Harvard Environmental Fellows Program 2027 supports researchers from any discipline for a two-year fellowship at Harvard, with applications due December 1, 2026.
Applications are open for the Harvard Environmental Fellows Program 2027, a research fellowship hosted by Harvard University Center for the Environment.
The programme supports researchers from a wide range of academic backgrounds and allows fellows to propose research projects in any discipline, provided they have demonstrated scholarly research experience.
The 2027 application deadline is December 1, 2026 at 5:00pm EST.
Harvard Environmental Fellows Program Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Harvard University |
| Programme | Environmental Fellows Program |
| Cohort | 2027 |
| Fellowship duration | Two years |
| Start | September 2027 |
| Research fields | Any discipline |
| Degree requirement | Doctorate/equivalent, with an exception for fields where a PhD is not the typical terminal degree |
| Location | Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA |
| Residency | Cambridge area required |
| Application deadline | December 1, 2026, 5:00pm EST |
| Host/recommendation deadline | December 11, 2026, 5:00pm EST |
What Is the Environmental Fellows Program?
The Harvard Environmental Fellows Program provides a two-year opportunity for researchers to work at Harvard and develop research projects connected to environmental scholarship.
Candidates may propose projects in any discipline.
The programme requires fellows to work at Harvard for the full two-year fellowship and maintain residency in the Cambridge area.
Any fieldwork trips must be scheduled during the summer or January recess.
Who Can Apply?
Candidates for the 2027 cohort should have received their terminal degree between May 2023 and August 2027.
Fellows who have not yet completed their doctorate must have filed their dissertation before beginning the fellowship in September 2027.
Doctoral Degree Requirement
Candidates with a doctorate or equivalent in any field are eligible.
Applicants without a PhD may also apply if they studied in a field where the PhD is not the typical terminal degree.
All successful candidates must be able to demonstrate experience conducting scholarly research.
Harvard and Current Postdoctoral Candidates
Candidates who received their terminal degrees from Harvard can apply.
Postdoctoral researchers currently working at Harvard may also be eligible, provided their proposed research and host arrangements:
- Take them in significantly new directions
- Are substantially distinct from their PhD research
- Establish new connections within Harvard
Harvard candidates should not propose continuing to work with the same professors or laboratory groups with which they are currently associated.
Candidates should also not propose to work extensively with their thesis advisor.
Faculty Host Requirement
Every applicant must secure a commitment from one or more Harvard faculty members who will:
- Serve as a mentor
- Provide office or laboratory space for the two-year fellowship
Faculty members can host only one Environmental Fellow at a time.
The supplied source identifies several faculty members who are not eligible to host fellows for the 2027 programme:
- Charles Davis
- Charles Taylor
- Scott Edwards
- Le Xie
- Robin Kelsey
- Phillip Deloria
It also states that Richard Lazarus (HLS) and Joyce Chaplin (History) have indicated that they cannot serve as faculty hosts for this programme.
Applicants should therefore carefully consider faculty-host availability when preparing their applications.
International Applicants
Candidates may have received their terminal degrees from any university in the world.
Foreign nationals are eligible for the fellowship.
The source notes that study at Harvard generally requires proficiency in English.
Fellowship Commitment and Residency
Successful candidates should be prepared to commit to the programme for the complete two-year fellowship.
The fellowship requires residency in the Cambridge area.
Fieldwork travel must be scheduled during the summer or January recess.
Application Deadlines
There are two important deadlines for the 2027 cohort:
Application deadline:
December 1, 2026 at 5:00pm EST
Host and recommendation letters:
December 11, 2026 at 5:00pm EST
Host and recommendation letters are due 10 days after the main application deadline.
How to Apply
Applicants should review the programme’s official application information and identify an eligible Harvard faculty member willing to serve as a mentor and provide office or laboratory space.
Harvard Environmental Fellows Program
Important Application Considerations
Applicants should ensure that:
- Their terminal degree falls within the specified eligibility period.
- Their research experience can be demonstrated.
- Their proposed research is appropriate for the programme.
- A Harvard faculty member has agreed to serve as a host and mentor.
- Their host and recommendation letters are submitted by December 11, 2026.
- They can commit to two years at Harvard.
- They are prepared to maintain residency in the Cambridge area.
Opportunities Feed Assessment
The Harvard Environmental Fellows Program provides a two-year research opportunity for eligible early-career researchers across disciplines.
A notable feature of the programme is its broad disciplinary scope: candidates with a doctorate or equivalent in any field can propose research projects in any discipline, while applicants from fields where a PhD is not the typical terminal qualification may also apply.
Applicants should pay particular attention to the faculty host requirement, as securing a Harvard faculty mentor and appropriate office or laboratory space is an essential part of eligibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Harvard Environmental Fellows Program?
It is a two-year fellowship at Harvard University Center for the Environment supporting researchers proposing scholarly projects in any discipline.
When is the application deadline?
Applications for the 2027 cohort are due December 1, 2026 at 5:00pm EST.
When are host and recommendation letters due?
Host and recommendation letters are due December 11, 2026 at 5:00pm EST.
What is the fellowship duration?
The fellowship lasts two years, beginning in September 2027.
What degree do applicants need?
Candidates with a doctorate or equivalent in any field can apply. Applicants without a PhD may apply when their field does not normally use the PhD as its terminal degree.
Can international applicants apply?
Yes. Candidates may have received their degrees from universities anywhere in the world, and foreign nationals are eligible.
Do applicants need a Harvard faculty host?
Yes. Each candidate must secure a commitment from one or more Harvard faculty members to serve as a mentor and provide office or laboratory space.
Can current Harvard postdoctoral researchers apply?
Yes, provided their proposed research and host arrangements take them in significantly different directions from their existing PhD research and establish new connections within Harvard.
Is there a residency requirement?
Yes. Fellows are required to reside in the Cambridge area during the fellowship.
Does the source specify the fellowship stipend?
The supplied programme requirements page does not specify the fellowship stipend or financial package, so applicants should consult the official fellowship information for current funding details.
Disclaimer
Opportunities Feed is sharing this fellowship for informational and educational purposes. We are not affiliated with Harvard University or the Harvard University Center for the Environment, and we do not recruit applicants on their behalf.
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