The Graduate Student Associates (GSA) program is one of the Center’s oldest and most exciting programs. The program currently supports 26 doctoral candidates who are enrolled in Harvard’s advanced degree programs, including anthropology, government, history, and sociology. The program welcomes applications from advanced degree candidates in any of Harvard’s graduate and professional schools. The director of the Graduate Student Associates program is Erez Manela, professor of history and Weatherhead Center Faculty Associate.

The goal of the GSA program is to provide a supportive and stimulating environment in which promising graduate students can interact with one another, as well as with faculty and Fellows of the Center, as they complete their dissertations and begin their transition to a professional career.

Grants and Benefits

Graduate Student Associates are appointed as members of the Center. Involvement with the program offers students opportunities to present and receive feedback on their work in weekly seminars on Fridays organized by the GSA program. Because the program’s members come from many departments, they have an opportunity to learn about research methodologies used in different disciplines. GSAs are provided with shared office space equipped with computers and printers, and they receive research grants of up to $3,000 for conference and short-term research travel, or for other expenses related to dissertation research and professional development.

Who is Eligible?

Students in a doctoral program or similarly advanced degree program at any of Harvard’s academic departments or professional schools may apply. Students who are accepted will have finished their course work, completed general exams, and have a focus relating to the core interests of the Weatherhead Center. These interests are broadly defined to encompass research on international, transnational, and comparative topics (both contemporary and historical), including rigorous policy analysis as well as the study of countries and regions other than the United States. Preference is given to those applicants whose work is related to current research projects at the Weatherhead Center. Most Graduate Student Associates are G-4 and above, though some G-3s are accepted if they have a fairly well-defined dissertation topic.

Terms

GSAs must be in residence at Harvard (except for short-term travel) and are expected to participate regularly in the program’s Friday seminars and other activities, including support of the Undergraduate Associates of the Center. GSAs may apply to renew their affiliation for up to three years

How to Apply

Applicants should submit 4 COPIES of the following materials by the application deadline, to Clare Putnam, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, 1737 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02138:

• Application Cover Sheet; (PDF forthcoming)
• Current curriculum vitae;
• Brief (maximum 4 pages double-spaced) description of the thesis or research project;
• Current transcript of grades (one original and three copies);
• Two letters of recommendation from faculty members familiar with the student’s work. (Just one original copy of each letter is required.)

Contact Clare Putnam or fellowships@wcfia.harvard.edu for more information.

Deadline

February 19, 2010.