Academy Scholar, Harvard Academy International and Area Studies

Academy Scholar, The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies

Title Academy Scholar, The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies

School Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Department/Area Weatherhead Center for International Affairs

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.

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.

Each year, five to six Academy Scholars are named for a two‑year, in‑residence appointment 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. Delays or deferrals in the start of the fellowship 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.

• Recipients of a 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.
• Individuals who hold or have completed another postdoctoral fellowship are not eligible to apply.

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 or identified in the university’s non‑discrimination policy.

Harvard’s equal employment opportunity policy and non‑discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.

• 
  * Is your graduate degree in a social science field?
  • Yes
  • No
• 
  * Did you/will you earn your terminal degree on or after August 1, 2025?
  • Yes
  • No
• 
  * If you do not yet hold a terminal degree, will it be conferred on or before June 30, 2027?
  • Yes
  • No
• 
  * If you are selected as an Academy Scholar, will you require visa support?
  • Yes
  • No

Contact Email: applicationinquiriesvard.edu