UCHV Fellows in Law and Normative Thinking for Academic Year 2027-28

The Program in Law and Normative Thinking (PLANT) at the University Center for Human Values invites faculty members of any discipline, legal practitioners, and independent scholars to apply for visiting residential fellowships for 2027-28 devoted to the study of law, broadly conceived. Scholars are expected to reside in or around Princeton or demonstrate to the program’s satisfaction the ability to be on campus daily. The fellowship is a full-time commitment that typically extends from September 1 to June 1.

Fellows will devote the full academic year to research, discussion, and scholarly collaboration on topics related to law and normative inquiry. Under exceptional circumstances, fellowships for one semester may be considered. Scholars will participate in the weekly seminar of the Program in Law and Normative Thinking and will also be asked to spend some time mentoring JD/PhD students who attend that seminar. 

Applicants must have a doctorate, juris doctor, or an equivalent professional degree at the time of submission. The program is open to senior and junior scholars, domestic and international scholars, and those based in law schools or in the practice of law and those who are based in other disciplines. This is not, however, a post-doctoral or visiting assistant professor opportunity designed to launch young scholars into academic careers. 

The selection committee looks closely at the research proposal. Successful applicants should demonstrate substantial expertise in law-related matters, but in explaining research projects, applicants should write for an audience of academic generalists (not necessarily lawyers). The selection committee will evaluate applicants on: the quality of their achievements in their field of specialization and their ability to benefit from the activities of the program; the quality and significance of their proposed research projects and writing sample; the contributions they are likely to make in the future to legal scholarship and practice and their ability to contribute both to legal studies at Princeton and to the programs and mission of the University Center for Human Values.  

Application Instructions

Candidates must submit an online application: https://apply.interfolio.com/188814.

Required materials:

1.  A cover letter explaining your intellectual trajectory and suitability for the fellowship
2.  A CV
3.  A research statement of maximum 1,500 words for a project to be pursued in the course of the fellowship
4.  A writing sample consisting of a single article or chapter (published or unpublished)
5.  Contact information for two referees whom we will ask for letters (note that referees will be asked to send in their letters fairly quickly – by December 10, 2026, for best consideration).

The deadline for submission is December 3, 2026, 11:59 p.m. EST. Letters of reference should be submitted by December 10, 2026, 11:59 p.m. EST. The anticipated start date is on or about September 1, 2027, with some limited flexibility.

The work location for these positions is in-person on campus at Princeton University. These positions are not eligible for sponsorship of an H‑1B visa requiring consular processing.