Harvard Environmental Fellows Program 2026 | Fully Funded Postdoctoral Fellowship in USA

The Harvard Environmental Fellows Program is a two‑year postdoctoral fellowship run by the Harvard University Center for the Environment (HUCE).

It supports researchers who have recently earned a doctorate (or equivalent terminal degree) to launch independent research on environmental topics, in partnership with Harvard faculty from any department or discipline.

Fellows form a cohort, engage in cross‑disciplinary interaction via biweekly dinners and programming, and benefit from Harvard’s research environment.

Harvard Environmental Fellows Program Summary

Benefits of the Harvard Environmental Fellows Program

If selected, fellows receive:

• Salary of US $90,000/year
• Eligibility for employee health insurance
• Up to $2,500 in relocation reimbursement
• $2,500/year allowance for travel and professional expenses
• Office or lab space, mentoring, and access to Harvard’s academic resources via the host faculty member’s environment

Fellows are expected to reside in the Cambridge, MA area for the duration of the fellowship, with fieldwork scheduled appropriately.

Also Check: Asia Foundation Development Fellows Program 2026

Eligibility Criteria of the Harvard Environmental Fellows Program

• Degree requirement: Must hold (or be about to hold) a doctorate or equivalent terminal degree.
• Date of degree: For the 2026 cohort, the degree should have been awarded between May 2022 and August 2026.
• Dissertation completed: Even if you haven’t officially graduated, you must provide certification (e.g., from the department) that all PhD requirements are met.
• Field/discipline: Open to any discipline (science, humanities, policy, law, public health, design, etc.), provided the proposed work addresses environmental issues.
• Host faculty commitment: Must identify a Harvard faculty member who agrees to be your host/mentor and provide space. The application is not reviewed without that.
• Harvard candidates rule: If you already have a Harvard PhD or are a Harvard postdoc, you may apply, but your proposed research must be significantly different from past work, and you should have a different host (not your PhD advisor).
• Residency/full commitment: Fellows must commit to working full-time at Harvard for two years, residing in the Cambridge area.
• Citizenship/nationality: Open to non-U.S. citizens. The program supports visa processing.

Also Check: MOPGA Fellowship Program 2026 in Paris, France

Required Documents for the Harvard Environmental Fellows Program

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV) including publications
2. Research proposal (up to 5 pages) describing the project, why it should be done at Harvard, and how it extends beyond PhD work
3. Up to three writing samples or publications
4. Three letters of recommendation (usually including PhD advisor)
5. Letter of support from the Harvard faculty host
6. Proof of degree or departmental certification if graduation is pending
7. Any additional materials requested by the application portal

Also Check: Global China Fellows Program 2026 in USA

How to Apply for the Harvard Environmental Fellows Program

1. Find a Harvard faculty host

• Early in your preparation, you must identify a Harvard professor willing to host and mentor your research and provide workspace. Applications without a host letter will not be reviewed. 

2. Prepare materials

• Draft your proposal, update Cyour V, gather writing samples, and line up referees. Make sure the project is distinct from your PhD work and fits environmental themes. 

3. Submit online application by deadline

• For the 2026 cohort, the application deadline is December 1, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. 
• Submit the required documents (CV, proposal, writing samples, etc.) via Harvard’s ARIeS system or the designated application portal.

4. Letters & host support submission

• After you submit your application, the system will send requests to referees and to your host to upload letters. Usually, they have until December 10, 202,5, to submit letters of reference and host support. 

5. Review & decision

• The selection committee reviews proposals. Some candidates may be asked for interviews (via video) to further discuss their work. 

Notification is expected by late January. 

6. Start the fellowship

• Fellows usually begin in September; in some cases, as early as July. There is some flexibility, in rare cases, to postpone by a month or two.

Also Check: Arctic Initiative Fellowship 2026 at Harvard University