Applications are open now for the 2025-2026 Global China Fellows Program.
The Global China Fellows Program is a flagship program of the Global China Initiative (GCI) at the Boston University Global Development Policy Center (GDP Center). Since its inception in 2017, the Fellows Program has supported more than 40 Pre- and Post-doctoral Fellows from around the world to engage in policy-oriented research and commentary on China’s role in (re)shaping global affairs.
The Fellows Program provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to engage and collaborate with GDP Center researchers, BU faculty members and Global South-based institutions to conduct policy-oriented research on China’s overseas economic activity and engagement with international institutions to advance financial stability, human well-being and environmental sustainability. Global China Fellows are paired with a BU faculty member or GDP Center Senior Academic Researcher under one of the four GCI workstreams: Data Analysis for Transparency and Accountability (D.A.T.A.); Forestry, Agriculture, Indigenous Rights and the Belt and Road Initiative (FAIR-BRI); Energy and Climate; and China and the International Financial Architecture (CHIFA). Fellows contribute to GCI research projects while receiving guidance and support on their own independent research projects. Fellows are expected to produce one GCI working paper per appointment year.
The primary objective of the Global China Fellows Program is to mold and train the next generation of thought leaders to advance policy-oriented, interdisciplinary academic research on China’s overseas economic activities and engagement. The Global China Fellows Program has a proven track record of bridging the gap between academia and policymakers through policy dialogue and engagement and strategic communications.
Required Qualifications:
Pre-doctoral applicants must have completed their qualification/comprehensive exams and defended their dissertation proposal; post-doctoral applicants must have successfully defended their dissertation by August 2025;
Strong research interest and expertise in China’s overseas economic activities and engagement with international institutions.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in priority geographical regions of interest, in addition to China, such as Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia;
Fluency in Chinese or a language from one of the priority regions;
Experience researching the relationship between China’s overseas engagement and the following issues is most preferred:
The role of China and Chinese development finance institutions in expanding energy access and renewable energy, decarbonization and addressing climate change;
Biodiversity and Indigenous Lands, geolocation and mapping;
International economic institutions, reform of the global sovereign debt architecture, debt sustainability, the Global Financial Safety Net and RMB internationalization.
The GDP Center accepts applications from scholars of all disciplinary backgrounds, especially the natural and social sciences, engineering and business. Quantitative methodological and modeling expertise are strongly preferred.
The majority of the fellowships will be awarded for the 2025-2026 academic year. Fellows will receive a competitive stipend and modest funding for data collection and/or fieldwork and potentially be eligible for reimbursement of relocation expenses. Fellows are expected to complete their fellowship in-person at the GDP Center’s offices at Boston University.
To apply:
Interested applicants should send the following materials in one PDF to the Global China Initiative Team (gci@bu.edu) with the subject line “<> GCI Fellow Application 2025-2026″:
Recent Curriculum Vitae.
A 1-2 page cover letter describing applicant’s academic training, research interests and experience.
A 1-2 page working paper proposal that outlines the research question(s), methodology, research plan and its significance.
Contact information for two references.
Applications must be received by December 20, 2024, 11:59 PM EST. Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with screening interviews starting in October. Due to the volume of applicants, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.