Visiting Scholars

Become a short or long-term visiting scholar

At any given time during the academic year, the Ostrom Workshop hosts an average of 8–10 long-term visitors as well as numerous short-term visitors from around the world.

These Visiting Scholars undertake extensive research and collaborate with talented scholars around IU and other global institutions and universities.

Browse current Visiting Scholars

About the nomination and application process

The Ostrom Workshop accepts nominations from all Workshop Affiliates to invite exceptional non-IU colleagues as Visiting Scholars/Practitioners to undertake research, and participate in and enrich the research life of the Workshop. The purpose of the program is to facilitate collaborations among IU-based and non-IU based faculty, researchers, and graduate students leading to high-profile publications and grant submissions.

  • Invitees can be senior or junior faculty, as well as advanced graduate students (at the dissertation stage);
  • they can be U.S. or international visitors;
  • and the duration of their visit may range from a week to a full academic year, but not during the summer months (May–August).

We will review nominations through an interdisciplinary selection committee (more information about the selection process provided below).

Mentors/Co-Mentors

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The Affiliate nominee will also act as the mentor or co-mentor (in case of external Affiliate nominees) to the Visiting Scholar/Practitioner. For external Affiliates nominating scholars or practitioners, we ask that they find a co-mentor on the IU campus to acclimate the scholar/practitioner to the Workshop and IU.

We encourage mentor(s) to meet with the scholars, suggest other faculty or groups to meet with, and encourage other engagement at the Workshop and IU to help the scholar/practitioner make the most of their time at the Workshop.

Funding

The Ostrom Workshop has limited funding available, and we encourage nominations that have full or partial funding as they will receive first consideration. Requests must include a statement of existing funding support as well as document any residual need. Decisions on financial support will be made by the selection committee.

The funding could be used for housing, travel, or research expenses. Funding from the Workshop may be combined with funding from other sources at IU, such as the Office of the Vice Provost for Research’s Institute of Advanced Study Visiting Fellows—in fact, we encourage this in order to make best use of all campus resources.

In some cases, the selection committee may approve the nomination with a reduction in the funding amount requested. We therefore ask nominators to specify on the budget form if the nominee would accept such a reduction.

We are happy to provide a letter of support to assist in your search for funding.

Travel and Accommodation

The invited scholar/practitioner and their sponsoring Affiliate will be responsible for making all travel arrangements. The Workshop will assist with visa processing as needed.

Available on campus housing is extremely limited, the Workshop can help facilitate those arrangements but we suggest planning well in advance. If they prefer to live off-campus, the scholar/practitioner and Affiliate will be responsible for making housing arrangements.

The Workshop will provide office space and access to computing equipment and support.

Requirements

  • Play a part in the intellectual life of the Workshop, through regular attendance at the weekly Colloquium and Research Series (Mon. & Wed., 12–1 p.m.), and engagement with related Research Programs, as well as other research activities
  • Attend POLS Y673/SPEA P710, Institutional Analysis: Concepts and Applications, if they are in residence during the Fall semester
  • Option to present a paper at one of the two weekly series (the paper must be a work in progress; no submitted articles)

Nomination and Selection Process

The Workshop will accept nominations before March 18, 2024 for the upcoming academic year. The nominating Affiliate should expect to be notified about the decision no later than one month after the deadline. If the nomination is approved, the Ostrom Workshop will issue a formal letter of invitation to the scholar/practitioner.

Selection Criteria

Selection criteria include the following:

  • Relevance of the academic work proposed to the Workshop’s mission and goals
  • Prospects for future publications or grants
  • Workshop’s available funds
  • Physical space in Workshop facilities

Nomination Form

Affiliates should complete the form below. When filling out the form, be sure to have:

  1. Scholar/Practitioner’s CV
  2. 1–2 page research proposal covering the work to be completed while in residence at the Ostrom Workshop
  3. Documentation of English proficiency for international visitors (in addition to TOEFL scores, if available, the nominator should provide information about the nominee’s English proficiency
Complete the nomination form here