"Mittal Family Climate Fellowship AY 2026-2027"

Position Description

The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute at Harvard University is pleased to offer the Mittal Family Climate Fellowship for Post-Doctoral Scholars researching the impacts of climate change on South Asia. Eligible topics include adaptation and resilience, mitigation efforts, climate-related public health, water resource management, biodiversity and ecosystem protection, climate policy and governance, and climate technology solutions.

Basic Qualifications

Applications should propose impactful climate research projects that address the critical challenges of climate change in the region with a focus on at least one of the following:

• Adaptation and Resilience: Innovative strategies for communities to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, particularly in vulnerable coastal, agricultural, and urban areas.
• Mitigation Efforts: Research on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and promoting energy efficiency in sectors such as transportation, industry, and agriculture.
• Climate-Related Public Health: Exploring the intersection of climate change and health, focusing on topics like air quality, heat stress, waterborne diseases, and the broader impacts on mental and physical well-being.
• Water Resource Management: Addressing water scarcity, glacier retreat, and sustainable management of transboundary water systems, which are of critical importance in the South Asian context.
• Biodiversity and Ecosystem Protection: Projects that aim to preserve biodiversity, protect natural habitats, and explore nature-based solutions for mitigating the impacts of climate change.
• Climate Policy and Governance: Analyses of regional and national policies, governance mechanisms, and frameworks to enhance climate action, including the role of public-private partnerships and international cooperation.
• Technology and Innovation: Exploring new technologies, data analytics, and innovative approaches that can accelerate climate action, with an emphasis on scalable solutions suitable for the South Asian context.

Applications will be collected via ARIeS and will contain:

• A five-page, double-spaced research plan.
• An updated and current curriculum vitae, which lists your academic degrees (including disciplines and the dates the degrees were received), your publications and research presentations, and any previous grants and/or fellowships.
• A writing sample (no more than ten pages, double-spaced).
• Two letters of recommendation uploaded directly to ARIeS.

Contact Information

Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute ATTN Thomas Elliott
1730 Cambridge St, S403
Cambridge, MA 02138

thomaselliott@fas.harvard.edu

Salary Range

The stipend for this fellowship is $67,600 for a 12-month appointment. The stipend is prorated for shorter appointments.

Minimum Number of References Required

2

Maximum Number of References Allowed

2