The Fellowship Experience
Fellows at the Belfer Center are at the heart of our academic community.
What to Expect
We encourage our Fellows to present their research within and outside the Center, collaborate on papers or projects with other fellows and faculty, and attend and take an active role in Belfer Center seminars and conferences.
We also hope that fellows will immerse themselves in the greater University community during their appointment, throughout the Harvard Kennedy School and beyond.
In most cases, Fellows move to Cambridge, Boston, or the surrounding suburbs for their ten-month appointment. Belfer Center fellows have access to all Harvard University facilities including libraries, gym memberships, and many activity discounts.
Testimonial: Erica Chenoweth
Erica is Academic Dean for Faculty Development and Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment. From 2006-2009, they were a fellow with the International Security Program.
"I can’t imagine what my career would have looked like without my fellowship at the Belfer Center. In addition to giving me time to build my research portfolio, I built friendships with other scholars, had terrific mentors, and benefited from many professional development experiences--placing me in a much better position for the job market. The Belfer community encouraged me to ask big questions with real-world impact, helping me to build a fulfilling career.”
Explore
At Orientation, we welcome new Fellows, faculty and staff.
Natalie Colbert, Executive Director of the Belfer Center, outlines the Center's mission to provide research, ideas, and leadership for a more secure, peaceful world, at Orientation in September 2023.
Our Fellows work in a collaborative environment, surrounded by some of the world's best scholars, government and private sector alum.
Jennifer Spence, Project Director of the Arctic Initiative, answers questions from new staff and Fellows.
The Belfer Center is a part of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government; an academic community committed to making a difference in people’s lives across the world, through improved public policy and public leadership.
Testimonial: Lotem Bassan-Nygate
Lotem is Assistant Professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. In 2022-2023, she was a predoctoral research fellow with the Middle East Initiative.
"My research fellowship provided me with access to an incredible research community, Harvard's extensive resources, and connections with distinguished scholars and practitioners who have been invaluable for my research. The fellowship allowed me to engage with policy makers in the region, and exchange ideas with leading researchers in my field. The feedback I have gotten on projects has been instrumental in allowing me to publish my work and advance my research agenda."