There are three types of applicants:

1. Faculty (Scholars) from other universities who wish to spend sabbatical leave at the Weatherhead Center pursuing research. Visiting faculty must have a PhD and must hold tenured or tenure-track positions at another institution, from which they will be on leave during the time that they are at Harvard.
2. Postdoctoral researchers who have received their PhDs in the last three calendar years, or who will have defended by the start of their academic appointment.
3. Practitioners (Fellows) with a strong scholarly bent who wish to spend a... Read more about Who is eligible to apply?

Scholars must be in residence for a minimum of four months; these four months should be primarily in the fall and spring terms while classes are in session. We do not recommend that scholars spend most of their time in residence during the summer months, as most faculty and students are away from campus from June to August. Please note that given the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be some flexibility given uncertainty around travel and occupancy constraints.

Participants are required to be in residence for a minimum of four months, and ideally for one academic year. All participants must be in residence while Harvard classes are in session (with exceptions made given uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic). For full academic year participants, this means being present from late August (for orientation) through early December, and from late January through mid May. Scholars and fellows are also expected to participate in relevant Weatherhead Center events and to contribute to some of the Center’s many other intellectual activities,...

Read more about What are the expectations for participants in the program?

All applicants should submit the following documents via Harvard's online application portal (ARIES):

1. Cover letter;
2. Curriculum vitae (five pages maximum);
3. Description of research project (three pages or less);
4. Two letters of recommendation.

Applicants will be notified of the selection committee's decision by early January.