Visiting Scholars

The Human Rights Center hosts visiting researchers and practitioners as an integral part of our mission to advance innovative human rights research, education, and advocacy. The Visiting Scholars Program aims to support researchers and human rights defenders and to contribute to a dynamic, diverse human rights community at the Law School, University, and Twin Cities.

The Center is a hub for an expansive agenda of human rights-related research and programming. We host a relatively small number of scholars each year and are committed to integrating visitors into the intellectual and collegial life at the Law School and University and facilitating mutually beneficial connections for visitors with the Center’s network of local, national, and international partners.

Funding and in-kind support

Visitors will have a dedicated work space in the Human Rights Center, as well as full access to the extensive University and Law School library resources and advising on independent projects. The Center will facilitate opportunities to join a dynamic and collegial environment in collaboration with our faculty, students, and partners. Previous visitors have also taught courses at the Law School, directed student research assistants, guest lectured in classes, presented at on- and off-campus events, and designed collaborative projects with UMN researchers. 

For interested candidates, the Human Rights Center is willing to support the applicant’s efforts to secure external funding - by expressing institutional support for the application and/or facilitating an appropriate faculty mentor when required. 

Please note:  “Visiting Scholar” or “Visiting Fellow” is an honorary title without remuneration from the Human Rights Center or University of Minnesota. The Human Rights Center cannot provide financial support for living and relocation expenses. 

To Apply

To apply for a visiting affiliation with the Human Rights Center, please send your CV and a brief cover letter to humanrts@umn.edu. 

In your letter please introduce yourself and include your interest in a residency at the Center, the dates you would like to visit, whether you are applying in connection to another program, and what you would require from the Center to move forward (link to a faculty mentor, institutional letter of support, formal invitation etc.). Optionally, please also feel free to share academic or professional references and a concept note describing your proposed project and the links you see with the Human Rights Center and University of Minnesota.