Great Lakes Transatlantic Fellowship

Great Lakes Transatlantic Fellowship

The Great Lakes Transatlantic Fellowship, sponsored by the Heinrich Böll Foundation Washington, DC, empowers the next generation of American leaders by connecting outstanding master's and PhD students from the American Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin) with one of the world's premier conferences on transatlantic affairs—Harvard University’s German American Conference. The fellowship sponsors travel and participation in the Harvard German American Conference in October, where fellows engage with policymakers, academics, business leaders, and peers from across Europe and North America. Furthermore, this fellowship will create an active cohort of peers to support each other’s career growth.

By removing financial barriers to participation, the fellowship provides emerging leaders with opportunities to expand their professional networks, deepen their understanding of transatlantic challenges and opportunities, and bring fresh perspectives back to their universities and local communities. The Great Lakes Transatlantic Fellowship invests in the future of the US-Europe relationship by ensuring that talented students from the American heartland have a seat at the table.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Roundtrip airfare and accommodations for three nights, as well as a modest per diem to participate in the German-American Conference at Harvard from October 8-11, 2026.
• A bonus private career-oriented panel featuring practical advice on how to establish a career in the transatlantic policy space.

WHO SHOULD APPLY

We welcome applications from:

• U.S. university enrolled Master’s students, PhD students, and recent graduates (within one year of graduation) focusing on international relations, European history, political economy, or other topics with a transatlantic angle.

WHAT WE EXPECT

• Active participation in the conference from October 9-11 (arrival on October 8) and a welcome dinner on October 8.
• A pre-departure virtual call with the cohort in mid to late September.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Applications should include the following materials:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV). Please use a standard format, max. 2 pages in PDF. Do not include a photo, date of birth, religion, or marital status.
• Personal statement (1 page PDF). Outline the following:
  • Your background and interest in transatlantic relations and what you hope to gain from participating in this conference
  • Your qualifications and relevant experience
  • Your future career goals, including long-term plans for the next 5 years
• Submit a writing sample, either as a PDF or link (max 2 pages). This can be a link to a published work or university paper.
• Academic transcripts. Unofficial transcripts are accepted, so long as they are up to date.

Applications are due by Monday, August 31, 2026 at 10:00am ET.

All applications must be submitted through BambooHR.

Please email jason.moyer[at]us.boell.org with any questions.