Harvard University Environmental Fellows Program 2026 – $90,000 Salary & Research Support

Applications are now open for the Harvard University Environmental Fellows Program 2026, hosted by the Harvard University Center for the Environment (HUCE). This prestigious two-year fellowship provides early-career scholars with the resources, mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities they need to address the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

The Environmental Fellows Program was created to help recent doctorate recipients build on their academic research while tapping into Harvard’s vast intellectual community. Fellows work closely with Harvard faculty members across different schools and departments, creating a vibrant network of researchers who share a passion for tackling complex environmental issues through science, policy, law, design, and the humanities.

Throughout the fellowship, scholars participate in biweekly dinners and discussions with faculty and guest speakers. These sessions encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration and expose fellows to new perspectives, strengthening both their research and leadership capacity. Approximately five fellows will be selected for the 2026 cohort, joining a diverse group of scholars committed to advancing global environmental solutions.

Fellowship Benefits

The program offers one of the most generous postdoctoral packages in the field of environmental research:

• Annual salary: $90,000 per year for two years
• Health insurance: Full employee health insurance eligibility
• Relocation support: Up to $2,500 reimbursement for moving expenses
• Research and travel allowance: $2,500 annually for professional development, conference participation, and fieldwork

This combination of funding, mentorship, and academic resources makes the Harvard Environmental Fellows Program one of the most competitive and impactful opportunities worldwide.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the 2026 cohort, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Hold a terminal degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) awarded between May 2022 and August 2026
• Dissertation must be filed before the fellowship start date in September 2026
• Applicants without a Ph.D. may apply if their discipline does not traditionally require one as a terminal degree
• Candidates from any university worldwide are eligible; foreign nationals may apply
• Strong research background and ability to demonstrate scholarly achievement
• Proficiency in English is required for non-native speakers

Note: Harvard Ph.D. graduates and postdoctoral scholars are eligible if their proposed fellowship project takes them in a new research direction with different mentors and collaborators.

Selection Criteria

Applications are assessed by a committee of HUCE faculty members who evaluate candidates based on:

• Academic excellence: Track record of strong research and publications
• Proposed project: Independent line of inquiry that expands beyond the applicant’s Ph.D. work and contributes meaningfully to environmental scholarship
• Relevance: Project must address critical environmental challenges from a disciplinary or interdisciplinary perspective
• Host faculty support: Commitment of the Harvard faculty mentor to provide office/lab space, guidance, and a productive research environment
• Intellectual diversity: Selection committee seeks to build a cohort representing diverse fields, from natural sciences and economics to law, policy, medicine, public health, and the humanities

Interdisciplinary approaches are encouraged, though applicants pursuing work within a single discipline are also considered. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a virtual interview with the committee.

Application Process

The application deadline is December 1, 2025, at 5:00 PM (ET). Applicants must submit the following materials online as PDF files:

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV) including a full list of publications
2. Research Proposal (maximum of five pages, references not included) outlining the project, relevance, and reasons for pursuing the fellowship at Harvard
3. Up to three publications or writing samples showcasing research excellence
4. Three letters of recommendation, including one from the dissertation adviser (requests sent via ARIeS after submission)
5. Host faculty support letter confirming mentorship, research guidance, and office/lab space availability

Recommenders and host faculty members will have additional time (until December 10, 2025) to submit their letters.

Timeline

• Application Deadline: December 1, 2025
• Recommendation & Host Letter Deadline: December 10, 2025
• Fellowship Start Date: September 2026

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted online through Harvard’s official portal: Apply Here.