provided for travel and living expenses as well as associated research costs based on a budget reviewed by the SSRC. The fellowship is intended to support an individual researcher, regardless of whether that individual is working alone or in collaboration with others.

Recipients of the DSD Fellowship are expected to devote themselves full-time to their DSD research during the tenure of the fellowship. Dissertation fellows must complete the fellowship within a continuous block of time and may not take classes or teach during the fellowship. Postdoctoral fellows need not schedule their fellowship in a continuous block of time.

The fellowship includes mandatory participation in two interdisciplinary workshops, one preceding fellowship research and one upon completion of the fellowship tenure. Workshops will be organized by the SSRC and held in Latin America in July or August. Travel and accommodations will be provided.

Deadline: January 20 annually.

Click here for further fellowship details and application