Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Buddhist Ministry at Harvard University – Cambridge, Massachusetts

Harvard Divinity School invites application for the 2026-27 academic year as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow for Buddhist Ministry to join us in Fall 2026. We understand ‘ministry’ in the most capacious sense—that of a leader or caregiver grounded in the Buddhist traditions or drawing from Buddhist wisdom to be of service to the world, whether in a Buddhist community or sangha setting. The Fellow will spend two years (24 months) at Harvard Divinity School, where they will support the “Buddhist Teachers on Teaching” research project under the direction of the principal investigator, Dr. Monica Sanford. This project is an empirical study of Buddhist “ministry” (referred to as Dharma “teaching” colloquially among Buddhists) using a constructivist grounded theory approach, semi-structured interviews, and a public scholarship component resulting in a publishable podcast.

In addition to supporting this project, the fellow will have the opportunity to continue their own scholarly work with the goal of producing a publication on the topic of their research. Work related, but not limited to, the following applied and practical topics will be considered: altruism, spiritual care and counseling, ethics, leadership, organizational management, ritual and meditation, diversity and social justice. Candidates continuing work from an earlier project (e.g. thesis or dissertation) to be adapted for broader publication will be strongly considered. This program is overseen by the Buddhist Ministry Initiative and Office of Ministry Studies at HDS.

The fellow will be in full-time residence at Harvard Divinity School throughout the two year period. The fellow will coordinate the recruitment and scheduling of participants into the study, manage the theoretical sampling regime, analyze interview transcripts, develop theory following the grounded theory method, and contribute to publications and presentations. In the spring semester, the fellow may teach on a topic related to their own research, either as a for-credit course or a co-curricular lecture series, subject to the approval of a course proposal by the Buddhist Ministry Committee and Office of Academic Affairs. The fellow will meet regularly with supervising staff to discuss progress on their projects and prepare their teaching.

The appointment entitles the fellow to a Harvard University ID card (which allows access to the Harvard University Libraries) for the duration of the appointment. Visiting scholars are cordially invited to attend all HDS community and public events. However, HDS is unable to offer courtesy library cards, or appointments, for any additional members of a scholar’s family.

A visiting scholar is considered an independent researcher and may not register for and take classes for credit. For information on how to audit classes (not for credit) at HDS, please consult the instructions on auditing.

This is a full-time appointment beginning June 1, 2026, and ending May 31, 2028. The extension of an appointment is unfortunately not possible.

For more information, please visit the Buddhist Ministry Initiative website at https://hds.harvard.edu/academics/ministry-studies/buddhist-ministry-initiative or contact the Multireligious Ministry Initiatives Coordinator at bmi-applications@hds.harvard.edu.

The Fellowship is open to early career and senior scholars with doctorates in the fields of religion and to those with primary competence in other humanities, social science, and public policy fields who demonstrate a serious interest in Buddhist ministry and hold appropriate degrees in those fields. Applicants must have received a doctoral degree by October 1, 2025. Selection criteria emphasize the quality of the applicant’s research prospectus, outlining objectives and methods; its fit with the Buddhist Ministry Initiative’s mission; alignment with the proposed research project; and an agreement to produce a publishable piece of work in their own area of expertise and contribute to publications related to the Buddhist Teachers on Teaching project.

Please note that attorneys representing individuals are not authorized to file visa petitions on behalf of Harvard Divinity School.

Please also submit the following materials with your application:

1) A cover letter & description of your proposed research project, not to exceed 1,250 words.

2) The title and description of a Buddhist ministry course or lecture series related to your project, not to exceed one page.

3) A description of your background in Buddhist ministry, both scholarly and practical, not to exceed 750 words.

4) Curriculum vitae, not to exceed 10 pages.

5) Two letters of recommendation, including at least one person who can speak to your ministry (or religious/spiritual leadership, service, or caregiving) experience, background, or interest

Applicants may contact the Office of Ministry Studies at Harvard Divinity School with any questions regarding the position.

$72,000