Harvard University Society of Fellows ($97,000 annual stipend)

Nominations Open for the 2025 Application Cycle

Harvard University is now accepting nominations for the 2025 application cycle of the Society of Fellows. The deadline for submissions is 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Thursday, August 1, 2024.

About the Society of Fellows

The Harvard University Society of Fellows was established to provide scholars at the beginning of their academic careers with the opportunity to pursue their studies in any department of the University without the constraints of formal requirements. Junior Fellows are selected based on their exceptional ability, originality, resourcefulness, and potential to shape the future of their fields.

Key Features of the Fellowship:

• Duration: Three-year fellowships with no extensions.
• Location: Fellows must reside in Cambridge or neighboring communities and attend all weekly lunches and dinners.
• Work Environment: Fellows receive office or lab space and are expected to work full-time during term time.
• Stipend: For the 2023/2024 academic year, the stipend is $97,000 for first-year Junior Fellows.
• Privileges: Access to most University facilities for research and instruction.

History

The Society was founded in 1933 through a gift from A. Lawrence Lowell, in memory of his wife, Anna Parker Lowell. Lowell believed in the value of informal discussions among scholars from different fields, which is why Senior and Junior Fellows meet regularly for dinners and lunches during term time.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must be at an early stage of their scholarly career, with most receiving their Ph.D. shortly before the fellowship begins. Candidates who are still pursuing their Ph.D. should be at the dissertation stage and plan to complete their degree within a year of starting the fellowship. The fellowship is open to candidates of any nationality and field of study.

Nomination Procedure

Candidates must be nominated, generally by someone under whom they have studied. Self-applications are not accepted. A nomination letter should include:

• An assessment of the candidate’s work and promise.
• Contact information for the candidate and three additional referees.
• The candidate’s current residential address and email.

After the nomination is received, the Society will request letters of recommendation and work samples from the referees and the candidate. The nomination process begins in early July, and nominees are processed on a rolling basis.

Selection Process

Based on the submitted materials, Senior Fellows will select candidates for interviews, which will form the basis for the final selection. The Society covers travel expenses for those interviewed.

Important Dates

• Applications Open: Monday, June 3, 2024
• Deadline for Nominations: Thursday, August 1, 2024, 11:59 p.m. Pacific time

Contact Information

For more information about the nomination process and to access the nomination form, please visit the Nomination Procedure section of our site. If you have any questions, please email valeria.pelaez@wecf.org.

We look forward to receiving your nominations and welcoming the next cohort of Junior Fellows to the Harvard University Society of Fellows.