This program is open to recent PhD recipients and doctoral candidates in the social sciences.
The Harvard Academy for International Area Studies
(https://academy.wcfia.harvard.edu/programs/academy_scholar) 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.
Eligibility
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.
Terms
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.
How to Apply
All application materials must be submitted by the deadline of September 18, 2026. 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, for example, a PhD dissertation chapter or peer-reviewed journal article. Co-authored texts are acceptable provided each author’s contribution is clearly specified and authorship is not shared with an academic advisor. This should be in English and no longer than fifty pages.
- 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, so plan accordingly)
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 by clicking on the APPLY ONLINE button.
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.
Questions should be emailed to: applicationinquiries@wcfia.harvard.edu.
You may include footnotes, endnotes, and/or bibliographies in your proposed research statement, but they are not required. If you do give references, they will not count towards the 2000-word maximum for the research statement.
Regarding transcripts from foreign universities: our reviewers read many applications from those at foreign universities and request as much transcript-like official documentation as the Registrar at your university can provide, for all graduate work—both for the Master's and PhD programs in which you have been or are currently enrolled. Your institution most likely gets these requests often and can provide the required paperwork to you upon request.
