SSRC Just Tech Fellowship 2027

What Is the SSRC Just Tech Fellowship?

The Just Tech Fellowship is a competitive, one-year fellowship administered by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) that supports individuals whose work examines the relationship between technology and society. Unlike traditional research grants that fund specific academic projects, the Just Tech Fellowship provides up to $60,000 in unrestricted funding, giving fellows the freedom to pursue research, creative practice, community-engaged work, or any combination thereof.

The fellowship is rooted in the belief that the most pressing questions about technology and society require diverse perspectives. The program therefore welcomes applications from researchers, artists, journalists, technologists, policy practitioners, community organisers, and independent scholars. What unites the cohort is a shared commitment to advancing just and equitable technological futures, particularly for Indigenous, Black, and other communities of colour.

Fellows participate in monthly virtual gatherings, mentoring sessions with SSRC staff and advisory board members, and one in-person workshop during the fellowship year. The cohort model fosters cross-disciplinary exchange and builds a lasting professional network among fellows working at the intersection of technology and social justice.

About the Social Science Research Council

The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) is an independent, non-profit research organisation based in Brooklyn, New York, that mobilises social science knowledge to address public issues. Founded in 1923, the SSRC has a long history of supporting innovative research on pressing social challenges through fellowship programs, research grants, and scholarly networks.

The Just Tech program was launched in 2020 with support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Ford Foundation. It reflects the SSRC commitment to supporting scholarship and practice that advances equity, justice, and public understanding of the relationship between technology and society.

The SSRC administers a wide range of fellowship programs including the Abe Fellowship, the International Dissertation Research Fellowship, and the Drugs, Security and Democracy Fellowship. The Just Tech Fellowship is part of a growing portfolio of programs focused on technology, data, and social justice.

Fellowship Benefits

The Just Tech Fellowship offers substantial financial support combined with professional development and community-building opportunities.

The unrestricted nature of the award is a distinguishing feature. Unlike project-specific grants, the Just Tech Fellowship allows you to allocate funds according to your needs. Past fellows have used the award for research assistants, equipment and software, travel for fieldwork or conferences, stipend replacement to free up time for creative work, community organising stipends, and publication or exhibition costs.

Eligibility Criteria

The Just Tech Fellowship is intentionally inclusive, welcoming applicants from a wide range of professional and educational backgrounds. The eligibility criteria are designed to identify individuals with a developed body of work and a compelling project they are ready to advance.

There are no age limits, no language test requirements, and no GRE or standardised test scores required. The SSRC seeks applicants who have a sustained record of work in their field and are ready to dedicate a year to advancing a specific project. The program is not intended for individuals at the early stages of defining their practice or for those who need dissertation or postdoctoral support.

Application Requirements

The Just Tech Fellowship application requires four components, all submitted through the SSRC online portal. The estimated time to complete the application is 10 to 25 hours for most applicants.

CV or R\u00e9sum\u00e9

A concise document of up to two pages summarising your education, professional experience, publications, exhibitions, awards, and relevant activities. Focus on the work most relevant to your proposed project and to the intersection of technology and society.

Personal Statement

Your personal statement should articulate your intellectual or creative trajectory and explain how your work engages with questions of technology and society. This is your opportunity to tell a compelling story about who you are, what drives your work, and why this fellowship at this moment. You may submit a written statement (up to 1,000 words) or a video statement (up to 5 minutes).

Work Proposal

The work proposal is the core of your application. It should describe the project you plan to pursue during the fellowship year. Address the specific questions or problems your project engages, your methodology or creative approach, the significance of the work in the context of existing research or practice, and the expected outputs or outcomes. You may submit a written narrative (up to 3,000 words) or a slide deck (up to 10 slides). Either format should convey a clear, compelling, and realistic plan.

Work Samples

Submit two examples of your previous work that best demonstrate your capacity to execute the proposed project. These may include published articles, reports, artwork, software, policy briefs, multimedia projects, or community organising documentation. Each sample must be accompanied by a brief description explaining its relevance to your application.

