2026 Executive Research Fellowship Program

The forces reshaping business—climate risk, AI disruption, regulatory fragmentation, geopolitical tension—demand leaders who can think across systems, not just within silos. The executives and researchers who will define the next decade aren’t waiting for answers. They’re building them.

About the Fellowship

This fellowship is for people who already know what they want to build—and need a platform to do it. You have a theory of change. You have the expertise. What you need is time, rigor, faculty guidance, and the institutional backing of a world-class research university to turn your idea into something that moves your field.
Over the course of this fellowship, you’ll develop a working paper, policy framework, program design, or research publication—something concrete that advances your work and contributes to BCLB’s mission of examining how business can keep economies and societies open.

How to Apply

Submit the following materials:

• • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Cover Letter
  • Proposed Research or Project Focus (no more than 500 words)

• Recommendation Letter (Only 1 letter required, can be academic or professional)

Application Deadline: Rolling. All materials must be submitted to bclb@berkeley.edu with the subject line “2026 Executive Research Fellowship Program – LAST NAME”.

Decision Deadline: Decisions are rolling. Please expect a response within 3 – 4 weeks of your application.

Program Details

Fellows are responsible for their own accommodations and visa processing. Limited partial scholarships may be available based on need—inquire after submitting your application.

Current Fellows 

Gustavo Becker

Dr. Gustavo Becker is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Luxembourg Centre for European Law (LCEL), Guest Lecturer at FGV Rio Law School, and Research Fellow at the Geneva Center for Business and Human Rights. His work focuses on business and human rights, sustainability regulations, and international dispute resolution. He holds a Joint PhD from the University of Amsterdam and the University of Luxembourg, an LL.M. with honours in Human Rights from Maastricht University, and an M.Sc. in International Law and Sustainability and a Bachelor's in Law (JD equivalent), both from the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Brazil. He has previously worked at institutions including the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs in Vienna, the Chamber of Commerce Brazil-Canada, and Skadden LLP. 

Livia Ching

Livia is the Founder and Principal of Blue Shore Enterprises, where she works at the nexus of artificial intelligence, governance, and institutional systems design. Her research centers on developing frameworks for advancing real-time accountability in complex, AI-enabled environments. Livia’s executive background includes global strategy, corporate bridgebuilding, and leadership systems. At Oracle Corporation and Ascend Global Leaders, she led initiatives across enterprise workforces and built strategic partnerships with Fortune 100 technology companies and multi-sector institutions to strengthen diversity and inclusion benchmarks. She now extends this work through her consultancy, supporting minority business development professionals and executives to rise into C-Suite leadership within an ever-changing global economy. Previously, as a senior proposal strategist at EY, she led large-scale audit and advisory pursuits, driving win rates across her region.