Technology and Human Rights Fellowship – Harvard Kennedy School

The Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights at Harvard Kennedy School has long been a hub for exploring how technological developments shape the future of human life and impact human rights protections. Its flagship initiative, the Technology and Human Rights Fellowship, continues to attract global thinkers and practitioners committed to addressing the ethical challenges posed by technology.

Fellowship Overview

• The program is led by Mathias Risse, Director of the Carr-Ryan Center.
• Each year, the fellowship brings together 10–15 virtual fellows from diverse backgrounds.
• Fellows participate in webinars, conferences, and convenings, including the notable series Towards Life 3.0: Ethics and Technology.
• Since the 2024/25 academic year, the fellowship has shifted toward a deeper focus on critical challenges at the intersection of technology and human rights.

Key Questions Driving the Fellowship

The fellowship is structured around three guiding questions that define this frontier domain:

• Surveillance Capitalism or Democracy?
• Who knows? Who decides?
• What new answers can we pursue to safeguard human rights in the digital age?

These questions frame the fellowship’s multi-year effort to gather expertise and foster innovative solutions.

Fellowship Term and Structure

• Duration: One academic year (September 1 – June 30).
• Format: Primarily virtual, with limited opportunities for short-term visits to Cambridge/Boston.
• Funding: Fellowships are not funded.
• Facilities: Limited shared office space may be available during short-term visits.

Application Timeline

• Applications for the 2026–2027 cohort are now OPEN.
• Deadline: February 22, 2026.
• Notification: Selected fellows will be contacted after review.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit a project proposal (up to 3 pages) that includes:

• Background, context, and time horizon of the research problem.
• Alignment with Carr-Ryan Center priorities.
• Anticipated impact of the work.
• Qualifications for undertaking the research project.

Additional required materials:

• Executive summary (up to 200 words).
• Contact information for two references (references may be contacted directly by the Center).
• Relevant writing sample (up to 5 pages).
• List of prior publications (with links or up to 3 attachments).

Fellowship Goals

The fellowship aims to:

• Provide a platform for critical inquiry into the ethical dimensions of technology.
• Encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration among scholars, practitioners, and advocates.
• Generate new frameworks for understanding and addressing human rights challenges in the digital era.
• Build a community of experts committed to advancing democracy and protecting human dignity.

Why Apply?

• Join a prestigious network of fellows working on cutting-edge issues.
• Contribute to global debates on technology and ethics.
• Gain visibility through the Center’s webinars, conferences, and publications.
• Shape the future of human rights protections in the digital age.

The Technology and Human Rights Fellowship is more than an academic program, it is a collaborative effort to redefine the relationship between technology and human rights. By engaging with pressing questions such as surveillance capitalism, democracy, and decision-making in the digital age, fellows contribute to shaping a more ethical and inclusive future.

Applications for the 2026–2027 cohort are open until February 22, 2026. This is an opportunity to join a vibrant intellectual community and make a lasting impact on one of the most urgent issues of our time. Apply now.