2025-26 REISCHAUER INSTITUTE POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS IN JAPANESE STUDIES
***Applicant Deadline: December 13, 2024 (Friday), 5:00pm EST***
***Recommender Deadline: January 3, 2025 (Friday), 5:00pm EST***
Please note: The applicant and recommender deadlines were separated due to the nature of the ARIeS online system. Only after the application is submitted will the recommender be notified of the recommendation letter request. Applicants, to ensure a smooth process, please communicate with your recommenders in advance of the first deadline on December 13.
The Edwin O. Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies (RIJS) at Harvard University will offer several Postdoctoral Fellowships in Japanese Studies to recent Ph.D. graduates of exceptional promise, to provide the opportunity for postdoctoral fellows to turn their dissertations into publishable manuscripts and to continue their research in Japanese studies.
APPOINTMENT TERM:
Year-long appointments, commencing August or September 2025.
FELLOWSHIP GRANT:
- Stipend of $70,000 and research funds up to $5,000. This appointment is eligible for subsidized medical, dental, vision, and other benefits through Harvard University.
- Postdoctoral fellows will be provided office space, as well as access to the libraries and resources of Harvard University.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Postdoctoral fellows are expected to reside in the general, greater Boston/Cambridge area in order to fully participate in RIJS activities and events during the appointment term. Postdoctoral fellows will also be expected to give a presentation at the RIJS Japan Forum lecture series.
ELIGIBILITY:
Applicants must have received their Ph.D. in 2020 or later, in Japanese studies, in any area of the humanities or social sciences. RIJS especially encourages applications from those who have not previously held postdoctoral appointments at Harvard. Those who are selected to receive fellowships must have a Registrar-certified Ph.D. degree by June 30, 2025. Please note that the fellowship is contingent upon degree documentation and is subject to rescission if the deadline is not met.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
The postdoctoral fellowship application is available on the Harvard University ARIeS (Academic Recruiting Information eSystem).
The application has three main components.
I. Personal Information
- Candidate Information
- Contact Information
- Sponsorship: Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship?
- Educational Background
II. Reference
Two reference letters are required. On your online application, two reference entries must be created. Once your application is submitted by the applicant deadline December 13, 2024 (Friday), ARIeS will automatically generate reference solicitation emails to your recommenders. Reference letters must be submitted by the recommender deadline January 3, 2025 (Friday). Your application will not be considered complete until all materials are received.
III. Supplemental Questions
- Please state your thesis title.
- Have you previously applied for any postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard? If yes, which and when?
- Have you previously received any postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard or elsewhere? If yes, which and when?
- Are you currently applying for other postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard or elsewhere? If yes, which?
- Please provide a short summary of your research plan at Harvard. (200 words)
- Please indicate your current employment status and institution. (e.g. graduate student/Ph.D. candidate; postdoctoral fellow; non-tenure track position; tenure-track position; currently job searching)
IV. University Voluntary Demographic Questions
- Self-Identification of Protected Veteran Status
- Self-Identification of Disability
- Other Demographic Questions
You may opt out of any or all of these questions on ARIeS.
V. Required Materials
Please upload each of the following required materials to your application.
- Statement of Research (2 pages): What research do you plan to pursue during the fellowship term? What do you plan to do at each stage, and what particular resources do you intend to use? What are the advantages of spending a postdoctoral fellowship year at Harvard; are there specific individuals or resources you hope to seek out while in residence?
- Curriculum Vitae: Please include your citizenship, current and permanent addresses, telephone number(s), email address; academic degrees with dates of conferral, discipline and institution; current employer; and a list of publications.
- Transcript: Please submit an official electronic transcript or OPEN your official paper transcript to scan as part of your complete application. **If your Ph.D. comes from a non-US university that does not issue an official transcript of grades, please submit alternative documentation of your enrollment and progress in the degree program, as well as a written statement that you are unable to provide an official transcript of grades.
- Dissertation Abstract (1 page)
- Dissertation Table of Contents
- Dissertation Chapter: We will also accept a published article submitted in lieu of the dissertation chapter as a writing sample.
- Self-Introduction Video: Please submit a 3-minute video using the following prompts as a guide. Please upload this video to YouTube (unlisted, NOT private) and provide the link in your online application.
- (1 min): Share your name, field of study, and your research project in 1-2 sentences.
- (2 min): How did you become interested in Japan, and how did this project come about? Where might your current research lead you next?
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***Applicant Deadline: December 13, 2024 (Friday), 5:00pm EST*** ***Recommender Deadline: January 3, 2025 (Friday), 5:00pm EST*** Award Announcement: March 2025 Please direct inquiries to: rijspostdoc@fas.harvard.edu |