Program U.S.-Japan Relations Postdoctoral Fellow

Position: Program on U.S.-Japan Relations Postdoctoral Fellow

Program on U.S.

-Japan Relations Postdoctoral Fellow

Title:

Program on U.S.

-Japan Relations Postdoctoral Fellow

School:
Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Department/Area:
Program on U.S.

-Japan Relations (Weatherhead)

Position Description

The Program on U.S.

-Japan Relations at Harvard University’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs will offer postdoctoral fellowships during the 2026‑27 academic year. We seek applications from outstanding recent PhDs in the social sciences who are conducting research that illuminates Japan’s relations with the rest of the world in the broadest sense. Applicants may be from anthropology, business, economics, history, international relations, law, political science, psychology, public health, public policy, sociology, or other relevant fields.

Scholars are encouraged to examine domestic issues that bear on Japan’s external relations, problems it shares with other countries, or projects that compare Japan’s experience cross‑nationally. This fellowship is made possible by support from the Edwin O. Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies.

The Fellowship Grant

• The postdoctoral fellowship is a twelve‑month appointment, in residence in the Boston area, that begins in either August or September.
• The award is $70,000 paid in monthly installments, eligibility for university‑subsidized health insurance coverage, and up to $5,000 for research and travel funds. Postdoctoral fellows will be provided a shared office space as well as access to the libraries and resources of Harvard University.

Basic Qualifications

• Doctoral degree earned in 2021 or later in a discipline relevant to the Program’s research areas.
• Research projects that focus on Japan or Japan’s international role from a comparative, historical, or global perspective.
• PhD must be Registrar‑certified by July 31, 2026 (the fellowship is contingent on degree documentation and may be rescinded if this deadline is not met).

Additional Qualifications

No additional qualifications listed.

Special Instructions

Deadline for application materials:
December 22, 2025. Deadline for recommendation letters:
December 30, 2025.

Required Materials

• Dissertation Title, Abstract, and Table of Contents
• Statement of Research (recommended length: 500 words; answer the following questions:
  What research project will you pursue during the fellowship term? What stages of your research will you conduct, and what particular resources will you use? What contributions will your research make to advance existing scholarly literature? What are the advantages of spending a postdoctoral fellowship year at Harvard? Are there specific individuals or resources you hope to seek out while in residence?)
• One to two Writing Samples (published article or chapter, dissertation chapter, and/or conference paper, preferably relevant to the proposed research)
• Transcript (submit an official electronic transcript; if the PhD comes from a non‑US university that does not issue an official transcript of grades, submit alternative documentation of enrollment and progress, plus a written statement explaining the lack of an official transcript)
• Two Letters of Recommendation

Contact Information

Program on U.S.

-Japan Relations
61 Kirkland St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Salary Range

$70,000

EEO/Non‑Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non‑discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard’s academic purposes. Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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