USA Harvard Kennedy School Arctic Initiative Fellowship

The Arctic Initiative is a joint project of the Environment and Natural Resources Program and the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program at the Belfer Center, and fellows interact and collaborate with fellows from both programs, as well as with faculty, visiting policymakers, and other experts at the Belfer Center and the Harvard Kennedy School. Fellowship focus areas are contingent upon funding availability.

Predoctoral fellows are expected to be accepted into a doctoral program or have completed a master’s degree and to have substantial, relevant research or professional experience. Postdoctoral fellowship applicants are welcome from recipients of a PhD or equivalent degree, and the initiative also considers university faculty members and employees of government, military, private research institutions, governmental organizations, or the private sector with relevant experience. Arctic residents and Indigenous candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Selection is based on the application materials and fit to policy relevance and the Arctic Initiative priorities, with applicants expected to pursue research aligned with the initiative’s policy-focused priorities and to assess the adequacy of existing governmental and international policies, programs, laws, and regulations. Fellows hold in-residence appointments and are expected to be on campus for the majority of their fellowship period, dedicate time to collaborative projects, and produce a significant publication during their time with the Arctic Initiative.

• Predoctoral applicants must either be accepted into a doctoral program or have completed a master’s degree.
• Predoctoral applicants must possess substantial, relevant research or professional experience demonstrating preparation for advanced study in the field.
• Postdoctoral applicants must be recipients of a PhD or equivalent degree.
• The program welcomes applications from university faculty members and employees of government, military, private research institutions, governmental organizations, or the private sector with relevant experience.
• Arctic residents are highly encouraged to apply.
• Indigenous candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
• Applicants must specify whether they are requesting full, partial, or no funding from the project and disclose any other potential sources of financial support.

• A funded fellowship provides a stipend.
• A funded fellowship provides office space.
• A funded fellowship provides limited travel funding to support attendance at select conferences and workshops.
• Funding is not offered to support extended field work.
• Fellowship awards are available in a limited number depending on funding availability.

1. Prepare the required application materials: CV/Resume, research statement, writing sample, and contact information for three recommenders who will submit letters on the applicant’s behalf.
2. For predoctoral fellow applicants only, include an unofficial transcript.
3. Ensure the research statement has clear policy relevance and is between 3 and 5 pages.
4. Ensure the writing sample is less than 50 pages and is a single published or unpublished piece written by the applicant (co-authored pieces are not accepted) in English.
5. Submit the application during the application window.
6. Ensure letters of recommendation are submitted by the stated due date.

• CV/Resume
• Unofficial transcript (predoctoral fellow applicants only)
• Research statement (3–5 pages) with a clear focus on policy relevance
• Writing sample (less than 50 pages) in English; must be one published or unpublished piece written by the applicant (co-authored pieces not accepted); may be a journal article, book chapter, dissertation chapter, white paper, or other
• Contact information for 3 recommenders submitting letters on the applicant’s behalf