2026-2007 Fellows Program

(Applications are Now Open)

The Emotion and Society Lab is pleased to announce its 4th Annual Graduate Fellows Program. We invite applications from graduate students in philosophy PH.D programs (or adjacent fields) who are writing qualifying papers or dissertations on emotions, broadly construed. We welcome applications from students from different philosophical traditions. This nine-month virtual program begins in late September 2026.

Overview

The program aims to provide writing and professional support to young scholars working on emotions through private professional workshops and a monthly works-in-progress series. Fellows are expected to participate in all sessions related to the fellows program. They are also expected to attend other virtual events organized by the Lab.

Eligibility

Students should be:

1) Enrolled in a US doctoral program in philosophy

2) Finished satisfying coursework requirements

3) Currently working on their qualifying papers or dissertations

4) Available to attend ALL required Fellows sessions (3rd Tuesdays 9:00-10:30 PT) during the school year from September-June (except January).

5) Be available to attend our opening event in-person at Wake Forest University, the 3rd week of September. (Please do not apply if you are not available.)

6) Available to join 50% of outside Fellows' Lab events (including WIP Session (1st Tues.) and/or Book Club (2nd Tues).

Awards

Students will receive support and feedback on their work by top people in the field, professional development workshops, and a paid trip to Wake Forest University to connect in-person with other graduate students working on emotions.

How to Apply

Please submit the following documents to eslabfellowsprogram@gmail.com:

Curriculum Vitae

Research Statement (1 page)

Statement of Interest (500 words max)

Statement of Commitment (300 words max) SEE BELOW
Our virtual program requires participants to be punctual, consistent, dedicated, and open to contributing. Not everyone can be disciplined when it comes to online programs. Explain what characteristics and habits you will bring to the group that would allow you to be a responsible and supportive fellow.

Applications are due July 30, 2026, by 5:00 PM Pacific Time.

Contact

The program is organized by Myisha Cherry (UC Riverside) and Francisco Gallegos (Wake Forest).

Should you have any questions, please contact: eslabfellowsprogram@gmail.com

For more information, visit: www.emotionandsociety.com

Alumni

  • Abdul Ansari (U.Michigan)

    “Fragility of Love”
    Respondents: Quinn White & Olivia Bailey

  • Katelyn Antilla (UC Davis)

    “For the Love of Hate”
    Comments: Caleb Ward & Myisha Cherry

  • Soofia Lateef (UC Riverside)

    “Basal Pessimism”
    Comments by: Laura Silva

  • Jonathan Baker (UC Riverside)

    “Cooperation and the Egalitarian Ethos”
    Comments by: Elizabeth Anderson & Ryan Preston-Roedder”

  • Jes Heppler (UC Berkeley)

    “Gut Feelings”
    Comments by: Rachel Achs
    & John Bengson

  • Logan Scott (UNC Chapel Hill)

    “Mindfulness and Emotions”
    Comments by: Nic Bommarito
    & Myisha Cherry

  • Osup Kwon (UC Riverside)

    “How anger protects and restores epistemic competencies”
    Comments by: Alice MacLachlan
    & Lidal Dror

  • Natasha Patel (Stanford)

    “Politics of Personal Transformation”
    Comments by: Meena Krishnamurthy and Caleb Ward

  • Erica Bigelow (University of Washington)

    “Affective weaponization and Therapy-speak”
    Comments by: Lori Gallegos and Lucy Osler

  • James Wells (York University)

    “Being Xincere: How Confucian Trust Combines Commitment, Goodwill, Integrity, and Remorse”
    Comments by: Alba Curry and Jason D’Cruz

  • Carolina Hernandez-Bachman (UC Riverside)

    “La Llorona: The Scary, Weird Lady”
    Comments by: John Jennings and Luvell Anderson

  • Michaila Peters (Boston College)

    “Petro Masculinity and Affective Injustice”
    Comments by: Serene Khader and Mariana Ortega

  • Carlos Munoz-Serna (University of Cincinnati)

    “Nostalgia: An Embodied Proposal”
    Comments by: Alfred Archer and Tim Wildschut

  • Sarah Vernallis (UC Berkely)

    “Empathy’s Moral Hazard”
    Comments by: Stephen Darwal and Owen Flanagan

  • Miriam Ambrosino (Stonybrook)

    “The Tyranny of White Comfort”
    Comments by: Jan Slaby and Joel Krueger

  • Renee Rushing (Florida State)

    “Blame-lighting: Gaslighting via Blaming Reactive Attitudes”
    Comments by: Shiloh Whitney and Ditte Marie Munch-Jurisic

  • Gwendalynn Roebke (UPenn)

    Monstrous Agency and the (Un)making of Wombs”
    Comments by: Kris Sealy and Jade Sasser

  • Bex Staneslow (UMass Amherst)

    “Dehumanization and an Expanded Account of Dignity”
    Comments by: David Livingstone Smith and Rachel Achs

  • Denish Jaswal (Harvard)

    "Aptness and Ideology"
    Comments by: Lisa Tessman and Kathryn Norlock

  • Keilee Bessho (UC Riverside)

    “On Praise, Progress, and Picking the Right Standard”
    Comments by: Antti Kauppinen and Valerie Tiberius

Professional Development Workshops

Rob Tempio (Princeton University Press)
on Book Publishing

Kathryn Norlock (TrentU) on Writing