Weatherhead Research Clusters

Please note: The Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University is not accepting applications for new research clusters in Academic Year 2025–2026. Research clusters support international, transnational, global, and comparative social science research on contemporary or historical topics. New perspectives are especially welcome.

Our goal is to fund interdisciplinary clusters that take on big and original questions over a three-year period. We expect clusters to:

1. Bring energy to the Center by actively conducting research on questions of broad global significance.
2. Cultivate intellectual risk-taking, preferably through multidisciplinary research involving faculty from multiple schools at Harvard; international collaborators at other institutions are also encouraged.
3. Foster interaction and intellectual community among the members of the cluster and other Weatherhead programs and affiliates, including across cohorts, by connecting faculty with graduate students, undergraduates, postdocs, and visitors associated with the Weatherhead Scholars Program.

We encourage new clusters to focus on the development of innovative analytic perspectives, including (but not limited to) important and pressing transnational issues, such as:

• public health
• climate and environment
• migration
• artificial intelligence
• populism and democracy

Who Is Eligible

Weatherhead Center Faculty Associates who have been actively involved in the Center’s activities. Existing clusters may reapply for new funding.

Program Activities and Benefits

Clusters may be funded up to $200,000 for three years to address questions of major social or scholarly significance. Funds may be used to support a postdoctoral fellow or research assistant connected to the research cluster. Funds may also be used for other customary research expenses, including data collection, workshop and conference support, student grants, and other activities that advance the work of the research cluster. Salary support is not permitted.

Clusters may request an office in the CGIS complex that will host together visitors and students. Clusters will also have some staff support and will work closely with our communications staff to publicize their activities.

Research funds are intended to support activities at Harvard, although Harvard-based activities that help build research networks across universities are encouraged.

How to Apply

We are not accepting new applications in Academic Year 2025–2026.

Typically, applications are reviewed by an external committee of scholars, and the final award decisions are made by the Weatherhead Executive Committee. Applicants are usually notified of the selection committee’s decision in early April.

For more information on the program, please contact Erin Goodman, Executive Director, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138. Email: egoodman@wcfia.harvard.edu. Phone: 617-495-2125.