If you’re a researcher or professional passionate about Asia’s evolving political, economic, cultural, or social challenges—and want to make policy-relevant impact—Stanford’s SNAPL (Next Asia Policy Lab) has two fellowship tracks for Fall 2026 that might be right up your alley: the Postdoctoral Fellowship (2 years) and the Visiting Fellowship (1 academic year). Let me walk you through what they are, who can apply, what you get, and how to go for it.
Program: SNAPL (Next Asia Policy Lab) Fellowships
Coverage: Fully funded (salary or stipend + benefits)
Nationality: International / Asia-Pacific region especially for visiting fellows
Degree Level: PhD (recent or well established)
Duration: 2 years (Postdoctoral) / 1 academic year (Visiting)
Host Institution: SNAPL at Stanford APARC, USA
Deadline: Postdoc – December 1, 2025; Visiting – March 1, 2026
What Is SNAPL & Why It Matters
SNAPL is the Stanford Next Asia Policy Lab, housed in the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (APARC). It’s led by Professor Gi-Wook Shin. The aim is pretty ambitious: to tackle emergent social, cultural, economic, and political challenges in Asia through research that is interdisciplinary, comparative, and oriented toward policy.
They organize work around four core research themes:
- Talent Flows & Development
- Nationalism & Racism
- U.S.-Asia Relations
- Democratic Crisis and Reform
These aren’t just academic labels—they guide what candidates will research, collaborate on, and publish about. If your interests align with any of these, SNAPL could be a powerful platform.
Fellowship Tracks & Key Details
Here are both tracks side by side so you can see which fits your situation better.
Fellowship TypeDurationStartNumber of PositionsGeographic / Domain FocusPostdoctoral Fellowship2 yearsFall quarter 2026TwoGlobal Asia-related; early-career scholars with recent PhDs; interdisciplinary policy work across any of the four themes. Visiting Fellowship1 academic yearFall quarter 2026Two (one especially focused on the Philippines)Scholars or professionals from the Asia-Pacific with PhD or strong professional record; also interdisciplinary, aligned with themes.
Check out: Yale Young Global Scholars 2026 – Pre-College Program, Fully Funded Aid, 2-week Yale Session
Eligibility Criteria
You’ll want to check if you meet these before applying.
For Postdoctoral Fellows:
- PhD completed or expected within 3 years of the fellowship’s start date.
- If dissertation isn’t yet approved, it must be by certain deadlines (e.g., dissertation approved by June 30, 2026, and degree conferred by August 31, 2026).
- Strong research record (or promise), publication potential.
- Willingness to reside at Stanford for the full call period and engage fully with SNAPL/APARC events.
For Visiting Fellows:
- PhD holders or professionals with substantial achievement in relevant fields.
- Affiliated with an external institution (i.e., you’re not already full-time at Stanford) especially for Visiting Fellows.
- English proficiency.
- Commitment to be in residence at Stanford for the academic year.
Check out: OCIS Scholarships at Oxford – Fully Funded Graduate Support 2026
What You Get: Benefits & Support
These fellowships are generous, particularly given the access and institutional support.
Postdoctoral Fellows receive:
- An annual salary of US$80,000 plus benefits.
- Full access to Stanford’s research facilities.
- Opportunities to participate in events at Stanford’s Freeman Spogli Institute and more.
- Leadership roles: each postdoc will lead one thematic collaborative research group and also help with student programming.
Visiting Fellows receive:
- A supplementary stipend of US$30,000 for the academic year.
- Access to the same research facilities.
- Ability to audit courses (subject to instructor’s permission).
- Participation in campus and lab events.
In both cases, being physically present is expected—residency matters.
What Fields & Research Topics Fit
Since SNAPL is about policy-relevant work in Asia, ideal candidates will have expertise or strong interest in one or more of these themes:
- Talent Flows & Development (migration, labor, education, human capital)
- Nationalism & Racism (identity, ethnic politics, social exclusion)
- U.S.-Asia Relations (foreign policy, international relations, trade, diplomacy)
- Democratic Crisis & Reform (governance, rule of law, democratic institutions, civil society)
You’ll do better if your project is comparative or interdisciplinary, or connects more than one theme.
Deadlines & Important Dates
- Postdoctoral Fellowship: Applications due by December 1, 2025.
- Visiting Fellowship: Applications due by March 1, 2026.
Make sure your letters of recommendation, dissertation conferral confirmations (if needed), proposals, CVs—all are ready well before the deadline.
How to Apply
Here’s a breakdown of what SNAPL expects from applicants:
- Online Application Form.
- Documents to Upload (PDF):
- A formal letter of request or cover letter / proposal that:
- explains your research experience;
- indicates which theme(s) you want to work in;
- outlines your plans for individual and collaborative publications.
- Full academic CV with publications list.
- A formal letter of request or cover letter / proposal that:
- Letters of Recommendation:
- Postdoctoral: Three (3) letters by December 1, 2025.
- Visiting: Two (2) letters by March 1, 2026.
- Degree Proof (if needed):
- If PhD isn’t yet formally conferred, ensure dissertation is submitted and approved by specified deadlines; formal degree conferral before predetermined date.
- Emailing Recommenders: Make sure their letters reach Ms. Kerstin Norris at SNAPLcontact@stanford.edu with your legal name and email address clearly at top of each recommendation.
- Residency Commitment: You’ll need to be in residence at Stanford for the full duration of the fellowship, whether postdoc or visiting.
Selection Criteria
What makes an application stand out:
- Originality, clarity, feasibility of research proposal.
- Strong prior achievements (publications, relevant experience).
- Fit with SNAPL research themes.
- Ability to work collaboratively; for postdocs, leadership potential (guiding thematic groups).
- Commitment to being present physically and participating fully.
Things to Consider & Prep Tips
- Living in the Bay Area can be expensive—budget carefully even though stipend/salary with benefits helps a lot.
- If aiming for “Nationalism & Racism” track, note SNAPL has expressed particular interest in that theme.
- Begin reaching out to referees early so they can write thoughtful letters well ahead of deadline.
- Be clear about how your research would benefit not just academia but policy or broader social discussion.
- If your work spans more than one theme, describe that connection explicitly—it might strengthen your proposal.
Final Thoughts
If you feel drawn toward deep, impactful research about Asia’s future—whether that’s about migration, democratic reform, nationalism, or Asia’s role in global affairs—this fellowship is a chance not just to study, but to belong in a community with resources, collaboration, and real policy weight. It’s competitive, but if your work lights up in relation to those themes, the payoff could be transformative—for your career and for wider society.
Here’s the official program link if you want to see every detail or start preparing:
Stanford Next Asia Policy Lab Fellowships Official Page