DAAD Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026 at SAIS Johns Hopkins: Up to $6,000 Monthly plus $3,000 Research Allowance for US Germany World Order Studies

If you are a recent PhD or at the postdoctoral stage and your work sits at the intersection of international relations, security studies, or transatlantic affairs, this is the sort of fellowship that can change the next five years of your career. The DAAD-funded postdoctoral fellowships at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, bring scholars to Washington, D.C., to research “The United States, Europe, and World Order” with a special emphasis during 2026–2027 on the roles of the United States and Germany at a consequential moment in global politics. Up to two fellows will be in residence for nine to twelve months between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027. Compensation is generous for a postdoctoral placement: fellows receive up to $6,000 per month (subject to U.S. taxes) plus research funds and travel support.

Read this guide if you want clear next steps, practical application advice, and an honest read on who stands the best chance of being chosen. I’ll tell you what the fellowship really offers, who should apply, how to shape a tight 3–5 page research statement, and the mistakes that disqualify otherwise excellent candidates.

At a Glance

Why this fellowship matters (and what it really gives you)

This is not a mere visiting scholar title you tack onto your CV. The fellowship embeds you in the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at SAIS — a hub where policy practitioners, ambassadors, senior researchers, and doctoral students cross paths. For scholars focused on transatlantic security, grand strategy, or international institutions, that proximity is the difference between producing a paper and producing a project that gets read in the right policy circles.

Money matters. Up to $6,000 per month is a rare level of support for a postdoc affiliated with a policy school; it buys breathing room to finish a major manuscript, produce a publishable working paper for policy audiences, or translate dissertation material into a journal article. The $3,000 research allowance, airfare support for the conference in Germany, and access to Johns Hopkins resources multiply the fellowship’s value: you get funding, exposure, and editorial opportunities in one concentrated stay.

You’ll also be expected to complete a research paper tied to the theme and to participate in seminars, peer review sessions, and a German–US conference. That workload is purposeful. Expect structured engagement: critique from senior scholars, opportunities to rehearse presentations, and practice in translating academic findings into policy-relevant language. In short, you get both time to write and a staged audience.

Who should apply (practical profile examples)

This fellowship suits scholars who combine scholarly rigor with an interest in policy-relevant questions about the transatlantic order. Ideal applicants include early-career academics who are converting a dissertation into a book chapter or article, postdocs finishing manuscripts on US security policy, and junior researchers working on German foreign policy and transatlantic ties.

Concrete profiles that fit well:

• A historian of European security, 3 years post-PhD, rewriting a dissertation chapter into a 40–50 page research paper that traces German policy responses to NATO dilemmas.
• A political scientist, 5 years post-PhD, with a project comparing US and German grand strategy in the post-Cold War era and preliminary interviews secured with policy players.
• A legal scholar examining institutional frameworks of US–Germany cooperation on sanctions and international law, seeking access to SAIS’s policy networks to test hypotheses with practitioners.

Who should be cautious: applicants whose work does not connect to the stated theme, or those who need full relocation support beyond what this fellowship provides. Fellows must cover their own housing and living costs in Washington, D.C., so factor that into your decision.

Eligibility explained (what the jury will check)

You must hold a doctorate or be at the postdoctoral level, demonstrate a record of research, and be fluent in English. EU citizens should have a current affiliation with a German university or research institution and be eligible for a J-1 visa if required. While the fellowship prefers candidates who are no more than six years beyond their dissertation, this is not an absolute cutoff — strong, exceptional candidates outside that window can still be competitive.

Think beyond boxes: research capacity means documented publications, strong dissertation feedback, or demonstrable work on the proposed topic. Fluency in English is practical — you’ll teach no classes here, but you’ll present, network, and publish in English. If you have dual projects, tie one clearly to the fellowship’s theme and explain how your broader agenda benefits from the SAIS environment.

