The Research and Innovation Directorate (RID) is pleased to inform the University community of a funding opportunity under The LEGO Foundation Fellowship, administered by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC).

This is a global research fellowship for early- and mid-career researchers whose work seeks to strengthen understanding of how children thrive across diverse contexts. The fellowship supports ambitious, rigorous, and practically relevant research and brings together a cohort of scholars working across disciplines and geographies. Relevant fields may include, but are not limited to, education, psychology, child development, public health, economics, sociology, neuroscience, data science, humanitarian studies, disability studies, human-computer interaction, and implementation science.

Research Themes
Applications are invited for projects aligned with one or more of the following themes:

• The youngest children in crisis and conflict settings
• Inclusion and wellbeing of neurodivergent children
• Children’s learning and development in an AI-enabled world

Applicants may explore the role of play where relevant to the research question, but this is optional and not a condition of eligibility.

Eligibility
The fellowship is open to early- and mid-career researchers from around the world who:

• hold a PhD or equivalent research doctorate by 31 July 2026;
• received their PhD within the past 10 years, subject to any approved career-break policy;
• are employed by a university or research institute at the start of the fellowship;
• are able to have fellowship funds administered by their host institution;
• submit an individual application; and
• propose work aligned with one or more of the fellowship themes.

Funding and Fellowship Period

• USD 300,000 over three years
• Fellowship period: 1 February 2027 to 31 December 2029
• Up to 10 fellowships will be awarded

 Application deadline: 31 July 2026 at 11:59 EST

 For more information on the call, kindly visit the official call page: https://www.ssrc.org/programs/the-lego-foundation-fellowship/application-details/

 RID encourages eligible researchers whose work relates to children’s development, learning, wellbeing, inclusion, crisis and conflict, neurodivergence, and AI-enabled childhood experiences to explore this opportunity. Interested applicants are kindly requested to inform RID of their intention to apply to enable institutional guidance and support. Please email rid-grantsmgt@ug.edu.gh, with jobappiah@ug.edu.gh in copy, ahead of the deadline.