The Structural Transformation of Agriculture and Rural Spaces (STARS) Fellowship Programme is now accepting applications from early-career researchers interested in advancing policy-relevant research on agriculture and rural economies.
Focus
The STARS Fellowship is designed to help researchers deepen causal inquiry into how rural households build assets, diversify livelihoods, and respond to changing agricultural systems.
Fellows refine their research questions through close collaboration with senior researchers from Cornell University, the Center for Global Development and partner institutions.
The programme emphasises rigorous research methods, clear policy pathways and academic outputs positioned for real-world impact.
Programme benefits
Fellows receive sustained one-on-one mentorship from senior researchers throughout the 15-month fellowship, ensuring continuous academic guidance and structured feedback.
The programme also offers intensive training in research design, academic writing, coding, and professional development, strengthening both technical and career skills.
Participants benefit from a fully funded three-week residency at Cornell University, featuring seminars, workshops, and hands-on paper development with mentors.
Fellowship structure
The fellowship runs from April 2026 to June 2027, beginning with virtual launch workshops that introduce mentors, refine research plans and set expectations.
Regular online meetings provide ongoing guidance throughout the research process, while structured feedback at multiple stages helps fellows shape their work into publishable research papers.
Who can apply
The fellowship is open to early-career researchers working in agriculture, rural development and related fields.
Eligible applicants include researchers in the final year of their PhD or those who earned their PhD in 2020 or later.
Priority is given to candidates with strong links to development contexts, particularly those already working with accessible datasets.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
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Be in the final year of a PhD or have completed a PhD no earlier than 2020.
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Demonstrate familiarity with all datasets proposed for the research.
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Propose research that does not require new data collection.
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Show strong links to low- or lower-middle-income countries.
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Priority consideration for women and researchers addressing the programme’s thematic areas.
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Applicants from comprehensively sanctioned countries are not eligible.
Application requirements
Applicants are required to submit:
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A research proposal (maximum of 2,500 words).
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A Curriculum Vitae.
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A supervisor’s support letter.
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Data access documentation, where applicable.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a virtual interview and will complete a Stata/R skills assessment.
Deadline
Interested candidates should visit the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business website to apply before January 16, 2026.
Explore our Opportunities page for similar fellowships.
Summary not available at this time.
