HFG Distinguished Scholars BERLIN – MAY 06: A visitor looks at an exhibit of index cards from the post-World War II investigation of members of the Reich Security Main Office (RSHA), one of the main security orgainzations of the Nazis and led by Heinrich Himmler, at the Topography of Terror documentation center and museum on May 6, 2010 in Berlin, Germany. The center, which stands on the site of the former Gestapo and SS headquarters building, documents the role of the Gestapo, the SS and other instruments of terror of the Nazis with exhibition spaces, a library, events and a special scholars’ archive. The Topography of Terror center is scheduled to officially open with an official ceremony later today. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) The Harry Frank Guggenheim Distinguished Scholar Awards (formerly the Harry Frank Guggenheim Research Grants) recognize leading researchers proposing to make a significant contribution to illuminating an issue of violence. The Foundation welcomes proposals from any of the natural and social sciences and aligned disciplines that promise to increase understanding of the causes, manifestations, and control of violence and aggression. Highest priority is given to research that addresses urgent, present-day problems of violence—what produces it, how it operates, and what prevents or reduces it. The Foundation is interested in violence related to many subjects, including, but not limited to, the following: War Crime Terrorism Family and intimate-partner relationships Climate instability and natural resource competition Racial, ethnic, and religious conflict Political extremism and nationalism The Foundation supports research that investigates the basic mechanisms in the production of violence, but primacy is given to proposals that make a compelling case for the relevance of potential findings for policies intended to reduce these ills. Likewise, historical research is considered to the extent that it is relevant to a current situation of violence. Examinations of the effects of violence are welcome insofar as a strong case is made that these outcomes may serve, in turn, as causes of future violence. The Distinguished Scholar Awards Most awards fall within the range of $15,000 and $75,000 per year for periods of one or two years. Applications for larger amounts and longer durations will be considered but must be strongly justified. The awards are made to individuals (or sometimes two, or, rarely, three principal investigators) for specific projects, not general research support. They are not awarded to institutions for institutional programs. Individuals who receive research grants may be subject to taxation on the funds awarded. Timing The first component of the application process is a Letter of Interest (LOI) questionnaire, which must be completed online and submitted by August 1. Approved applicants will be invited to submit a full application, which is due by September 15. Final decisions are made by the HFG Board of Directors during its December meeting. Awardees will be notified by email of the Board’s decision. Awards typically commence on January 1. Later starting dates may be considered if the nature of the research warrants it. Eligibility Applicants for an award may be citizens of any country. While almost all recipients of these awards possess a Ph.D., M.D., J.D., or equivalent degree, there are no formal degree requirements for the award. The award, however, may not be used to support research undertaken as part of the requirements for a graduate degree. Applicants need not be affiliated with an institution of higher learning, although most are college or university professors. Application Process Candidates for the Distinguished Scholar Award may apply annually between July 1 and August 1. Applicants must create an online account to begin the application process. Applicants will first submit a Letter of Interest (LOI), a brief online questionnaire about their proposed project, research design, and budget. This must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 1. The LOI will be assessed by the Foundation for the project’s suitability for funding consideration. If the LOI is approved, the applicant will be invited to submit a full proposal application, which will be due by 11:59 p.m. ET on September 15. Guidelines for the second stage of the process (the proposal application) and advice for applicants can be found in the links below. Online Application (Login required) Application Guidelines (PDF) Advice for Applicants (PDF) Recent Recipients2026Stephanie Bonnes (Criminal Justice and Criminology, University of New Haven), Beyond Policy: Understanding Institutional Prevention and Response to Sexual Assault in the US Military Sam Erkiletian (Political Science, Independent scholar), Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response at the Tactical Level: Evidence from Ukraine (2022–2024) Jeffrey Fagan (Law, Columbia University), Reducing Civilian Injuries in Police Encounters: A Quasi-Experimental Approach James Alan Fox (Criminology and Criminal Justice, Northeastern University) and Jacob Stowell (Criminology and Criminal Justice, Northeastern University), Exploring the Demographic, Socio-Economic, and Legislative Impacts on Mass Killings Godfrey Hove (Historical Studies, National University of Lesotho), Land Disputes, Violence, and Famo Gang Wars in Mafeteng District, Lesotho: The Imperatives of Land Management and Peacebuilding Amira Jadoon (Political Science, Clemson University), Mapping Visions of Peace: Perspectives on Violence, Grievances, and Reconciliation in Pakistan’s Conflict Zones Sandra Ley (Social Sciences and Government, Tecnológico de Monterrey) and Radha Sarkar (Social Sciences and Government, Tecnológico de Monterrey), Organized Crime and Religious Leaders: Understanding Victimization and Resilience Marc Lynch (Political Science and International Affairs, George Washington University), Battle Scars: Violence and the Middle Eastern Warscape Gail Super (Sociology, University of Toronto), Community-Based Violence in Spaces of Rural Precarity: A Case Study of the Xhora Mouth Area in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa Megan Turnbull (International Affairs, University of Georgia) and Kathleen Klaus (Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University), Democracy Dismissed: When Citizens Choose Political Violence See Full List
