The Center for African Studies Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program is aimed at providing opportunities for postdoctoral candidates to conduct independent research, publish, and increase knowledge in their fields of study that will be beneficial to the African continent and to prepare them to be successful in their chosen career paths. An applicant should have received their PhD (preference will be given to those who completed PhD in past five years) and hold an academic appointment at a university or research institution in Africa. This includes those with a commitment of appointment at the time of application. The fellowship will support the development of a research project at selected Harvard University schools, departments, or laboratories in the field of their choice.
About Harvard University Center for African Studies
The Harvard University Center for African Studies (CAS) serves as an intellectual hub, connecting students, faculty, and members of the wider Africanist community. Since its inception in 1969, the Center for African Studies has evolved from a small faculty group known as the Committee on African Studies into a robust, interdisciplinary body that has earned Harvard recognition as a National Resource Center from the U.S. Department of Education. Along with this national distinction, the most notable milestone on Harvard’s path to African Studies leadership was the generous and anonymous do... continue reading
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Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program
Aim and Benefits of Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program
ellows will be provided with a budget of up to $10,000 for research during the 18-month fellowship. Stipend during residency and travel to and from Cambridge for the residency portion will be covered separately. A budget stipulating detailed expenses during the fellowship period should accompany your application.
Responsibilities
Under the terms of appointment, fellows will be required to assume the following responsibilities:
- Assume primary responsibility for the development of their research and career, in consult with their faculty mentors and other collaborators.
- Play an active role in seeking career and research advice, both from the faculty mentors and from other faculty members as appropriate.
- Submit a report describing all work carried out at Harvard University and home institution during the research period. The report must be submitted two weeks prior to the end of their fellowship.
- Make mention in any publication, presentation, or interview of their status as a CAS fellow as well as those published or carried out as a result of their fellowship.
- Notify CAS of any grant, scholarship, or funding obtained from any public or private organization for the same or a different research project.
- Fellows should ensure funds are utilized for purposes as defined in the fellowship. Any expenditure outside of the stipulated use will not be accepted.
- Fellows should notify CAS of any periods of travel or absence during their fellowship.
- Presentation of research at CAS fellow’s colloquium at the end of fellowship.
Requirements for Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program Qualification
The Harvard University Center for African Studies Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program is established for African based researchers who intend to continue/return to work in African academia. Fellows will be selected based on academic talent in their fields and will have an opportunity to work on their pedagogical and research skills to further their professional development. Fellows will have completed their respective doctoral programs at institutions from anywhere around the world (preference will be given to those who completed PhD in past five years). PhD holders who currently hold a paid academic appointment, which will be active through the duration of the fellowship period, with any of the following institutions are eligible to apply.
- Applicants must have received a PhD or equivalent doctoral-level research degree (preference will be given to those who completed PhD in past five years) in any discipline with strategic interest to the African continent and must hold a paid academic appointment at one of the eligible institutions.
- Applicants who have not yet formally received their degree must present evidence of having completed the academic requirements before commencing the Fellowship.
- Applicants must identify a Harvard faculty mentor to support research and scholarly work; additionally, they should identify a second mentor at their home institution.
- Both mentors are required to submit letters of recommendation during the application process.
- Applicants should have English language proficiency.
- Applicants must have support from their home institutions to pursue an 18-month fellowship appointment, six months of which will be spent in a stipend-supported residency in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Throughout the fellowship period, fellows will have access to their mentor at both institutions as well as Harvard’s library resources and seminar/conference opportunities.
- Applicants should have an academic appointment at one of the listed eligible universities or include a letter from the institution that such an appointment is forthcoming during the fellowship period.
Interview date, Process and Venue for Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program
A Center for African Studies Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program faculty review committee under direction of the CAS Oppenheimer Faculty Director will use the following criteria to identify final award recipients:
- Fellows with strong PhD achievement and actively conducting research and teaching in one of the listed institutions.
- Strength and quality of research proposal, project uniqueness, clear purpose, and detailed plan for execution of proposal.
- Applicants ability to succeed in a research-based academic track.
- Demonstration of initiative, social consciousness, leadership, and a sense of responsibility as well as personal motivations and experiences.
- Contribute to and advance new knowledge to the field of study.
- Mentors’ recommendation and commitment to fellows’ advancement in the area of research.
Application Deadline
April 30, 2022
How to Apply
Complete the application on Qualtrics and upload required documents as prompted. Applicants must register to access the application: Access the Registration here (or paste this link into your browser: https://harvard.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_08U8MhIzbdLIt6e)
For more details, visit Harvard University Center for African Studies website.
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