This academic year, the Davis Center’s Visiting Scholars and Postdoctoral Fellowship programs are undergoing some exciting changes.
Postdoctoral Fellowships
After a seven-year hiatus, the Postdoctoral Fellowship in Political Science has been reinstated, joining our two established fellowships in history and in literature and culture. Like the other fellowships, the political science postdoc invites proposals focused on the Baltics, Eastern Europe, Southeastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and/or Russia.
Fellows are appointed for a full-time, nine-month residency (Sept. 1, 2026–May 31, 2027), during which they receive a minimum stipend of $50,700 (based on an annual salary of $67,600), plus $2,500 in research funding, employee benefits, and full access to Harvard’s world-class libraries and academic resources. Each fellow becomes part of a vibrant scholarly community, engaging in seminars, workshops, and collaborative projects that foster intellectual exchange. Many fellows use their residency to transform dissertations into books, expand their research, and establish lasting professional networks.
The Davis Center provides shared office space, visa support for international scholars, and opportunities to present work in the New Research Workshop, a freshly launched initiative in the center’s academic life. Fellows are expected to actively participate in center programming and remain in residence throughout the fellowship.
Applications are due Jan. 15, 2026, with reference letters due no later than Jan. 21, 2026. Eligible applicants will have earned their Ph.D. between September 2021 and September 2026.
Visiting Scholars Program
The Visiting Scholars Program, which offers several postgraduate opportunities for academics and practitioners interested in conducting research related to Russia and/or other parts of Eurasia, will also undergo important changes. Instead of a rolling deadline, the program will now have a fixed annual deadline in January, with decisions announced by mid- to late March.
The program’s available positions and associated requirements have changed somewhat as well, as described below. All applicants are required to have funding secured by the time of their application. Only scholars who have confirmed funding will be considered.
- Visiting Scholars: Applicants are required to be tenured or tenure-track faculty with a current appointment at a university or research institution. This position requires a Ph.D. at the time of application.
- Fellows: Applicants must be practitioners with specialized and extensive knowledge of the region. Those pursuing a Ph.D. may be considered, but this position is not appropriate for academics or those who have completed their Ph.D.
- External Postdoctoral Fellows: Scholars must use external funds to support their post-doctoral opportunity at the Davis Center. Outside funding must meet criteria set by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and based on National Institutes of Health practices, including a minimum base salary requirement for postdocs with no prior experience or the appropriate step on the NIH scale for stipends. Personal funds must not be used, in full or in part, to meet this requirement. This position is not the same as the Davis Center Postdoctoral Fellowships, which are directly funded by the Davis Center.
The Visiting Scholars Program allows scholars to spend up to a year at Harvard, working on research projects related to Russia and Eurasia, while benefiting from full access to Harvard’s library resources, the opportunity to audit courses, and invitations to exclusive academic events. Scholars will also be required to engage in the above-mentioned New Research Workshop, where they present their work and receive feedback. Along with their own funding, applicants must also secure their own health insurance, as all positions are unpaid. Opportunities are available for both short- and long-term stays.
The new application deadline for the Visiting Scholars Program is Jan. 15, 2026, with reference letters due no later than Jan. 21, 2026.
For scholars seeking the time, community, and resources to advance transformative research, the Davis Center Visiting Scholars Program and Postdoctoral Fellowships offer unparalleled opportunities.
To learn more about either opportunity, please head to the Visiting Scholars Program webpage or the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program webpage. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact Kate Flaherty, research programs coordinator, at kflaherty@fas.harvard.edu.
