Bergel Institute Fellowships
The Bergel Institute offers Fellowships to individuals of all ages who wish to spend a year in intensive study and project development in a subject area that aligns with the advancement of human knowledge and the human condition. Applicants do not have to be enrolled in or associated with a school or academic program of any kind. Applicants may also be enrolled in a graduate program at an institution anywhere in the world. Either way, Fellowship subject matter must fall within one of six major areas: Economics, Science, Technology, Consciousness, Health, or Culture. Each year, the Institute will list specific fellowship topics within these areas. Applicants may pick one or propose a different topic, as long as it aligns with the Institute’s goals.
Fellowships run from June to May and are primarily virtual, with two paid Institute visits (to the home office in Florida) as the only in-person expectations during the Fellowship year. Fellows are expected to work approximately 20 hours per week and to bring a strong intrinsic motivation for the project. They will spend the year conducting intensive research and/or project development, supported by Institute staff, with monthly meetings and quarterly progress reports to help maintain momentum.
The Fellowship is also intended to function as an incubator, providing time, guidance, and structure for work that continues beyond the Fellowship year.
Fellows receive a stipend of $30,000. As noted above, Fellows travel to the Institute twice during the Fellowship year to present to leadership: once in August, at the end of Q1, and again in May, at the end of the Fellowship year. The May presentation focuses on what was accomplished during the year and the Fellow’s plans for next steps. Final work may take many forms, including detailed manuscripts, the launch of a business or organization; or a video series, documentary films, etc. Travel and lodging for both presentations are covered by the Institute.
Upon completion of the Fellowship year, all Fellows are required to serve as mentors for future Fellows, ensuring that accumulated knowledge and experiences are passed to their successors.
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Fellows should plan to commit approximately 1,000 hours across the Fellowship year (roughly 20 hours per week). This is designed to support steady progress with clear milestones over the full Fellowship cycle.
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It is primarily virtual, but there are two required in-person Institute meetings during the year.
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Yes. You can apply from and live anywhere in the world and still be considered for a Bergel Fellowship.
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If you are selected and traveling from outside the United States, you are responsible for obtaining any required visa or travel authorization to enter the U.S. The Fellowship is primarily virtual, but attendance at the in-person Institute meetings is required, so please consider your ability to travel before applying.
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For the 2026–2027 cycle: applications close February 28, 2026, Fellowships begin June 1, 2026, the first required in-person Institute meeting is August 21, 2026 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and final presentations take place in May 21, 2027 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
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Yes. Travel and lodging for required in-person meetings and presentations are covered by the Institute.
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Yes. If you are interested in more than one Fellowship, please submit a complete, full application for each Fellowship for which you want to be considered. Each application should be tailored to one specific Fellowship topic.
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No. Applicants do not need to be enrolled in or associated with any academic program, nor do they have to have a degree of any kind. We are just as interested in your experience and ability to carry out the project you propose.
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Yes. Applicants may be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at an institution anywhere in the world.
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You may choose one of the samples or propose your own, as long as it fits one of the six areas of focus and aligns with the Institute’s goals and mission.
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Final work can take many forms, including launching a business or organization, creating a video or documentary series, writing a manuscript that can lead to future publications, or producing research outputs such as a dataset that supports further research. The exact deliverable depends on your Fellowship topic and your project plan with the Institute.
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No. Fellowships are open to individuals of all ages.
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No. Applicants are asked to refrain from using AI to answer the application questions, and Fellows are expected to submit work that reflects their own analysis and writing during the Fellowship year.
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Fellows are required to serve as mentors for future Fellows. We are excited to welcome you into The Bergel Institute family and hope you will be a lifelong member as we support one another’s work and future endeavors.
Frequently asked questions