The mission of the Nanovic Institute for European Studies is to enrich the intellectual culture of Notre Dame by creating an integrated, interdisciplinary home for students and faculty to explore the evolving ideas, cultures, beliefs, and institutions that shape Europe today.
To pursue its mission, the Institute works to promote European studies at Notre Dame, transform its undergraduates, professionalize its graduate students, foster its interdisciplinary faculty research, and build its international network.
Now in Nanovic Hall on Notre Dame Avenue, the Nanovic Institute has entered a second decade of exciting growth as part of Notre Dame’s new Keough School of Global Affairs.
Welcome to the application form for the Sustainability Research Fellows Program, hosted by the Nanovic Institute for European Studies in partnership with Notre Dame Global/Study Abroad. Funding comes from our sponsoring institutes: the Nanovic Institute for European Studies, the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, the Keough Naughton Institute for Irish Studies, and the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies.
Students in the Sustainability Fellows Research Program will have the chance to conduct funded, independent research on a sustainability topic of their choice during their study abroad semester, diving deeply into the unique approaches taken by their host site. Fellows will benefit from monthly check-ins with the entire Fellows cohort (sharing progress and overcoming shared challenges) and will be provided with mentorship from Nanovic research staff. This program is also a paid opportunity: students will be granted an award of $750.
Following their return to campus, students will present their research (their "cross-cultural sustainability insights") in a public event and publish their work online.
This is an opportunity for students to:
- Make a difference in the climate crisis by advancing knowledge on sustainability topics
- Look at your “home-away-from-home” in a new way
- Gain research experience in a low-stakes environment with plenty of support infrastructure
- Explore the similarities and differences in U.S. vs. European/EU policy and advocacy
- Build skills in public presentation and grow your resume through the publication of online products
We are currently accepting applications for the Spring 2027 cohort for students at all global study abroad locations. Applications are due on Submittable by November 1st at 11:59pm EST. More information can be found at the student resources page, and if you have any questions, please reach out to Dr. Morgan Munsen at morgan.munsen@nd.edu.
This research program is in line with the emphasis on sustainability in the Keough School Strategic Plan 2030 and “Notre Dame 2033: A Strategic Framework." More broadly, this program can be seen as a response to Pope Francis’ call in Laudato Si’ to “protect our common home.”
Only applications submitted through this website will be considered.
Applications may be submitted at any time and will be reviewed by a selection committee in the weeks that follow each grant deadline. Grant deadlines and additional information on grant opportunities available may be found on the Nanovic Faculty Grants webpage.
For more information, contact Rev. James Lies, C.S.C., Senior Advisor for Faculty Fellow Affairs and Partnerships.