Harvard Bell Fellowship 2027-2029: two-year postdoc in population sciences at Harvard, USD 75,000 a year, apply by 8 December

The Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies (HCPDS) has opened the call for applications for the 2027-2029 cohort of the Harvard Bell Fellowship. This initiative provides a two-year postdoctoral fellowship dedicated to interdisciplinary research in population sciences and development.

Selected fellows receive an annual salary of USD 75,000 with benefits, alongside a dedicated research fund of USD 11,000 for research, travel, and computing expenses. Additionally, the fellowship provides up to USD 4,000 to cover relocation costs to Harvard.

The application window closes on Tuesday, 8 December 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time (Noon ET). Both domestic and international researchers who satisfy the doctoral graduation criteria are eligible to apply.

What is funded

The fellowship supports a two-year residential postdoctoral appointment focused on population and development studies at Harvard University. Recipients are integrated into the HCPDS research community to pursue interdisciplinary scientific inquiries.

Financial support includes an annual stipend of USD 75,000 with applicable benefits. Furthermore, fellows receive USD 11,000 in research support to fund travel, computing resources, and related project activities, as well as up to USD 4,000 for relocation.

Who can apply

The programme welcomes applications from both U.S. and international scholars. Because the fellowship is supported by non-federal sources, international researchers are eligible to participate, though they must review relevant visa regulations.

Eligible applicants are scholars who have completed their doctoral degree within three years of applying. All doctoral degree requirements must be completed, with formal proof submitted to HCPDS, by 13 August 2027 in the form of a diploma copy or a registrar letter.

Conditions and requirements

Candidates must propose an interdisciplinary project that advances their existing research agenda and alters their career trajectory. The proposal must outline current analytical capabilities, identify gaps in knowledge, and define the training goals sought at Harvard.

Applicants are required to name potential faculty mentors within HCPDS or other full-time Harvard faculty members with whom they wish to collaborate. Pre-application contact with potential mentors is not required, as matching is facilitated through the fellowship review process.

How to apply

The application process is completed online through two portals: one for the applicant dossier and one for recommendation letters. The applicant package requires an eligibility questionnaire, contact details for three references, a curriculum vitae, a research proposal of up to 2,000 words, and a writing sample not exceeding 20 pages.

Three letters of recommendation must be submitted directly by references before the deadline of 8 December 2026 at 12:00 PM ET. Letters carry significant weight and should assess the candidate’s writing, analytical capacity, original thinking, and interdisciplinary competence, ideally on official letterhead.

Practical tip. Contact your three recommenders early with the precise name spelling used in your portal submission, as letters can be uploaded before you complete your form and are matched solely by applicant name.

Applications are submitted on the donor’s page: popcenter.harvard.edu.