Fellowship Types

• Arctic Initiative Fellowship
• Energy, Climate, and Technology Policy Fellowship
• Ernest May Fellowship in History and Policy Fellowship
• Geopolitics of Energy Project Fellowship
• International Security Program Fellowship
• Project on Managing the Atom Fellowship
• Middle East Initiative Fellowship
• Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship
• Technology and Geopolitics Fellowship

Predoctoral fellows contribute to the Center's research activities while working on - and ideally completing - their doctoral dissertations.

For consideration, applicants must have passed general examinations and have made significant progress on the completion of their dissertation.

Postdoctoral fellows also contribute to the Center's research activities while completing a book or other substantial publication during the time at the Center.

For consideration, applicants must have received their Ph.D. within the last five years from September of the coming academic year. (e.g. to qualify to be a postdoctoral fellow during the 2023-2024 academic year, the applicant's Ph.D. must have been granted no sooner than September 2018.) Postdoctoral fellows must commit to a full-time appointment. 

Non-Harvard faculty members may apply to pursue their own research in association with the designated fellowship program. Past projects have included book projects or other manuscripts, article series, and other substantial research projects.

Please visit the individual fellowship pages for specific application requirements, which may vary.

• CV/ Resume
• Unofficial transcript (predoctoral fellow applicants only)
• Research statement (3-5 pages)
• Writing sample (less than 50 pages)
• The sample should be one published or unpublished piece written by the applicant. Co-authored pieces are not accepted. 
• The sample should be written in English. Translations of written work will not be accepted. 
• This can be a journal article, book chapter, dissertation chapter, white paper, or any other substantial research piece you have produced in your field.
• Research Proposal (2-3 pages)

• Contact information for 3 recommenders submitting letters on your behalf

  All applications must be submitted via the online application portal. Emailed or other methods of application submission will not be accepted. 

Our programs and projects offer a variety of both professional and academic research fellowships. Professional fellowships are geared towards mid-career professionals, while academic fellowships include predoctoral, postdoctoral, and faculty positions. Fellows are appointed for ten-month appointments from September through June, with a possibility for renewal.

Fellows are expected to devote some portion of their time to collaborative endeavors, as arranged by the appropriate program or project director. Predoctoral research fellows are expected to contribute to the Center's research activities, as well as work on — and ideally complete — their doctoral dissertations. Postdoctoral fellows are also expected to complete a book, monograph, or other significant publication during their period of residence. Faculty and professional fellows are expected to complete a substantial research project or series of papers during their time at the Center.

Stipends for research fellows vary by fellowship.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply for other sources of funding. All applicants should indicate on their application form whether they are seeking full or partial funding from the Center.

Mentoring the leaders of tomorrow is a core pillar of our mission.

Our fellows and other alumni often go on to assume major leadership roles in academia, government, business and other fields.

The application period for the 2025-2026 academic year will open on October 1, 2024.

Please email belfer_fellowships@hks.harvard.edu for more information.