"Weatherhead Scholars Program Postdoctoral Fellowship in International Affairs"

Position Description

The Weatherhead Scholars Program at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs invites applications for its 2026-2027 Postdoctoral Fellowship, a one-year, residential opportunity for early-career scholars working on international, comparative, transnational, or global issues in the social sciences.

Postdoctoral fellows join a multidisciplinary cohort—including visiting faculty and practitioner fellows—in residence at Harvard University for the academic year. The program fosters a dynamic intellectual community through a weekly seminar, professional development workshops, and engagement with the broader Weatherhead Center and Harvard communities. Fellows are expected to be on campus from late August through mid-May and to actively participate in program activities.

About the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs

The Weatherhead Center is Harvard's largest international research center, supporting rigorous scholarship on global, comparative, transnational, and international issues. Founded in 1958, the Center brings together faculty, fellows, and students from across the University to address pressing global challenges, including conflict and governance, inequality, environmental change, migration, and international development. It serves as an interdisciplinary hub for research, exchange, and public dialogue.

About the Weatherhead Scholars Program

The Weatherhead Scholars Program is a flagship initiative of the Center that brings together an intellectually diverse, international cohort of postdoctoral researchers, visiting faculty, and practitioner fellows for a year-long residency. Fellows pursue independent research while participating in a weekly seminar, professional development sessions, and collaborative programming across the Center. The program cultivates a vibrant intellectual community that bridges academia and practice, drawing scholars from a wide range of disciplines and professional backgrounds—including government, journalism, diplomacy, civil society, and academia.

Funding

Funded Postdoctoral Fellows will receive a stipend of $70,000, paid over twelve months. If you hold outside funding and wish to be considered, please note this in your cover letter and an email to Walid Hammam, Director of the Weatherhead Scholars Program.

Basic Qualifications

Applicants must have received a PhD within the past three calendar years in a relevant field, such as political science, sociology, anthropology, history, economics, psychology, public policy, international relations, or climate/environmental studies. The PhD must be conferred before the fellowship start date. Preference is given to recent graduates who have not previously held a postdoctoral position.

Applicants with external funding are welcome to apply but must undergo the same review process. Please email the Director of the Weatherhead Scholars Program at walid_hammam@wcfia.harvard.edu

Special Instructions

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS October 15, 2025. PLEASE SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR A LIST OF FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

Letters of Recommendation: The application will ask for the name and contact information of your references. Once your application is submitted, the system will automatically email your recommender with instructions for uploading their letter. The deadline for letters of recommendation is October 22, 2025. You may track the status of your letter through the application portal. We recommend submitting your application in advance of the deadline to ensure your recommender has sufficient time.