What this opportunity offers (detailed breakdown)

Beyond salary, the fellowship offers institutional affiliation with the Kissinger Center, use of Johns Hopkins libraries, and workspace — the three practical ingredients that make focused research possible. The seminars and peer-review sessions are not just cosmetic speaking slots; they are intensive feedback loops where senior scholars and practitioners test the assumptions of your project and push you to sharpen policy relevance and historical grounding.

Financially, the monthly stipend covers routine expenses for many scholars, but Washington, D.C., is expensive; plan carefully. The $3,000 research fund can be used to cover archival travel, research assistants, transcription, or small surveys — use it for one-time project expenses that materially advance your paper. For non-US citizens, airfare provided for arrival and for attending the conference in Germany helps defray travel costs and facilitates your integration into the transatlantic scholarly network.

You will also work with the Helmut Schmidt Distinguished Visiting Professor and help develop a German–US conference on international security and strategy. That conference participation is a practical chance to place your work in front of senior European and American policymakers. For early-career scholars, that visibility accelerates invitations, peer review opportunities, and future grant prospects.

Insider tips for a winning application (specific, tactical)

1. Shape the 3–5 page research statement as a policy-ready narrative. Use the first page to articulate a crisp research question and why it matters for US–Germany relations or world order. Don’t bury relevance in the methods section — make it visible up front.

2. Be explicit about deliverables. State the paper you intend to produce (e.g., a 8,000–12,000 word paper suitable for a peer-reviewed journal or a policy brief and working paper). If you plan to use the $3,000 research allowance for archival trips, name archives and give a short budget.

3. Tie methodology to feasibility. If your project relies on interviews, list who you’ll approach and why they’re accessible via the Washington environment. If you need archival material in D.C. or Germany, explain how the fellowship’s timing and travel support enables this work.

4. Show embeddedness in both scholarly and policy networks. A reference from a senior scholar is useful, but a short letter from a practitioner willing to meet or discuss your work can be a differentiator. Find someone who can speak to your potential policy impact.

5. Draft succinctly. The fellowship values clarity. Aim for plain language that conveys theoretical depth without dense jargon. Reviewers often read many applications; be the one whose central argument is readable on a single skim.

6. Prepare referees with concrete asks. Give each referee a one-paragraph brief highlighting which part of your project you want them to emphasize: conceptual rigor, archival skill, policy relevance, or teaching and mentoring potential.

7. Contact SAIS potential hosts early. If you can organize a 20–30 minute conversation with a faculty member at the Kissinger Center who indicates enthusiasm, mention that meeting and any consequential feedback in your statement. It signals intentionality and fit.

8. Proofread and format carefully. The 3–5 page double-spaced limit is there for a reason. Use subheadings, short paragraphs, and avoid footnote-heavy presentation in the main statement.

Application timeline (work backward from January 14, 2026)

Give yourself at least 8–10 weeks. Start early.

• 8–10 weeks out (mid-November 2025): Decide on the research project you’ll propose. Begin a first draft of your 3–5 page research statement and a one-page statement of purpose.
• 6–8 weeks out (late November 2025): Reach out to potential referees and any SAIS contacts; request letters and ask them to confirm by early January. Confirm any institutional formalities with your current employer.
• 4–6 weeks out (December 2025): Finalize your CV and refine the research statement. Get peer review from a mentor outside your immediate subfield for clarity and impact.
• 2–3 weeks out (late December – early January 2026): Collect final documents, confirm referees have submitted letters, and run a final consistency check on dates and formatting. Convert files to the required formats.
• 48–72 hours before deadline: Submit. The application portal can have hiccups; don’t wait for the last day.

Required materials (what you must prepare and how to make each piece count)

You will submit materials in English. The essential items are straightforward, but quality matters.

