"Research & Design Studio Fellowship"

Job Details

Since its founding in 1986, Harvard University’s Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics has convened scholars and practitioners to confront pressing ethical questions of the time. Building on this tradition, the Center invites applications for the Research & Design Studio Fellowship, a new fellowship program at the heart of the Center’s innovation hub, helping a new generation of thinkers and practitioners translate ethical reflection and scholarship into practical contributions for academia and public life.

The Research & Design Studio:

The Research & Design Studio (R&DS) is an interdisciplinary network that bridges scholarship and practice. Its current theme and focus is the ethical and political dimensions of disagreement: when it proves productive, how to rebuild a culture of principled disagreement, and how to navigate difference. Through this work, the R&DS seeks to strengthen civil discourse in higher education and public life, bringing together faculty, students, researchers, and practitioners to explore how we can engage across differences more constructively. Fellows contribute to creating pedagogical resources, designing tools for dialogue, and testing models that help make engagement more inclusive and meaningful while also working on their own research projects.

Community & Collaboration:

We aim to build cohorts where fellows find valuable intellectual partnerships to support and spur their work. The ideal candidates are those committed to furthering their own projects while also investing time and energy into building community with the other fellows in their cohort.

Fellowship Expectations:

• Devote the majority of their time to advancing their individual research and design projects.
• Participate in regular seminars with their cohort and others at the Center.
• Engage actively with the Center’s broader programming, which includes public lectures, themed seminars and reading groups, conferences, workshops, and lunch discussions.

Residency Requirement:

This is a residential fellowship. Fellows are expected to live in the Boston area and be present at the Center at least three days per week, with four working days per week in the area overall. Occasional travel for conferences and professional commitments is permitted.

Eligibility:

Applicants must have a PhD, professional degree, or a minimum of 5 years of equivalent professional experience by September 1 of the fellowship year. Faculty, Postdoctoral Researchers, and Practitioners are all eligible to apply. Although applicants from any career stage will be considered, this Fellowship program is especially suitable for younger scholars. Applicants from any discipline or professional field will be considered. Those who have previously held a yearlong residential Fellowship at the Center are not eligible; this limitation does not apply to former Undergraduate Fellows or former Graduate Fellows. The Research & Design Studio works over the course of the academic year, typically from the beginning of September through the end of May, and is open to all applicants who meet the above criteria, regardless of citizenship. Advanced language skills in both written and spoken English are required.

Stipend:

• Faculty: We offer a stipend of one-half of your base academic year salary up to $80,000 and a research allowance of up to $3,000.
• Post-Docs: The stipend for post-doctoral fellows will be $7,000/month for 2026-27 and a research allowance of up to $3,000.
• Practitioner: Practitioner stipends are determined on a case-by-case basis, commensurate with experience, up to a maximum of $80,000 and a research allowance of up to $3,000.

Application Requirements:

Before beginning the application, you may wish to have the following information available: The title of your research proposal, Names and contact information for 3 references. To apply, complete the online application form at https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/15168, which will request a cover letter, curriculum vitae, research proposal, and a recent writing sample. The deadline to submit an application is November 15, 2025.