Timeline & Important Dates

The 2027 cohort follows a fixed application and selection timeline. The only application window opens in April 2026 and closes in June 2026.

All materials must be submitted through the SSRC online portal before the deadline. The portal allows you to complete your application in multiple sessions if you save your work after each section. Once submitted, the application is final and cannot be edited. Applications sent by email are not accepted.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are evaluated through a multi-stage review process. Just Tech staff first screen for completeness, then a cross-sector panel of external evaluators reviews eligible applications on six criteria. The Just Tech Advisory Board reviews the highest-scoring applications to make final selections.

1. Articulated practice. The applicant demonstrates a clearly defined research or creative practice and a coherent body of work. Evaluators look for evidence of sustained engagement with the applicant\u2019s field or discipline.
2. Strength of project. The proposed project addresses significant questions at the intersection of technology and society. It should be compelling, timely, and well-conceived.
3. Capacity to execute. The applicant has a demonstrated ability to carry projects forward and bring work to completion, as evidenced by past achievements and the feasibility of the proposed timeline.
4. Public engagement. The applicant shares work publicly and maintains meaningful engagement with relevant fields, audiences, or communities.
5. Fit with the fellowship. The applicant articulates a thoughtful understanding of how the Just Tech Fellowship would support their goals and contribute to their professional growth.
6. Clarity of presentation. The application materials are well-organised, clearly written or presented, and free of errors.

How to Apply Step by Step

Step 1: Review Eligibility and Guidelines

Read the official Just Tech Fellowship page, the frequently asked questions, and this guide thoroughly. Ensure you meet all eligibility criteria and understand the application requirements before you begin.

Step 2: Prepare Your Work Samples

Select two work samples that best demonstrate your capacity to carry out the proposed project. Write a brief description for each explaining its context and relevance. Work samples can take many forms, so choose pieces that showcase your strongest work.

Step 3: Draft Your Personal Statement

Write your personal statement or record your video. This is your narrative about who you are as a practitioner or researcher at the intersection of technology and society. Be specific about your trajectory, influences, and what drives your work.

Step 4: Develop Your Work Proposal

Write a detailed proposal or prepare your slide deck. Your proposal should clearly state the project you will pursue, why it matters, how you will do it, and what the expected outputs are. Make sure the scope is realistic for a one-year fellowship.

Step 5: Update Your CV or R\u00e9sum\u00e9

Condense your relevant experience into two pages. Prioritise recent work and achievements most pertinent to your proposed project and to the Just Tech Fellowship focus.

Step 6: Submit Through the Official Portal

Create an account on the SSRC application portal and complete your application. You may save your progress and return later, but must submit before the June 28, 2026 deadline. Applications sent by email will not be accepted.

Step 7: Await Selection Results

Applications are reviewed between July and October 2026. Selected fellows are notified in November 2026. Finalists may be contacted for an interview or to provide supplemental information before final decisions are made.

Tips for a Strong Application

• Align your work samples with your proposal. Choose work samples that demonstrate skills and approaches relevant to the project you are proposing. The connection between your past work and future project should be clear to evaluators.
• Be specific about your methodology. Whether your project involves ethnographic fieldwork, creative production, data analysis, or community organising, explain how you will actually do the work. A vague proposal will not score well on capacity to execute.
• Explain the technology-society connection. The Just Tech Fellowship is specifically about the intersection of technology and society. Even if your work focuses on social justice or community power, make explicit how technology figures into your analysis or practice.
• Show rather than tell. Instead of stating that your work engages communities, describe a specific community-engagement process you have facilitated and what it achieved. Concrete examples are more persuasive than abstract claims.
• Consider the unrestricted award creatively. The flexibility of the Just Tech Fellowship is a feature, not a bug. Think carefully about how you would use the $60,000 to maximise your project\u2019s impact. A thoughtful budget narrative can strengthen your proposal.
• Give yourself enough time. The application requires significant reflection, writing, and preparation. Start at least four to six weeks before the deadline to allow for revision and refinement. The average applicant reports spending 10 to 25 hours.