Harvard University Environmental Fellows Program 2026
- Omran Aburayya
- Aug 25, 2025
- 3 min read
If you are a recent PhD graduate with a strong passion for environmental research, the Harvard University Environmental Fellows Program 2026 offers you a unique two-year opportunity at one of the world’s most prestigious institutions. Applications are now open, with the deadline set for December 1, 2025—mark your calendar!
🎓 Fellowship Summary
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Host Institution: Harvard University Center for the Environment (HUCE)
Level: Postdoctoral (Environmental Fellows)
Target Group: Recent doctorate or terminal degree recipients (awarded between May 2022 and August 2026)
Fields of Focus: Any discipline—sciences, economics, law, public policy, medicine, design, humanities—environmental relevance expected
Value & Coverage:
Annual salary: $90,000
Employee health insurance eligibility
Relocation reimbursement: up to $2,500
Annual travel/professional allowance: $2,500
Duration: 2 years
Application Deadline: December 1, 2025, at 5 p.m. Eastern Time
Start Date: Appointment begins September 2026; early start possible as early as July 1, 2026
Eligible To: Individuals globally with terminal degrees between May 2022 and August 2026; foreign nationals welcome, English proficiency required
📚 Scholarship Overview
The Environmental Fellows Program was established by the Harvard University Center for the Environment to empower recent doctorate holders to leverage Harvard’s expansive resources in addressing complex environmental challenges. Fellows spend two years collaborating with faculty across schools and departments, fostering interdisciplinarity and institutional connectivity .
The program also builds community through a structured co-curricular schedule—most notably biweekly dinners that include fellow colleagues, Harvard faculty, and guest speakers—creating rich opportunities for networking and cross-fertilization of ideas .
🎁 Benefits
Competitive salary and health insurance ensure financial peace of mind.
Financial support for relocation and travel/professional needs eases practical burdens.
Institutional integration through mentorship, office space, and cohort-building dinners .
Access to Harvard’s academic ecosystem and multidisciplinary collaboration—without needing to continue your PhD research; new lines of inquiry are expected.
Flexibility for early start if needed .
✅ Eligibility Criteria
Hold a PhD or equivalent terminal degree conferred between May 2022 and August 2026; dissertation must be filed prior to starting the fellowship .
Applicants may hail from any university worldwide; international candidates are fully eligible .
Projects must propose an independent line of inquiry, distinct from both the applicant’s own PhD research and the host faculty’s ongoing work—especially for Harvard-based candidates .
Interdisciplinary focus is encouraged but not mandatory .
Must obtain a host faculty member at Harvard who can mentor you, provide office (or lab) space, and submit a support letter .
Candidates linked to Harvard (e.g., current postdocs or Harvard PhD holders) may apply but must propose new research agendas and avoid working with same supervisors/groups .
Commitment to reside in the Cambridge, MA area for the two-year tenure is required .
Application Procedure
Applicants should complete the online application by December 1, 2025, at 5 p.m. ET . Required materials:
Curriculum Vitae (including publication list).
Research Proposal (up to 5 pages; applicant-authored; clearly articulating motivations for a Harvard environmental fellowship) .
Up to three writing samples/publications .
Three letters of reference, one being from your PhD advisor. Harvard’s ARIeS system will send recommender requests after submission; they may submit until December 10, 2025 .
A Letter of Support from your proposed Harvard host, detailing commitment and environment; host letters can also be submitted until December 10, 2025 .
Note: Post-submission confirmations will be sent for completion of materials .
💡Additional Useful Information
Selection Timeline: Final decisions are expected by late January 2026, after application review and video interviews with short-listed candidates .
Interview Format: Selected candidates may participate in video interviews to discuss their proposals and fit with Harvard’s objectives .
Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowship: If interested, note that Global Change Fellows at the Arnold Arboretum may join this cohort starting in September 2023—not directly relevant to the 2026 cohort, but potentially of interest .
Host Faculty Listing: Prospective applicants should consult the Salata Institute website and faculty webpages to identify suitable hosts. Faculty eligibility excludes Paul Moorcroft, Zhiming Kuang, Caroline Buckee, and Satchit Balsari for 2026 hosting .