The Postdoctoral Fellowship program invests in future leaders in academia—political scientists, anthropologists, historians, and humanists, among others—who generate big ideas that spark new conversations and deep insights about the region.
Postdoctoral fellows are selected on a highly competitive basis and serve a full-time, nine-month term in residence. During that period, we aim to give fellows an intellectual home where they have the time, space, and resources to pursue their research; a community where they can learn from one another; opportunities to engage with others at Harvard; and chances to contribute to the longer-term programmatic interests of the Davis Center.
During the fellowship, many postdoctoral fellows turn their manuscript into a book, present their research to the Davis Center community, and interact with colleagues at the Davis Center and academic departments at Harvard. As a fellow, you will encounter rich experiences and meaningful connections that will endure well beyond the fellowship year. Past postdoctoral fellows report that full access to Harvard Library and the Davis Center Collection at Fung Library is invaluable to their research.
Benefits
- 9-month, full time, in-residence fellowships (September 1, 2025 - May 31, 2026);
- At least $50,700 stipend with an additional $2,500 in research funding;
- Eligible for employee benefits (including subsidized health insurance);
- Shared office space at the Davis Center;
- Full access and borrowing privileges to Harvard's library facilities, including electronic resources;
- Opportunity to sign up for Harvard courses
Eligibility
Two fellowships are awarded annually: the Postdoctoral Fellowship in History and the Postdoctoral Fellowship in Literature and Culture.
- Research proposals must relate to either the history or the literature & culture of Russia and/or Eurasia;
- Eurasia includes the following regions: the Baltics, Eastern Europe, Southeastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia
- Eligible applicants will have completed their Ph.D. (or equivalent) between September 2020 and September 2025;
- Citizens of all countries may apply
If you do not currently meet the eligibility requirements, consider applying for affiliation via the Visiting Scholars program.
How to Apply
The call for applications for AY 2025-2026 is now open. Click here to apply.
Current Postdoctoral Fellows
Learn more about the current academic year's postdoctoral fellows and their research.
Testimonials
The Davis Center community was fantastic. I am especially grateful to the graduate students and junior researchers who were there at the same time as me. It felt like a real community where we supported each other and helped each other with research questions, professional tips, etc. The Center's fellows gave incredibly helpful feedback when I gave my first mock job talks in the seminar. I co-organized a conference during my postdoc and the Davis Center staff went above and beyond in advising and offering administrative support. Also the Davis Center offices are beautiful and very conducive to working!
Ania Aizman
Postdoctoral Fellow in Literature and Culture, 2017–2018
