Study Abroad Sustainability Research Fellows Program

Welcome to the application form for the Sustainability Research Fellows Program, hosted by the Nanovic Institute for European Studies in partnership with Notre Dame 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 in Spring 2027, 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 Fall 2026 cohort for students at all global study abroad locations (excluding sites in Australia).  Applications are due on Submittable by March 30th 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.”