Social Science Research Council (SSRC) Just Tech Fellowship 2027

Social Science Research Council (SSRC) Just Tech Fellowship 2027

The SSRC Just Tech Fellowship 2027 is a competitive annual program for people doing serious work where technology is a central element of social, cultural, policy, or governance questions. It is not a technical grant for equipment, and it is not tied to a fixed research topic. Instead, it is structured as a flexible, unrestricted fellowship with a broad interpretation of what counts as worthy work, provided the project is genuinely about how technology shapes public life.

The fellowship is positioned as a one-year support for independent work at the intersection of technology and society. The most important practical fact is this: the program award is up to $60,000 and the fellowship period is January 2027 through December 2027, with the application window fixed and explicit. SSRC also supports possible collaboration funding in selected circumstances up to an additional amount, which can be useful for team-level projects with public impact.

In short, this is not just a funding program. It is both an individual support package and a cohort process with mentoring, peer exchange, and expected public engagement.

Key details at a glance

Why this opportunity is high-signal for 2026–2027 planning

This fellowship is unusually flexible by research-funding standards. Most research grants specify strict scientific outputs or predefined methodology constraints. Just Tech explicitly funds projects in a format-driven way: research, creative practice, public-facing work, and community-engaged projects are all eligible if the proposal is rigorous and public-relevant.

That flexibility lowers friction for interdisciplinary candidates who are too cross-cutting to fit traditional calls. For example, if your work combines field-based social research, machine learning critique, legal analysis, journalism, design, or public-interest technology practice, this is often a closer fit than conventional disciplinary grant lanes.

The program is also unusually explicit about outcomes. It signals that progression on a specific project across the fellowship year matters more than producing a distant, publication-only product. Fellows are expected to contribute to virtual sessions, attend an in-person workshop, and participate in a peer cohort. This means selection is tied to sustained engagement as much as to a strong project description.

A second reason this is strategically useful for 2027 planning is timing. The cycle is now active in 2026 with a hard single application window, which makes the program predictable in the planning calendar. If your 2027 plans include a one-year project sprint, this is a natural fit.

Who should apply

The official language is broad on background and strict on focus. The fellowship is for people with demonstrated work in the technology and society interface who can show that a full year of dedicated support will produce meaningful output.

Suitable applicants generally include:

• Researchers in social science, humanities, law, media, policy, or critical technology analysis.
• Journalists and public information specialists doing deeper investigation of technology governance, justice, or infrastructure questions.
• Artists and creative practitioners with work directly engaging technologies and social outcomes.
• Community practitioners and practitioners in public-interest contexts with evidence of sustained work.
• People who can commit to public exchange, peer feedback, and project execution.

The page is explicit that formal degree requirements are not a gate. That is notable: the process is more practice-based and output-oriented than credential-based. But that does not mean the bar is lower. The fellowship is highly competitive and expects a mature portfolio of work, clarity of concept, and strong feasibility planning.

The program does contain one clear eligibility line that changes your odds: applicants must be based in the United States for the fellowship year. SSRC does not sponsor visas. That does not require US citizenship; it requires practical residency and local execution feasibility.

Eligibility and constraints to check before you write

Before you begin the application, validate each of these conditions:

1) Residency and year-long availability

The requirement is explicit: you must reside in the US for the full fellowship period. If your travel or relocation status is unclear, clarify that early. Ambiguous answers can weaken your credibility. Include a realistic logistics plan and avoid assumptions that your location can change.

2) Student status

Full-time students are ineligible. If your status is transitional (for example, finishing one semester while taking a final term), use the rules conservatively and avoid misclassification. A mismatch here is easy for reviewers and HR-style screening to spot.

3) Body of work and project readiness

No formal degree is required, but your profile should show coherent sustained work. The fellowship repeatedly evaluates whether your project can deliver by year-end and whether you can operate at pace.

4) Focus fit

The phrase “technology and society” must be central, not decorative. A side project where technology is peripheral is usually weaker than work where technology is structurally tied to method, impact, or governance.

5) Cohort participation expectation

The fellowship is not fully solo. You are expected to participate in monthly virtual gatherings, mentoring sessions, and one in-person workshop. If you cannot commit to these, the application may look strong on paper but poor in design for this model.

What the program funds

The fellowship offers an unrestricted award, not a line-item budget tied to a narrow template. This is important in practical planning. Funds are meant to support work, not a pre-approved spend map. SSRC indicates the money can support living and project costs such as time, activities, travel, and project needs, with installments across the year.

The official statement highlights:

• Up to $60,000 as the primary award.
• Fellowship period from January to December 2027.
• Monthly virtual gatherings and one annual workshop.
• Mentoring and peer exchange as part of the program design.
• Optional collaboration funding up to $5,000 for projects developed with other fellows.

This combination makes the opportunity valuable for work that needs both independence and structured visibility. If your project has outputs that benefit from networking and cross-sector exchange, that can strengthen both feasibility and long-term value.

Application package: what you must include

SSRC provides a tight package for full applications. If you submit incomplete work, it often looks amateur regardless of idea quality. Build your package from this order:

A) Résumé / CV

Max 2 pages. Keep it evidence-heavy and project-forward. Include portfolio-level evidence relevant to technology and society, not general biography.

