It isn't easy to innovate in isolation.
Whether you are an incoming student or a seasoned expert, chances are that your best work will emerge through a combination of learning and practice.
That is why we created the Innovation Fellows Program. The program aims to prepare emerging leaders for success in careers related to Russia, Central Asia, and Eurasia more broadly, while injecting young talent and perspective into the programs with which they work.
The approach is simple. We pair highly motivated graduate student fellows with directors of three Davis Center research programs: the Georgian Studies Program, the Imperiia Project, and the Program on Central Asia. We give the fellows ownership over their work, pay them monthly stipends, and support them with training opportunities and mentorship. Innovation fellows gain hands-on experience and work in partnership with scholars who understand the critical role of area studies in today’s world. The skills they gain inform careers that advance international security and cooperation in any number of ways.
Application Details
We are looking for strong team players who thrive in a fast-paced environment, who are able to work under minimal supervision, and who are both reliable and entrepreneurial in accomplishing their goals. Successful applicants will have some combination of regional expertise (including language skills), professional experience, and an appetite for thinking outside the box.
Terms:
Appointment dates: September 1 - May 31 (full academic year)
Workload: 270 hours over 9 months (there is flexibility built into the schedule to account for the academic calendar)
Customized training: This will vary according to each fellow/research program pairing. Costs will be covered by the Davis Center.
Stipend amount: $8,000, disbursed in 9 monthly installments
Applications for the 2025-2026 Innovation Fellowship program will be due in summer 2025.
Need More Information?
If you have questions about the Innovation Fellowship, please contact Cris Martin, Interim Executive Director, clmartin@fas.harvard.edu.
Questions about the individual programs? Please contact:
Natia Chankvetadze, Director, Program on Georgian Studies: natiachankvetadze@fas.harvard.edu
Nargis Kassenova, Senior Fellow, Program on Central Asia: nkassenova@fas.harvard.edu
Kelly O’Neill, Director, Imperiia Project: koneill@fas.harvard.edu