Opportunities for Faculty
The Buffett Institute offers a variety of opportunities for faculty, from funding for collaborative, global projects across the disciplines to fellowships for international research.
Global Working Group Grants
Through our Global Working Groups, the Buffett Institute offers faculty the opportunity to develop ambitious, collaborative projects that span multiple disciplines. We aim to leverage different forms of expertise across the social sciences, sciences and humanities to address the world’s most challenging problems. Buffett can help Northwestern scholars to find research partners as they tackle big problems beyond the bounds of a single discipline. We hold lunchtime workshops, make introductions and support projects as they develop.
The 2024–25 application deadline for Global Working Group funding is February 14, 2025. Successful projects will be awarded up to $200k to be spent over a flexible timeframe of two to five years. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact Harrington Weihl, Buffett's Director of Research, to consult about the process. Learn more >>
Faculty Fellowship Program
The Buffett Institute’s Faculty Fellowship Program supports the international and global research of Northwestern faculty. These fellowships are non-residential by design so that faculty who need to be away from the university to conduct international research are able to do so. Faculty will join a wider Buffett community and will be encouraged to take part in the Institute’s activities when possible. The 2024–25 application deadline is January 17, 2025. Learn more >>
Global Collaboration Grants
Northwestern faculty can apply for a Global Collaboration Grant from the Buffett Institute to further their work with international collaborators. These partners can be faculty members at other colleges or universities, leaders from global civil society or individuals from government, private sector or community organizations. The grant is intended to support a wide variety of globally focused faculty projects in research, service, teaching, international development or community engagement. Applications are due October 15 and April 15 annually and are reviewed within six weeks. The maximum annual award is $10,000 per applicant. Faculty may only be awarded this grant once per academic year. Learn more >>
Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program
Through our international research program for undergraduate students, the Buffett Institute awards grants for faculty to hire individuals or teams of undergraduate research fellows to collaborate with them on a global or international research project. Projects are required to begin in the summer and may continue, based upon faculty needs and student availability, for up to three quarters of the following academic year. To work with students for the 2025–2026 academic year (including summer 2025), faculty must submit a proposal by February 10, 2025. Learn more >>
Fulbright Grant Opportunities
Fulbright offers several grant programs for faculty, higher education administrators and professionals. The Buffett Institute serves as the University’s Fulbright Scholar Liaison, facilitating increased participation in the Fulbright Scholar Program via institutional level support and peer-to-peer engagement. Learn more >>
Pre-Application Travel Grant for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
This travel grant provides Northwestern faculty members funding to visit international partners and collaborators abroad in advance of applying for a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Award. The annual application deadline is March 15. Learn more >>
Buffett Faculty Lunches
The Buffett Institute holds thematic lunches for Northwestern faculty members. Please join us if you'd like to meet colleagues with shared interests. Learn more >>
Faculty Reading Groups
The Buffett Institute provisions a small amount of funds to support faculty reading groups on global topics. Learn more >>
Sponsor a Visiting Scholar
When faculty sponsor their visiting scholar through the Buffett Institute, their visiting scholar gains access to our multidisciplinary, global intellectual community and find new opportunities for collaboration with their faculty hosts and others across the university. Application deadlines are October 15, January 15 and April 15 annually. Learn more >>
Forthcoming Faculty Opportunities
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