The Academy Scholars Program of The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies identifies and supports outstanding scholars at the start of their academic careers whose work combines excellence in a social science discipline with a command of the language and knowledge or expertise of countries or regions outside of the United States or Canada. Their scholarship should span traditional disciplinary divisions and elucidate comparative, transnational, or domestic issues, past or present.
The Academy Scholars are a select community of individuals possessed of resourcefulness, initiative, and originality whose work shows promise as a foundation for careers in research universities or international institutions.
Selected Academy Scholars receive substantial financial support, which includes a competitive stipend and funds for research and travel. This support enables them to focus on their research and academic pursuits without the financial pressures often associated with early-career academic positions. Scholars also have access to Harvard University’s extensive resources, including its libraries, research centers, and academic community, which provides an enriching environment for intellectual growth and collaboration.
The program is designed to foster interdisciplinary research and scholarship. Academy Scholars work on projects that integrate disciplinary approaches from the social sciences with deep area knowledge. Their work typically addresses pressing global issues, such as political economy, social development, international relations, and cultural studies. By bridging disciplinary and regional studies, the program aims to produce innovative research that can inform and shape public policy and contribute to a deeper understanding of complex international phenomena.
Academy Scholars are appointed for a two-year in-residence postdoctoral fellowship at The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA. They receive substantial financial and research assistance which permits them to undertake robust research projects and skills development in their chosen fields and areas. They meet at dinners, seminars, and informal get-togethers in order to pursue innovative interdisciplinary approaches to their work. They are mentored by the Harvard Academy Senior Scholars, a cohort of faculty members who act as a selection committee, participate in Harvard Academy events, and are committed to supporting the Academy Scholars as they work to achieve their potential.
The Harvard Academy is dedicated to building an inclusive community of scholars with an array of experiences, perspectives, and methods and welcomes a diverse pool of applicants.
Requirements For The Harvard University Academy Scholars Program
These awards are open to recipients of PhD or comparable doctoral degrees (within two years of the August 1, 2025, start date) and advanced doctoral candidates in the social sciences. Scholars nearing dissertation completion must be able to submit degree conferral documentation issued by their university registrar’s office by June 30, 2025, for an August 1, 2025, start date. Individuals who hold or have completed another Harvard postdoctoral fellowship are not eligible to apply.
Application Documents
The completed application will include:
- Curriculum vitae (CV); including list of publications
- Research proposal (2000 words maximum); including intellectual objectives and planned methodological and disciplinary work
- One scholarly writing sample (e.g., PhD dissertation chapter or single-authored peer-reviewed academic journal article; fifty pages maximum; in English)
- A copy of your PhD program transcript
- Three letters of recommendation (uploaded to the online application directly and confidentially by the recommender by September 20, 2024)
Method of Application
Visit The Official Website to Apply
All application materials must be submitted by the deadline of September 20, 2024. We do not accept late applications.
All parts of the application, including the three letters of recommendation, are submitted online as pdf documents. Access the online application through the homepage of The Harvard Academy’s website by clicking on the APPLY ONLINE button.
All materials must be received by September 20, 2024. The selection process begins immediately thereafter. Applicants whose materials are incomplete are at a disadvantage when considered by the Selection Committee. Announcement of the awards will be made in December 2024.
Questions should be emailed to: applicationinquiries@wcfia.harvard.edu.
Application Deadline: September 20, 2024.
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