Academy Scholar, The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies in Cambridge, Massachusetts at Harvard University

The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies is dedicated to promoting innovative social science hand-in-hand with deepening our shared knowledge of the experiences and practices of the world’s regions and countries. The Academy Scholars Program identifies and supports outstanding researchers 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. The scholarship of the group spans traditional disciplinary divisions and elucidates comparative, transnational, and domestic issues, past and 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.

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.

Each year, five to six Academy Scholars are named for two-year, in-residence appointments with an annual stipend of $80,000 (annual research support of $6,000 is also provided), with the two years to be completed within a three-year window. Year 1 of the fellowship must be taken up no later than the fall immediately following the postdoctoral fellowship offer. Delays or deferrals in the start of Year 1 are not permitted. Between Years 1 and 2, Academy Scholars may apply for a one-time leave (up to 12 months), either to accept or to continue with a tenure-track teaching appointment but for no other professional reason. Academy Scholars may not accept outside funding, awards, or obligations during their appointment. They may be invited to teach a Harvard class during the course of their appointment.

All application materials must be submitted by the deadline of September 18, 2026. We do not accept late applications.

The completed application will include:

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: https://academy.wcfia.harvard.edu.

All materials except for letters of recommendation must be received by September 18, 2026, 11:59 PM EDT (please ensure letters of recommendation arrive no later than September 28, 2026, 11:59 PM EDT). The selection process begins immediately thereafter. Applicants whose materials are incomplete are at a disadvantage when considered by the Selection Committee. We anticipate awards will be announced in December 2026.

These awards are open to recipients of PhD or equivalent degrees granted within two years of the August 1, 2027, 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, 2027, for an August 1, 2027, start date. Individuals who hold or have completed another postdoctoral fellowship are not eligible to apply.

Please see our website for a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs).

The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies
Harvard University
1727 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, MA 02138 USA

$80,000-$90,000

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