The Academy Scholars Program identifies and supports outstanding scholars at the start of their careers whose work combines disciplinary excellence in the social sciences (including history and law) with a command of the language, history, or culture of non-Western countries or regions. Their scholarship may elucidate domestic, comparative, or transnational issues, past or present. The Academy Scholars are a select community of individuals with resourcefulness, initiative, curiosity, and originality, whose work in non-Western cultures or regions shows promise as a foundation for exceptional careers in major universities or international institutions.

Awards and Benefits

Post-doctoral Scholars will receive an annual stipend of $48,000, and pre-doctoral Scholars will receive an annual stipend of $28,000. This stipend is supplemented by funding for conference and research travel, research assistants, and health insurance coverage. The Senior Scholars, a distinguished group of senior Harvard faculty members, act as mentors to the Academy Scholars to help them achieve their intellectual potential.

Who is Eligible?

The competition for these awards is open only to recent Ph.D. (or comparable professional school degree) recipients and doctoral candidates from Harvard and universities around the world. Those still pursuing a Ph.D. should have completed their routine training and be well along in the writing of their theses before becoming Scholars; those in possession of a Ph.D. longer than 3 years are ineligible. Applications are welcome from qualified persons without regard to nationality, gender, or race.

Terms

Each year four to five Academy Scholars are named for two-year appointments. Scholars are provided time, guidance, and access to Harvard facilities and are expected to reside in the Cambridge/Boston area for the duration of their appointments unless traveling for pre-approved research purposes. Some teaching is permitted but not required.

How to Apply

Applications for the next class of Academy Scholars are due October 1 each year. There is no application form. The following materials are required for a complete application:

• a current curriculum vitae, including a list of publications (include 3 copies)
• a statement of the applicant's proposed research, including intellectual objectives and planned methodological and disciplinary work—no more than 10 pages double-spaced (include 3 copies)
• an official copy of each graduate transcript
• three letters of recommendation
• a cover letter which succinctly states the applicant's academic field, country or region of specialization, and proposed or actual research topic (include 3 copies)

Please do not staple materials. Faxed or e-mailed applications will not be accepted.

Finalists will be invited to Cambridge for interviews with the Senior Scholars on Thursday, December 10, 2009. Announcement of the awards will be made in January.

Application materials should be mailed to:
The Academy Scholars Program
Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies
Weatherhead Center for International Affairs
1727 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, MA 02138

For additional information contact Larry Winnie, Executive Officer, Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies.

Deadline

October 1, 2009 (for academic year 2009–2010).