B) Personal statement or video

Either up to 1000 words or a 5-minute video. The statement should explain:

• Your core practice and central questions.
• Why this project is timely now.
• Why this is the right program model for your proposed work.

The easiest mistake is a generic biography. Replace it with project-centered narrative and fit evidence.

C) Work proposal

The proposal can be written up to 3000 words or a deck of up to 10 slides. This is a major advantage for people uncomfortable with essay-heavy formats, but it also means structure matters:

• Concept description.
• How technology is central (not decorative).
• Contribution and originality.
• Feasibility risks.
• Field context and related work.
• Public contribution and dissemination plan.

D) Work samples

Two samples tied to your practice are required. For each, include a brief note clarifying your role and outcomes.

E) AI use note

Digital tools are allowed for brainstorming, editing, and translation, but all submissions should reflect your own voice and original thinking. Do not over-automate text generation.

How to build a winning 2027 application strategy

A strong Just Tech application has two layers: proposal strength and program-fit strength. Because selection is cohort-based, fit and execution often outweigh isolated brilliance.

1) Treat technology as a method, not as a buzzword

Many applications fail because they describe the social problem but only lightly touch technology. Make the link specific: what technologies, systems, governance regimes, or infrastructures are being interrogated or built? What does your work produce in relation to those systems?

2) Tie scope to one fellowship year

This is a one-year program. The proposal should show realistic milestones across 12 months, not a decade-long ambition. Reviewers want evidence you can move from concept to public contribution in one annual cycle.

3) Use the cohort logic in your proposal

Since fellows are expected to participate in monthly sessions and one workshop, explicitly describe how peer exchange improves the project. For example:

• Early feedback loops on public communication.
• Feedback from other fellows on policy implications.
• Shared infrastructure or methodological lessons.

4) Build public impact into design, not as an afterthought

The program is designed to produce work that informs public understanding. A strong application should include public-facing pathways: article pipeline, public forum, workshop outputs, open tools, community partner dissemination, etc.

5) Show continuity and completion ability

Review criteria include articulated practice, strength of project, capacity to execute, public engagement, and fit. Each criterion is easier to satisfy with a clean timeline and implementation logic:

• what you will produce in months 1-3,
• what you validate in months 4-6,
• what you deliver by month 9,
• what you publish or present by month 12.

Timeline and calendar planning

The official timeline is straightforward and strict:

• Portal opens: April 27, 2026
• Portal closes: June 28, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST
• Notifications: November 2026
• Fellowship period: January 2027 through December 2027

That means your planning window is short. Practical timeline planning should be backwards from June 28:

1. Week 1 (opening): confirm residency and project scope.
2. Week 2–3: finalize project architecture and sample selection.
3. Week 4–5: draft statement and proposal.
4. Week 6: internal review for clarity and evidence.
5. Final 3–4 days: finalize formatting and submission checks.

Do not delay submission to the final day. Even when online systems are open, deadlines can catch high-load and time zone confusion.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Mistake 1: Treating it like a classical grant with rigid deliverables

Because the program is unrestricted, applicants often assume no structure is needed. In fact, structure is required, just not in the form of strict category budgets.

Mistake 2: Understating collaboration and cohort engagement

Ignoring cohort participation may signal poor fit. Even brilliant candidates can look less suitable if they ignore mentoring and workshop expectations.

Mistake 3: Submitting a vague project that depends on future approvals

Since the award is one-year, feasibility risk must be explicit and controlled. If your project requires unknown external gates, identify alternatives and fallback plans.

Mistake 4: Weak work samples

Two samples are not “fillers.” They are your evidence of execution. Choose materials that show method, quality, and thematic fit.

Mistake 5: Not addressing residency reality

The residency requirement is explicit. If there is any ambiguity around where you will be based in 2027, address it directly and honestly in your materials.

Frequently asked questions in practical terms

Is there a formal degree minimum?

No formal degree threshold is required in the published criteria. Strong work record matters more than credential level.

Is this for full-time students?

No. Full-time enrolled students are listed as ineligible.

Is this only for researchers in academia?

No. The fellowship explicitly includes artists, practitioners, journalists, humanists, technologists, and community-based researchers.

Can this support a team?

The primary award is individual and unrestricted, but the program mentions optional collaboration funding for selected collective activities.

Can non-US citizens apply?

Citizenship is not restricted; residency in the US for the fellowship year is required.

Official links and contact points

Use the official SSRC program page as the primary source and the official secure portal to submit materials:

• Program page: https://www.ssrc.org/programs/just-tech/just-tech-fellowship/
• Program details and timeline: https://www.ssrc.org/programs/just-tech/just-tech-fellowship/
• Application portal (login): https://ssrc.secure-platform.com/a/solicitations/1171/home
• FAQ page for detailed process notes: https://www.ssrc.org/programs/just-tech/just-tech-fellowship-frequently-asked-questions/
• Contact: [email protected]

The most useful action for now is to treat this as a one-window funnel: align your draft with the official criteria, avoid scope drift, and prioritize a clean submission package with a strong project roadmap.