Fulbright Don DeBats Distinguished Chair in Politics and Public Policy

The Jeff Bleich Centre invites distinguished U.S. professors to research, live, and work for five months at one of Australia's foremost institutions of higher learning.

2026 Public Lecture

Apply for 2027

Flinders University, in partnership with the Australian-American Fulbright Commission, invites leading scholars from the United States to apply for the Fulbright Don DeBats Distingushed Chair in Politics and Public Policy.

The Fulbright Don DeBats Distinguished Chair in Politics and Public Policy (funded by Flinders University) is designed to attract full or associate U.S. professors with distinguished academic careers and significant publication and teaching records, to conduct collaborative research for 4–5 months at Flinders University, housed within the Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies (JBC).

The University is looking for research that relates to one or more of the 4 research focus areas of the Jeff Bleich Centre.

2026 Distinguished Chair

Dr Geoffrey McGovern
RAND, Carnegie Melon University

Biography

Geoffrey McGovern is director of Intellectual Property, a senior political scientist at RAND, and a professor of policy analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy. His research has focused on matters of civil justice, statutory compliance, asbestos litigation, national defense, and homeland security. Past RAND research includes a series of extensive studies of asbestos personal injury bankruptcy trusts; and examinations of state judicial resourcing and management, and intellectual property considerations for homeland security.

A two-time Fulbright Scholar, McGovern previously researched the Finnish legal system at the University of Tampere, Finland, and he holds the 2026 Fulbright-DeBats Distinguished Chair of Politics and Public Policy at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. He received his Ph.D. in political science from Binghamton University in New York and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Explore Geoffrey's work

25 May

5:30pm - 7:00pm
Flinders City Campus

More information coming soon

2026 Public Lecture

AUKUS: Building Beyond Barriers in Advanced Technology Cooperation

What does AUKUS really mean beyond submarines?
Why do laws written decades ago matter for today’s technology and security?

This public lecture brings together the findings of Professor McGovern’s five month research project examining how U.S. laws and regulations affect technology sharing between Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom under the AUKUS security partnership.

About the Fulbright Distinguished Chair

Specialisation

Applications addressing applied public policy concerns are sought, particularly those related to Democratic Resilience. Applications must focus on a significant, current, applied public policy issue at an international and/or national policy level.

Scholarship Entitlements

A monthly stipend for a maximum of 5 months (minimum 4 months)
Accommodation allowance for a maximum of 5 months (minimum 4 months)
International travel entitlement
Travel allowance for an Australian lecture tour
Eligibility to apply for coverage under Australian Medicare
(Scholar only)
A limited Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE) Health Benefits Plan, designed by the U.S. Department of State and administered by Seven Corners, Inc. Please note this plan is NOT an insurance policy
Support from the Fulbright Commission to assist with administration, visas and general enquiries
Dependents of scholars who will be enrolled in the Australian public school system in grades K-12 may have tuition fees waived
Orientation and networking opportunities
Support from the Commission prior to and during program

Scholarship Eligibility

Specific to this award:

Must include a Letter of Invitation from Flinders University with the application
Must be at associate or full professor level with relevant disciplinary experience

General criteria for all Fulbright Awards: