Fully Funded Harvard Environmental Fellows Program 2027

Application Deadline: December 1, 2026

Applications are now open for the Harvard Environmental Fellows Program 2027, a two-year fellowship designed for recent doctorate recipients who want to pursue innovative research addressing environmental challenges.

The programme, hosted by the Harvard University Center for the Environment (HUCE), provides researchers with the opportunity to work alongside Harvard faculty while developing an independent research project.

With environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, food security and environmental health affecting communities worldwide, research-driven solutions are increasingly important. This fellowship offers researchers an opportunity to contribute to that work while gaining valuable international academic experience.

Approximately five fellowships are expected to be awarded for the 2027 cohort, making this a highly competitive opportunity for eligible researchers.

About the Harvard Environmental Fellows Program

The Harvard Environmental Fellows Program supports promising researchers who want to explore important environmental questions through independent scholarship and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Fellows work with Harvard faculty members in any school or department. This broad structure means applicants do not necessarily need to come from a traditional environmental science background.

Eligible research areas may include environmental and earth sciences, economics, law, government, public policy, public health, medicine, design, humanities and other relevant disciplines.

The programme encourages researchers to build connections across academic fields and develop new approaches to complex environmental problems.

During the two-year fellowship, participants become part of a community of environmental researchers and have opportunities to interact with Harvard faculty and other scholars.

Harvard Environmental Fellows Program Benefits

Selected fellows will receive a comprehensive financial and professional support package, including:

• $92,000 annual salary
• Eligibility for employee health insurance
• Up to $2,500 in relocation reimbursement
• $2,500 annual allowance for travel and professional expenses
• Two years of research and collaboration with Harvard faculty
• Access to Harvard’s academic and research resources
• Faculty mentorship
• Opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration
• Participation in HUCE’s co-curricular activities
• Exposure to an international academic and research network

The fellowship provides more than financial support. It gives researchers dedicated time and an academic environment in which they can develop their research careers.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

The Harvard Environmental Fellows Program is open to applicants who meet the programme’s academic requirements.

Applicants should:

• Hold a doctorate or comparable terminal degree.
• Have received, or expect to receive, their degree between May 2023 and August 2027.
• Propose an independent research project addressing an important environmental issue.
• Identify an eligible Harvard faculty member who can serve as their research host and mentor.
• Be prepared to undertake the fellowship at Harvard.

Applicants may come from different academic and professional disciplines. Interdisciplinary research is encouraged, although applicants proposing research within a single discipline can also apply.

Research Proposal Requirements

The research proposal is one of the most important components of the application.

Your proposed project should demonstrate originality, independence and intellectual ambition. It should also address a significant environmental challenge and have the potential to make a meaningful contribution to knowledge or practice.

Importantly, the proposed research should go beyond your doctoral research rather than simply extending your PhD work.

It should also represent a direction that is distinct from the ongoing research of your proposed Harvard host.

Finding a Harvard Faculty Host

Applicants are expected to identify a Harvard faculty member who will serve as their research host and mentor.

The faculty host is expected to provide mentorship, office space, basic administrative support and a productive research environment.

The host must also submit a letter supporting the applicant and proposed project.

This makes identifying a suitable host an important part of the application process. Applicants should not wait until the final weeks before the deadline to begin contacting faculty members.

When searching for a host, look beyond academic reputation. Consider whether the professor’s research interests, expertise and networks genuinely complement your proposed research.

Application Process and Key Dates

Interested applicants should begin preparing well ahead of the deadline.

Steps to Apply

1. Review the fellowship requirements carefully.
2. Develop a strong and independent research proposal.
3. Research Harvard faculty members whose expertise aligns with your project.
4. Contact potential faculty hosts early.
5. Secure a suitable host and obtain their support.
6. Prepare the required application materials.
7. Submit your application before the deadline.
8. Ensure supporting letters are submitted within the required timeframe.

Important Dates

Application Deadline: December 1, 2026

Host and Recommendation Letters Deadline: December 11, 2026

Applicants should note that some Harvard departments may have earlier internal deadlines for sponsorship requests. For example, applicants seeking sponsorship through the Department of the History of Science should check its separate deadline.

How to Strengthen Your Application

Start Early

Finding a Harvard faculty host can take time. Begin researching faculty members months before the application deadline rather than treating this as a last-minute requirement.

Present a New Research Direction

Your proposal should demonstrate where your research can go next. Avoid simply repackaging your doctoral research.

Explain the Environmental Impact

Clearly identify the environmental challenge your research addresses. Explain why the problem matters and how your research could improve understanding, policy or practice.

Demonstrate Research Independence

Use your academic record, publications, previous projects and professional experience to demonstrate that you have the skills and experience to successfully execute the proposed project.

Make the Host Connection Clear

When approaching a potential faculty host, explain why their expertise is relevant to your research. A thoughtful and specific approach is more effective than sending a generic request to multiple professors.

Why This Fellowship Matters for African Researchers

Environmental challenges are particularly significant across many African countries, where climate change, food security, energy access, urbanisation, biodiversity and public health intersect.

African researchers working in these areas can use international research opportunities to strengthen their expertise, expand professional networks and develop evidence that can contribute to environmental solutions in their communities and beyond.

However, applicants should focus primarily on the quality, originality and relevance of their research. A strong application should clearly communicate the problem, research question, proposed approach and potential contribution.

Conclusion

The Harvard Environmental Fellows Program 2027 offers recent doctorate recipients an opportunity to develop independent research while working within Harvard’s interdisciplinary academic environment.

With a $92,000 annual salary, research support, faculty mentorship and access to Harvard’s extensive academic resources, the fellowship can provide valuable support for researchers at an important stage of their careers.

If you meet the eligibility requirements, start preparing now. Identify potential faculty hosts, refine your research idea and give yourself enough time to develop a compelling application.

For more information and to apply, CLICK HERE

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