Programs FAQ
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF) FAQ
- During the 2026–27 application cycle, the SURF Program Associate will hold virtual office hours from 3:00 to 4:00 PM central time on November 13, November 20, December 4, December 11, December 18, and January 8. Please register using the link, available here.
- Before reaching out, we encourage you to review the FAQ below. If you still have questions, please contact fellowships@abfn.org.
- SURF applications typically open between mid-September and late October. We encourage prospective applicants to check our website periodically for updates.
- At this time, we do not maintain a mailing list for application announcements. We recommend checking our website periodically during the anticipated fall application cycle.
- No. To be eligible for SURF, applicants must not have received their undergraduate degree before the start of the fellowship. Students who have recently graduated and are interested in research opportunities may wish to explore university-based predoctoral fellowship programs.
- No. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURFers) are required to participate in person. Fellows are generally expected to work in the office Monday through Thursday, with occasional remote Fridays when no site visit is scheduled.
- You are eligible to apply as long as your undergraduate degree has not been conferred before the start of the fellowship.
- All qualified candidates who are authorized to work in the United States for the duration of the fellowship are encouraged to apply. Please note that the ABF is unable to sponsor employment visas for participation in the program. We encourage students to consult their international student office regarding work authorization and eligibility.
- SURF is a research-intensive program, and the admissions committee places particular emphasis on applicants who demonstrate a strong interest in research and who are considering research-focused graduate study, such as a PhD or JD/PhD in the social sciences.
- Applications open in the fall and close in mid-January. The admissions committee begins reviewing applications after applications close and typically releases final decisions by late April.
- Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to provide individualized feedback.
- No. To ensure a fair and equitable admissions process, we do not review application materials with prospective applicants. Applicants are welcome to contact fellowships@abfn.org with questions about eligibility, program requirements, or the application process.
- No. Fellows are responsible for securing their own summer housing. The Program Associate can provide general guidance regarding Chicago neighborhoods and housing resources and may be able to connect incoming Fellows with SURF alumni who are subletting accommodations.
- SURF is a full-time, in-person summer fellowship. Fellows are expected to be actively engaged in fellowship activities during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.
- If another opportunity conflicts with your SURF responsibilities, you will not be able to participate in both programs simultaneously.
- Yes. A select number of applicants are invited to interview as part of the admissions process. Interviews may be conducted in multiple rounds, and additional applicants may be invited as the review process progresses.
ABF Doctoral Fellowships FAQ
- Possibly. Eligibility depends on the nature of the other fellowship.
- If your concurrent fellowship includes programmatic commitments that would conflict with your responsibilities as an ABF Fellow, such as required workshops, seminars, or other ongoing participation requirements, you will not be able to hold both appointments simultaneously. However, Fellows are able receive funding from another source if there are no conflicting obligations.
- If you are unsure whether your situation would present a conflict, please contact fellowships@abfn.org.
- Applicants from humanities disciplines are welcome to apply. However, preference is generally given to candidates whose research aligns closely with the social sciences and the ABF’s research mission.
- At this time, we do not anticipate recruiting Doctoral or Postdoctoral Fellows through this grant program.
- ABF fellowship opportunities are intentionally broad and reflect the interdisciplinary nature of law and society research. We encourage applications from scholars whose work aligns with the ABF’s mission and contributes to social science research on law, legal institutions, and society.
- Prospective applicants should review the specific fellowship description and explore the ABF website to determine whether their research interests align with the fellowship’s goals.
- All applicants will receive a notification regarding the outcome of their application. We typically release decisions by early May. If you have another opportunity that requires an earlier response, please contact fellowships@abfn.org as soon as possible.
- No. Fellows may not hold concurrent teaching appointments or teaching responsibilities during the fellowship period.
- There are no citizenship requirements for ABF doctoral fellowships.
- However, the ABF is unable to sponsor visas and cannot advise applicants on individual visa matters. We encourage prospective applicants to consult their institution’s international student services office regarding work authorization and immigration-related questions.
- Yes. Fellows are expected to reside in Illinois throughout the fellowship term, as our fellowship is in residence and requires in-person participation.
- Doctoral Fellows are expected to be in person, so they can be active members of the ABF’s scholarly community who participate in the intellectual life of the institution.
- Awarded Fellows are required to participate in person in the ABF’s weekly Speaker Series seminar, where they will present their work during the first fall of their fellowship term. Fellows are also expected to attend a monthly fellowship seminar, where they will workshop work-in-progress materials. Fellows also participate in ABF board meeting activities and work on-site at least two days per week.
ABF Postdoctoral Fellowships FAQ
- Yes. Fellows are expected to reside in Illinois throughout the fellowship term. As ABF employees, Fellows must also be authorized to work in the United States for the duration of the fellowship.
- Yes. Postdoctoral Fellows are employed as W-2 employees of the ABF and are eligible for employee healthcare benefits.
- Doctoral Fellows are expected to be in person, so they can be active members of the ABF’s scholarly community who participate in the intellectual life of the institution. If awarded, Fellows receive detailed guidelines and expectations about participation in the fellowship.
- Yes. The ABF will reimburse modest relocation costs.
- Yes, provided you meet the degree requirements outlined in the fellowship posting by the start date of the fellowship.
- Awarded Fellows are required to participate in person in the ABF’s weekly Speaker Series seminar, where they will present their work during the first fall of their fellowship term. Fellows are also expected to attend a monthly fellowship seminar, where they will workshop work-in-progress materials. Fellows also participate in ABF board meeting activities and work on-site at least two days per week.
- At this time, we do not anticipate recruiting Postdoctoral Fellows through this grant program.