Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
(on-site)
Posted
3 days ago
Salary
$7,000
Job Function
Other
Description
Harvard UniversityPosition
Details
| Title | Ethics & Civics Postdoctoral Fellowship |
|---|---|
| School | Faculty of Arts and Sciences |
| Department/Area | Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics |
| Position Description | Since its founding in 1986, Harvard University's Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics has convened scholars and practitioners to confront pressing ethical questions of the time. Building on this tradition, the Center invites applications for the Ethics and Civics Postdoctoral Fellowship. This fellowship is housed in the Research & Design Studio, the Center's innovation hub, and is designed to help a new generation of thinkers and practitioners translate ethical reflection and scholarship into practical contributions for academia and public life. The Research & Design Studio: The Research & Design Studio (R&DS) is an interdisciplinary network that bridges research and pedagogy. Its current theme and focus are the ethical and political dimensions of disagreement: when it proves productive, how to rebuild a culture of principled disagreement, and how to navigate difference. Through this work, the R&DS seeks to strengthen civil discourse in higher education and public life, bringing together faculty, students, researchers, and practitioners to explore how we can engage across differences more constructively. Community & Collaboration: The Ethics and Civics Postdoctoral Fellowship seeks to prepare the next generation of scholars to integrate practical ethics and civil disagreement into both their research and teaching as they begin their academic careers. In addition to their individual research projects, fellows will develop pedagogical tools or practices during their time at the Center that can support their future teaching as well as contribute to the overall work of the R&DS and its Community of Practice. Fellows will work together with R&DS staff to ensure they are able to effectively translate their scholarship into practical outcomes. The fellowship seminar will include opportunities to workshop both fellows' research and pedagogy projects over the course of the year. The fellowship is renewable for a second year at the discretion of the Center. We plan to welcome three new and up to three returning fellows each year. FELLOWSHIP EXPECTATIONS We aim to build cohorts where fellows find valuable intellectual partnerships to support and spur their work. The ideal candidates are those interested in investing time and energy into contributing to the R&DS's research agenda and pedagogical resource development initiatives and building community with the other fellows in their cohort, while also furthering their own projects. Fellows will receive support from the Center's research and pedagogy teams to develop their projects for a variety of audiences and to translate their research interests into practical tools and applications. Fellows may be invited to teach a Harvard class during the course of their appointment. Ethics & Civics Postdoctoral Fellows will:
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT This is a residential fellowship. Fellows are expected to live in the Boston area and be present at the Center at least three days per week, with at least four working days per week in the area overall. Occasional travel for conferences and other professional commitments is permitted, but Fellows should discuss their plans with the R&DS's Director of Research and Strategic Initiatives before making a commitment. STIPEND The stipend for post-doctoral fellows will be $7,000/month for the 2027-28 academic year, which runs from the start of September to the end of June. We also provide a research allowance of up to $3,000 per academic year for approved expenses directly related to your work, such as travel, books, and research assistance. |
| Basic Qualifications | Applicants must have completed a doctoral degree no more than three years before the start of the Fellowship year. Applicants from any discipline or professional field will be considered. Those who have previously held a yearlong residential Fellowship at the Center are not eligible; this limitation does not apply to former Undergraduate Fellows or former Graduate Fellows. The Research & Design Studio works over the course of the academic year, and is open to all applicants who meet the above criteria, regardless of citizenship. Please note that advanced language skills in both written and spoken English are required for Fellows at the Center. Fellows are expected to discuss and/or present their work in English and are encouraged to participate in informal discussions with faculty and students with related interests. Application materials, including writing samples, should be in English. If offered a fellowship, non-native English speakers who cannot demonstrate their proficiency through (1) completion of a degree from an English-speaking institution of higher education or (2) satisfactory TOEFL or IELTS scores will be contacted by the Center staff to arrange for further evaluation as needed. |
| Additional Qualifications | |
| Special Instructions | To apply, interested candidates must complete an online form and upload several documents through Harvard's ARIeS portal. Requested information and documents will include:
The deadline to submit an application is November 15, 2026, with decisions likely to be announced in March 2027. Please note that the application form will be saved automatically while in progress, but no edits or alterations will be allowed once you have submitted the application. Please direct questions regarding this application process to ethics_fellowships@fas.harvard.edu. |
| Contact Information | Claire Femano 124 Mount Auburn Street Suite 520N Cambridge, MA 02138 |
| Contact Email | ethics_fellowships@fas.harvard.edu |
| Salary Range | The stipend for post-doctoral fellows will be $7,000/month for the 2027-28 academic year, which runs from the start of September to the end of June. We also provide a research allowance of up to $3,000 per academic year for approved expenses directly related to your work, such as travel, books, and research assistance. |
| Minimum Number of References Required | 3 |
| Maximum Number of References Allowed | 3 |
| Keywords | ethics, civics, disagreement, civil discourse, fellowship, pedagogy, discourse |
EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement
Supplemental QuestionsHarvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.
Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- * When (month and year) was your doctoral degree granted or expected to be granted? Which University granted your PhD degree and in which academic field was your PhD granted?
(Open Ended Question)
- * Home institution
(Open Ended Question)
- * Do you have any previous affiliation with the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics (formerly the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics) at Harvard?
- Yes
- No
- If you answered "yes" to the previous question, please specify what type of affiliation you had with the Center.
- Fellow-in-Residence
- Faculty Fellow
- Lab Fellow
- Graduate Fellow
- Undergraduate Fellow
- Visiting Fellow
- Other
- * What is your area of research or expertise?
(Open Ended Question)
- * What is the title of your proposed fellowship research project?
(Open Ended Question)
- * Will you have an alternative source of funding during the 2026-27 academic year? If so, please explain.
(Open Ended Question)
- * How did you hear about this position?
- Academic Careers online
- Bay State Banner
- Chronicle of Higher Education
- Harvard Department Website
- Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC)
- HigherEdJobs
- Inside Higher Ed
- Nomination Letter
- Professional Conference
- Professional Organization or Listserv
- Referred by a colleague
Required Documents
- Curriculum Vitae
- Cover Letter
- Statement of Research
- Sample Syllabus
- Transcript
- Writing Sample 1
PI286915323
Job ID: 85859198