• Statement of interest: A short note explaining why you’re applying and what you expect to gain. This is where you show fit with SAIS and the Kissinger Center.
• Research statement (3–5 pages, double-spaced): Your core document. Be precise: research question, literature placement, methods, expected outputs, timeline during the fellowship, and how SAIS resources matter to you.
• Preferred appointment dates: Specify start and end dates between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027.
• Curriculum vitae: Emphasize publications, archival experience, languages, and prior policy engagement.
• Three references: Provide names, titles, and contact information. Alert your referees early and give them a short template highlighting the points you’d like them to address.

Preparation advice: tailor each piece to the fellowship’s theme. Don’t recycle a generic postdoc statement. Use the research allowance plan to demonstrate cost-consciousness: if requesting travel or transcription funds, show brief itemized costs.

What makes an application stand out (how reviewers think)

Reviewers look for topical fit, feasibility, and potential for high impact. A standout application does three things: it asks a clear question that engages debates on world order or transatlantic relations; it shows a feasible plan that can be completed within the fellowship period; and it demonstrates how the SAIS environment will materially improve the project.

Originality counts, but so does execution. A project that modestly innovates but promises a completed, publishable paper is often preferred to an ambitious plan that’s unlikely to finish in nine months. Demonstrate prior work that proves you can deliver—draft chapters, conference presentations, or pilot archival finds are persuasive.

Finally, reviewers prize clarity in how you’ll use SAIS networks. If your project involves policy interviews, name potential interlocutors and explain why Washington access matters. If you plan archival research in Germany, explain how the conference or Helmut Schmidt Professor involvement will help disseminate findings.

Common mistakes to avoid (and how to fix them)

One frequent error is proposing work that doesn’t connect to the stated theme. If your research isn’t clearly about US–Europe interactions or the role of Germany, don’t shoehorn it; pick a different fellowship. Another problem is underestimating living costs. Don’t assume the stipend covers everything; present a simple budget that shows how you’ll live in D.C. for nine–twelve months.

Weak letters of reference harm otherwise strong files. Don’t submit generic letters. Brief your referees — tell them which competencies to emphasize and provide a short draft bullet list they can use. Avoid vagueness in the research statement: “I will explore X” is weaker than “I will test hypothesis Y using archival sources A and interviews with B.”

Finally, missing the deadline is fatal. Submit early, and double-check that all ref letters are in. If a required file is late, call the program office immediately.

Frequently asked questions

Will the fellowship sponsor my visa? EU candidates should be eligible for a J-1 visa and be affiliated with a German institution; the fellowship does not substitute for the visa process. Non-US citizens receive one economy roundtrip airfare for arrival; conference travel to Germany is also supported.

Do I need to teach? The fellowship emphasizes research and participation in seminars rather than formal teaching. Expect to present at events and to participate in workshops, but not to carry a regular course load.

Is the stipend taxable? Yes, the monthly stipend is subject to U.S. taxes. You should plan for tax withholding and consult a tax advisor if needed.

Can I bring dependents? Health benefit premiums for dependents can be covered (amounts noted in the fellowship benefits). But housing and living expenses for family members are not included; plan accordingly.

How much writing is expected? Each fellow is expected to complete a research paper tied to the theme during the residency. The expectation is a substantial, publishable paper or policy-ready report.

If I’m more than six years post-PhD, should I apply? Preference is given to those within six years of completing the dissertation, but exceptions exist for strong candidates whose projects match the theme and who demonstrate clear output plans.

Next steps and how to apply

If this fits your profile, act now. Start by drafting your 3–5 page research statement and your one-page statement of interest. Contact potential referees and give them a short brief on the project. If you can, schedule a short conversation with a faculty member at the Kissinger Center — even a quick email exchange that results in a sentence of support can strengthen your application.

Ready to apply? Visit the official application portal and follow the instructions: https://dossier.interfolio.com/apply/177831. The deadline is January 14, 2026. Submit early, confirm referees, and prepare to spend the fellowship year in a hub where scholarship and policy conversations meet. If you want, paste your draft research statement here and I’ll give targeted edits that make the argument sharper and the fit with SAIS unmistakable.