Brief Description:

Harvard Center for African Studies Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program

Description:

The Center for African Studies Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program is aimed at providing opportunities for postdoctoral candidates to conduct independent research, publish, and increase knowledge in their fields of study that will be beneficial to the African continent and to prepare them to be successful in their chosen career paths. An applicant should have received their PhD (preference will be given to those who completed PhD in the last five years) and hold an academic appointment at a university or research institution in Africa. This includes those with a commitment of appointment at the time of application. The fellowship will support the development of a research project at selected Harvard University schools, departments, or laboratories in the field of their choice.

The program offers 18-month postdoctoral fellowships with 12 months spent at the scholars’ home institution and six months spent in stipend-supported residency at Harvard University.

Application Information:

Eligibility Criteria:

The program is established for Africa-based researchers who intend to continue/return to work in African academia. Fellows will be selected based on academic talent in their fields and will have an opportunity to work on their pedagogical and research skills to further their professional development. Fellows will have completed their respective doctoral programs at institutions from anywhere around the world (preference will be given to those who completed the PhD in the last five years). PhD holders who currently hold a paid academic appointment, which will be active through the duration of the fellowship period, with any of the following institutions are eligible to apply.

• Applicants must have received a PhD or equivalent doctoral-level research degree (preference will be given to those who completed PhD in the last five years) in any discipline and must hold a paid academic appointment at any African university or research institution.
• Applicants who have not yet formally received their degree must present evidence of having completed the academic requirements before commencing the Fellowship.
• Applicants must identify a Harvard faculty mentor to support research and scholarly work; additionally, they should identify a second mentor at their home institution.
• Both mentors are required to submit letters of recommendation during the application process.
• Applicants should have English language proficiency.
• Applicants must have support from their home institutions to pursue an 18-month fellowship appointment, six months of which will be spent in a stipend-supported residency in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Throughout the fellowship period, fellows will have access to their mentor at both institutions as well as Harvard's library resources and seminar/conference opportunities.
• Applicants should have an academic appointment in an African university/research institution or include a letter from the institution that such an appointment is forthcoming during the fellowship period.

Review Criteria:

A faculty review committee under direction of the CAS Oppenheimer Faculty Director will use the following criteria to identify final award recipients:

• Fellows with strong PhD achievement and actively conducting research and teaching in one of the listed institutions.
• Strength and quality of research proposal, project uniqueness, clear purpose, and detailed plan for execution of proposal.
• Applicants’ ability to succeed in a research-based academic track.
• Demonstration of initiative, social consciousness, leadership, and a sense of responsibility as well as personal motivations and experiences.
• Contribute to and advance new knowledge to the field of study.
• Mentors' recommendation and commitment to fellows’ advancement in the area of research.

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