2027-28 POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS IN JAPANESE STUDIES AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Harvard University will offer two types of postdoctoral fellowships in Japanese Studies:
- Reischauer Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship
The Edwin O. Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies (RIJS) at Harvard University will offer Postdoctoral Fellowships in Japanese Studies to recent Ph.D. graduates of exceptional promise, in any area of the humanities or social sciences, to provide the opportunity for postdoctoral fellows to turn their dissertations into publishable manuscripts and to continue their research in Japanese Studies. - U.S. -Japan Program Postdoctoral Fellowship
The Program on U.S. -Japan Relations (USJP) at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs will offer Postdoctoral Fellowships to recent Ph.D. graduates in anthropology, business, economics, history, international relations, law, political science, psychology, public health, public policy, and sociology, among other fields. Scholars may examine domestic issues that bear on Japan’s external relations or problems that it shares with other countries, and the Program encourages projects that compare Japan’s experience cross-nationally.
Please submit only ONE application.
Applications for the RIJS and USJP Postdoctoral Fellowships will be submitted through a single platform (ARIeS). Applicants will be asked to indicate whether they wish to be considered for the RIJS Fellowship, the USJP Fellowship, or both.
ONLINE APPLICATION: https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/16762
Applicant Deadline: December 18, 2026 (Friday), 5:00pm EST
Recommender Deadline: January 8, 2027 (Friday), 5:00pm EST
Please note: The applicant and recommender deadlines are separated due to the nature of Harvard’s online application 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 well in advance of the first deadline on December 18.
APPOINTMENT TERM:
Year-long appointments, commencing August or September 2027.
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 activities and events during the appointment term. Postdoctoral Fellows will also be expected to give a presentation on their research. Postdoctoral Fellows may be invited in teach a Harvard class during the course of their appointment.
ELIGIBILITY:
Applicants must have received their Ph.D. in 2022 or later. Applicants who have not previously held postdoctoral appointments at Harvard are especially encouraged. Those who are selected to receive fellowships must have a Registrar-certified Ph.D. degree by June 30, 2027. 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 online: https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/16762
The application contains the following:
I. Personal Information (Required)
- Candidate Information
- Contact Information
- Sponsorship: Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship?
- Educational Background
II. Reference Letters (Required)
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 18, 2026 (Friday), ARIeS will automatically generate reference solicitation emails to your recommenders. Reference letters must be submitted by the recommender deadline January 8, 2027 (Friday). Your application will not be considered complete until all materials are received.
III. Supplemental Questions (Required)
- Please specify which fellowship(s) you wish to be considered for. You may select one or both options.
- 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/PhD candidate; postdoctoral fellow; non-tenure track position; tenure-track position; currently job searching)
IV. Supplemental Materials (Required)
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 PhD 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.
V. University Voluntary Demographic Questions (Optional)
- 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.
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[ONLINE APPLICATION HERE] ***Applicant Deadline: December 18, 2026 (Friday), 5:00pm EST*** ***Recommender Deadline: January 8, 2027 (Friday), 5:00pm EST*** Award Announcement: after March 15, 2027 Please direct inquiries to: rijspostdoc@fas.harvard.edu |