Pardee Institute Fellows Program (2026–27)

Pardee Institute Fellows Program (2026–27) is sponsored by Frederick S. Pardee Institute for International Futures / University of Denver. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Pardee Fellows Program - Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs Institute for International Futures Pardee Institute Pardee Fellows Program Build skills in integrated modeling, data analysis, and policy-focused research The Pardee Fellows Program gives a small number of graduate students hands-on experience with long-term, systems-focused research at the Pardee Institute for International Futures.

Each academic year, we select one exceptional student to work closely with Pardee faculty and researchers. The selected fellow will receive focused training, contribute to research and model-support work, and build practical skills using International Futures (IFs), Pardee’s open-source, integrated forecasting platform. Applications for AY2026-2027 are closed.

Revisit this page in February 2027 for AY 2027-2028 application updates. Fellows work at the connection between data, modeling, and policy analysis. They help strengthen the research infrastructure behind IFs and, when project needs and skills align, may contribute to externally facing research for organizations working on development, geopolitics, and long-term planning.

Use this page to learn about and apply to the program. Fellowship support and commitment Learn about the student experience Beginning in AY 2026-2027 we will welcome one student per year to join the program. The selected fellow may receive tuition support of up to $40,000 per year, if eligible.

Paid training and project work The fellow may also receive hourly pay for formal training and project assignments. The fellowship is designed as a two-year experience for a first-year graduate student with at least 18 months remaining in their academic program as of the start of the fall 2026 quarter. Each academic year, applications typically open in February for a submission period of two weeks or longer.

Selections are typically made by April of each year. External considerations like funding and project mix help determine application timing and the size of each subsequent cohort. Much of the fellowship focuses on internal infrastructure that keeps IFs robust, documented, and useful.

Depending on project needs, fellows may also contribute to external research projects for policy-facing audiences.

Cleaning, organizing, and reviewing datasets Updating model inputs and supporting model infrastructure Pulling and interpreting IFs results Creating figures, tables, and concise summaries Reviewing literature and documenting methods Comparing IFs outputs with other data sources or forecasting tools Supporting written analysis for reports, briefs, or presentations This work requires curiosity, attention to detail, and a willingness to build quantitative and analytical skills over time.

Fellows regularly use tools such as Excel and IFs while learning how to communicate research findings clearly for academic and policy audiences. The Pardee Fellows Program is designed to help students grow as integrated, systems-focused researchers. Fellows receive structured training and hands-on experience with IFs, data analysis, literature review methods, and applied research.

Through the program, fellows can build skills in: Quantitative and qualitative research methods Data management and interpretation Long-term integrated modeling Policy-focused writing and communication Applied analysis for real-world questions The experience is especially relevant for students interested in international development, economics, public policy, government, global affairs, international relations, or research careers that require careful analysis of interconnected systems.

Fellowship support and commitment The student selected as the 2026–27 Pardee Fellow may receive tuition support of up to $40,000 per year, if eligible. The fellow may also receive hourly pay for formal training and project assignments. The fellowship is structured as a two-year commitment.

During the academic year, fellows should expect a target range of 10 to 20 paid research and training hours per week, depending on project needs and academic schedules. Workload may vary. There may be periods with no active project assignments and other periods when more hours are available.

Fellows work with supervisors to align assignments with coursework, exams, internships, and other commitments. Fellows who demonstrate strong performance may also be considered for additional paid hours during breaks or over the summer when active project work is available.

Current Pardee Fellows completing their fellowships in 2026–27 will continue to receive the tuition support committed when they joined the program and may also be considered for paid hourly work as opportunities arise. DU Jumpstart students are not eligible for tuition support. Students must be formally admitted to their degree program before they can be considered for the fellowship award.

The Pardee Fellows Program is intended for graduate students who want to build practical research skills and contribute to long-term analysis of global systems. Applicants must be first-year graduate students with at least 18 months remaining in their academic program as of the start of the fall 2026 quarter.

Applicants should demonstrate interest in international relations, global affairs, quantitative long-term integrated assessment modeling, literature-based research, and policy-engaged analysis. Prior modeling experience is helpful, but it is not required.

Strong applicants may have experience or coursework in: Data analysis or data management SharePoint or file-management systems International development, economics, public policy, global affairs, or related fields Pardee Fellows should be: Curious and detail-oriented Willing to build quantitative skills Clear and professional communicators Able to manage time across coursework, training, and project assignments Committed to contributing to a welcoming environment for faculty, staff, students, and partners from diverse backgrounds and cultural identities Apply to the Fellows program Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year are closed.

Revisit this page in February 2027 for AY2027-2028 application updates. One-page statement of alignment The statement of alignment is meant to demonstrate your understanding of Pardee and how you may fit within that understanding by connecting your goals and interests to our work. You are encouraged to reference previous Pardee work to reinforce your narrative.

To help you start, we provide selected exemplary works to the right. Consult our Publications page for recent and additional works. The cover letter should make a pitch for why you would be a good fit for this role and program, connecting your strengths and eligibility .

Letter or letters of recommendation Transcript or other documentation showing enrollment and academic program progress The application form allows you to upload letters of recommendation. Recommenders may also send letters directly to Pardee by email with your name referenced in the subject line.

Please save each application component as a PDF using this naming format: Last name_document type_Pardee Fellow Example: Smith_Resume_Pardee Fellow Pardee Fellows may support the data, modeling, and analysis infrastructure behind a wide range of research.

Previous Pardee work has examined development policy, geopolitical influence, recovery from conflict, food security, climate and poverty, sustainable development, and long-term global change.

Examples of Pardee work include: Evaluating development policy choices for Uganda Assessing development trends in Ethiopia Examining possible futures for international influence after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Forecasting China’s rise under alternative scenarios Assessing pathways for recovery in Yemen Studying conditions for success in the African Continental Free Trade Area Examining sustainable development in a world reshaped by COVID-19 Analyzing links between climate and poverty Studying how COVID-19 may affect global poverty Contributing analysis on the Sustainable Development Goals These examples show the kinds of questions Pardee researchers examine: how development systems interact, how policy choices may affect long-term outcomes, and how integrated modeling can help researchers and decision-makers compare plausible futures.

Why International Futures matters to the fellowship International Futures, or IFs, is Pardee’s open-source, integrated forecasting platform. It supports scenario-based analysis across human, social, and natural systems. IFs does not predict the future.

It helps users explore plausible futures under different assumptions. That distinction matters for fellows. The program is not only about learning a technical tool.

It is about learning how to ask better long-term questions, examine assumptions, compare possible pathways, and communicate what model results can and cannot tell us. By working with IFs, fellows learn how changes in one system may affect others over time. A question about food security may connect to climate, poverty, agriculture, trade, and conflict.

A question about development strategy may connect to education, health, infrastructure, governance, and demographic change. A question about national power may connect to economic growth, population, technology, diplomacy, and regional relationships. The fellowship gives students a way to study those connections through structured, transparent, and policy-relevant analysis.

Help support a global community working toward a more knowable future Pardee’s open tools, research, and training resources support students, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners around the world. Your gift helps keep that work accessible and strengthens the public research infrastructure behind it. Follow Pardee research, publications, events, and tools that help people reason more clearly about possible futures.

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