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Northwestern Buffett Institute for Global Affairs

Support for Visiting Scholars

Northwestern Buffett supports faculty members who wish to host visiting scholars. Visiting Scholars are individuals sponsored or employed elsewhere, by another university, a government agency, nongovernmental organization or industry. Visiting scholars typically hold a PhD, MD or equivalent terminal degree in their discipline or have received equivalent professional recognition. They are most often at Northwestern for one year or less and paid by their sponsoring organization. 

Application Process

This Northwestern Buffett application process is for faculty hosts who are part of our affiliated programs and groups as well as non-affiliated faculty who seek Buffett affiliation and support for their prospective visiting scholar(s).
  1. Prospective visiting scholars complete and submit an application
    • A faculty member(s) who wishes to host a visiting scholar with Buffett support should direct a prospective visiting scholar(s) to complete this application. You may review a PDF of the full application before applying. Sponsoring faculty will receive a copy of this submission. Faculty hosting a Fulbright Visiting Scholar should write Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives Samantha Nissen prior to beginning this process.

  2. Sponsoring faculty members to submit host attestation forms
    • In the attestation, faculty sponsors agree that they will support and host the visitor. Additionally, faculty sponsors may request resources such as office space, housing and/or funding. Allocation of these resources will depend on their availability.

  3. Northwestern Buffett’s Visiting Scholars Committee reviews applications
    • A faculty committee composed of members of Northwestern Buffett’s Global and Faculty Advisory Councils will review the application materials, which include the prospective visiting scholar’s application and attestations from the hosting faculty member(s). This committee will provide recommendations to Northwestern Buffett’s Executive Director Annelise Riles, who approves requests.
    • Northwestern Buffett will notify both faculty hosts and prospective visiting scholars of recommendations and funding decisions within four weeks.

  4. Northwestern’s Office for Research reviews applications
    • When recommended by the Northwestern Buffett faculty committee, Northwestern Buffett’s Strategic Operations team will submit the appointment request to the Office for Research, which advises on and approves research appointments.

  5. Northwestern Buffett and faculty host(s) issue offer letters 
    • Upon receiving the application results, the Northwestern Buffett Strategic Operations team will issue a formal offer letter in collaboration with the faculty host(s) and program. This offer letter outlines the terms of the research appointment. The Visiting Scholar will be required to sign and return this letter to begin the logistical onboarding for their appointment, including visa paperwork. 

Application Deadlines

Applications should be submitted for a review period three to six months in advance of the intended start date. New and re-appointment applications are due by:

Questions?

Threatened, Displaced or At-Risk Scholars

Northwestern Buffett collaborates with campus partners to welcome visitors who have lost their academic or professional positions or cannot remain in their home countries due to threats or actions from authoritarian regimes, persecution for their views or identities or other risks. 

Learn more about supporting threatened, displaced or at-risk scholars here