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

Position Description

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 worlds' 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 or 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, 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 $5,000 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 other sources of funding, awards, or obligations during their appointment.

All application materials must be submitted by the deadline of September 19, 2025. We do not accept late applications.

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 directly and confidentially by the recommender through the online application-please note you will need to submit your application before an upload link is sent to your recommender).

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 19, 2025 (ensure letters of recommendation arrive no later than September 29, 2025). 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 2025.

Basic Qualifications

These awards are open to recipients of PhD or equivalent degrees granted within two years of the August 1, 2026, 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, 2026, for an August 1, 2026, start date. Individuals who hold or have completed another postdoctoral fellowship are not eligible to apply.

Special Instructions

Please see our website for a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs): https://academy.wcfia.harvard.edu/programs/academy_scholar.

Contact Information

The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies, Harvard University, 1727 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA, Contact Email: applicationinquiries@wcfia.harvard.edu.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions or any other characteristic protected by law.