The Weatherhead Research Cluster at Harvard University identifies and supports outstanding scholars whose work responds to the growing interest in the encompassing study of global history. We seek to organize a community of scholars interested in the systematic scrutiny of developments that have unfolded across national, regional, and continental boundaries and who propose to analyze the interconnections—cultural, economic, ecological, political and demographic—among world societies. We encourage applicants from all over the world, and especially from outside Europe and North America, hoping to create a global conversation on global history.

Fellows are appointed for ten months (approximately August 2024-June 2025; Harvard’s active academic year is approximately September 1st, 2024-May 1st, 2025) and are provided time, guidance, office space, and access to Harvard University facilities. The Fellowship comes with a $65,000 stipend and individual Harvard health insurance. Fellows should be prepared to devote their entire time to productive scholarship and may undertake sustained projects of research or other original work. They will join a lively community of global history scholars at Harvard.

The Global History Fellowship is residential and Fellows are expected to live in the Cambridge/Boston area for the duration of the 2024-2025 academic year unless traveling for pre-approved research purposes or unless Harvard University’s coronavirus pandemic response necessitates a switch to a virtual campus. They are expected to participate in cluster activities, including a bi-weekly seminar.

How to Apply

The competition for this fellowship is open only to scholars with a PhD (or comparable professional school degree).

We are an interdisciplinary program and open to a variety of fields, but we expect that all candidates will be involved in rigorously examining the interconnections between world societies. If still pursuing the PhD, Global History Fellows must receive their degree no later than June 2024. There is no limit on time since submission of the candidate’s degree; we are open to candidates at various stages of their careers. The final categorization of the fellowship (Postdoctoral Fellow of Visiting Scholar) will depend on the candidates’ background.

Application materials required include:

  • Cover letter
  • Curriculum vitae (CV); including list of publications
  • Research proposal (1500 words maximum); including intellectual objectives and planned methodological and disciplinary work
  • Two letters of reference. Contact information for your referees is entered on the application site, and they will recieve an automatic letter. Interfolio is also acceptable.

We expect that candidates will be able to submit samples of independent work (articles, papers, dissertation chapters) in support of their candidacies on request.

Applications must be submitted throught our online application site.

Deadline: December 1st, 2023

Deadline for letters of reference: December 18th, 2023

Contact:
Jessica Barnard
Program Administrator, Weatherhead Research Cluster on Global History
wigh@fas.harvard.edu