Deadline:
July 31, 2026
Location(s)
Worldwide
Overview
Details
Fellows receive three years of flexible support to pursue rigorous, practically relevant research, and join a cohort of peers working across the fellowship’s themes. In addition to funding research, the program fosters a community of scholars engaged in meaningful exchange with one another and with research, policy, and practice audiences.
The LEGO Foundation Fellowship is developed in partnership with the LEGO Foundation, and administered by SSRC as part of its commitment to supporting scholars whose work bridges research and real-world impact.
We welcome applications from researchers across disciplines, methods, and geographies. Relevant fields may include, but are not limited to, education, psychology, child development, public health, economics, sociology, neuroscience, data science, humanitarian studies, disability studies, human-computer interaction, and implementation science.
About the fellowship
The LEGO Foundation Fellowship supports researchers with a clear line of inquiry related to children’s thriving. Applicants should describe the work they are ready to advance during the fellowship period, how it builds on their existing research, and why this is the right moment for fellowship support.
The fellowship provides flexible support over three years. Funds are awarded to and administered by the fellow’s institution and may be used, consistent with program guidelines, to support the fellow’s effort and the broader costs of carrying out the research. Allowable costs include research personnel, professional travel, and equipment.
Fellows will also join a cohort of researchers working across the fellowship themes. The program will create opportunities for exchange, feedback, and sharing evidence with relevant research, policy, and practice audiences.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
Who can apply
The fellowship is open to early- and mid-career researchers from around the world who are employed by a university or research institute and have received their PhD or equivalent research doctorate within the past 10 years.
Applicants should demonstrate:
- A strong record of research accomplishment relative to career stage.
- A clear and original research agenda related to one or more fellowship themes.
- Strong methodological grounding and a feasible plan for the fellowship period.
- Potential to contribute to evidence that can inform action for children.
- Interest in engaging with an interdisciplinary fellowship cohort.
Applicants must:
- Hold a PhD or equivalent research doctorate by July 31, 2026.
- Have received their PhD no earlier than January 1, 2016, subject to any approved career-break policy.
- Be employed by a university or research institute at the start of the fellowship.
- Be able to have fellowship funds administered by their host institution.
- Submit an individual application.
- Propose work that aligns with one or more fellowship themes.
Applicants from any country are welcome to apply, with the exception of countries subject to EU or US sanctions. If your country is not on either sanctions list, you are eligible to apply regardless of your location.
Selection criteria
Applications will be reviewed against the following criteria:
- Alignment with the fellowship themes: The proposed work clearly aligns with one of the three fellowship themes and shows how it would advance understanding of children’s thriving.
- Clarity and strength of the proposed work: The application presents a clear question, problem, or area of inquiry. It explains why the work matters, what gap it addresses, and what can be meaningfully advanced during the fellowship period.
- Applicant readiness: The applicant demonstrates the experience, judgment, and capacity to carry the work forward. Reviewers will consider the applicant’s achievements and potential relative to career stage, context, and opportunity.
- Approach and feasibility: The proposed approach is appropriate to the question, context, and population. The application shows a realistic understanding of the work involved, including anticipated challenges and how they may be addressed.
- Research quality: The proposed work is rigorous, methodologically sound, and can be meaningfully advanced during the fellowship period. The applicant presents a realistic plan for the fellowship period, including methods, partnerships, timeline, ethics, and risks.
- Field context and contribution: The application situates the proposed work in relation to relevant research, debates, communities, or areas of practice. It explains what the work could contribute to others working on related questions.
- Fellowship fit and cohort contribution: The applicant explains why this fellowship is timely for their work, how participation could strengthen the proposed research, and how they would contribute to exchange with other fellows.
Dates
Deadline: July 31, 2026
Cost/funding for participants
The fellowship offers:
- Flexible research funding of USD 300,000 over three years, inclusive of 15% indirect costs.
- Funding administered by the fellow’s host institution.
- Support for eligible research costs, including research personnel, professional travel, equipment, dissemination, trainee support, and related project costs.
- Access to a cohort of fellows working on children’s thriving across disciplines and contexts.
- Opportunities for exchange with other fellows, researchers, practitioners, and partners including at convenings hosted by the LEGO Foundation.
- Media channels to disseminate your work to a broader audience.
- Recognition as part of the LEGO Foundation’s network.
Fellows are expected to:
- Dedicate sustained time to the research agenda proposed in their application.
- Participate in fellowship convenings, including annual meetings and virtual cohort sessions.
- Share work in progress and contribute constructively to exchange with other fellows.
- Submit annual progress updates and a final report.
- Acknowledge fellowship support in publications, presentations, and other outputs.
- Take part in LEGO Foundation coverage of the Fellowship and their work, and dissemination of their research.
- Follow relevant ethical, safeguarding, data protection, and institutional requirements.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
