FAQ

Here are frequently asked questions about the postdoctoral application process. We highlight common questions relating to eligibility, application materials, and the application process.

Are international students eligible? What about visas?

Yes. For information about visas, please visit Stanford’s Bechtel International Center.

Are J.D. holders eligible for the postdoc?

The Center's General Ethics and Interdisciplinary Ethics fellowships are only open to scholars with Ph.D.s in Philosophy and Political Science. Ph.D.s in Law with normative interests will also be considered. We cannot make any exceptions for these positions. Our Embedded Ethics fellowship is open to applicants with a Ph.D. in Philosophy, Political Science, Information Studies, or Science and Technology Studies who can teach ethics (but ethics need not be their specialization).

If I earned my Ph.D. just before September 2021 am I eligible to apply?

 No. Applicants cannot be more than three years from the awarding of their Ph.D. when the fellowship starts on September 1, 2024. This is a university-wide rule and we cannot make any exceptions for any of our postdoctoral programs.

Can you tell me if I will be competitive for the fellowship?

We are unable to answer specific queries from prospective applicants about their suitability for the fellowship. We encourage you to look carefully at the expertise and academic interests of scholars affiliated with the Center for Ethics in Society, as applications from scholars whose competence and interests are closely aligned with those of the Center are likely to be the most competitive applicants.

I have not yet defended my dissertation but will shortly before the fellowship would begin. By what date must I complete my degree, and how do I demonstrate proof of completion?

Candidates selected for the fellowships must be able to send us a letter from their institution confirming the completion of the doctoral program. All requirements of the degree must be completed by June 30, 2024.

Are the page limits for writing samples and research statements single or double-spaced?

Your writing sample should be no more than 25 pages double spaced. Your research statement should be one page, single-spaced.

Can I submit additional information with my application? (e.g., teaching evaluations, an extra writing sample, course syllabi)

No. We will initially evaluate applicants based on the required information and the online submission system will not allow you to provide additional information.

Is it permissible for applicants to submit two writing samples that total less than 25 pages altogether?

 No. The Interfolio system lets you upload only one writing sample.

My recommender is delayed in getting their letter to you by the December 8 deadline. Will you accept the letter if it arrives after the deadline?

We will begin reviewing applications on December 8 and we will review your packet based on what is available at the time of the review. Please be sure to give your letter writers ample time to submit their letters.

My letter writer doesn’t feel comfortable sending their letter via the Interfolio Website. Can they send the letter directly to you via email or snail mail?

We strongly encourage the letters to be uploaded directly to Interfolio to assure that your materials are kept together. That said, if this isn’t possible, please have your letter writer email your letter to ethics_submissions [at] stanford.edu (ethics_submissions[at]stanford[dot]edu).

To whom should I address my cover letter?

The letters are read by a committee, so the letter can be addressed "Dear Search Committee."

Should the writing sample be an article that is already published or be part of my doctoral dissertation?

The writing sample can be something that has already been published, a chapter of your dissertation, or something you are submitting for publication. Choose what you think best represents your work and your interests.

 

Do I need to contact a faculty member from Stanford University or from the Center for Ethics in Society with whom I shall be working?

No, you don't need to contact a faculty member in advance, and there is no advantage to doing so. The applications will be circulated among the committee members and a previous conversation will not play into the review process.

When can I submit my materials through Interfolio?

A link to Interfolio to apply online will be posted in the application information section of the Center's site in early November.

Can I submit a teaching portfolio?

No. Please only submit a list of courses you are prepared to teach and/or have taught.