Program on Science, Technology and Society at Harvard

STS Fellows Program

The Program on Science, Technology and Society at Harvard hosts a small number of Fellows and Visitors each year (see information on current and past Fellows).

The Program on Science, Technology and Society at Harvard Kennedy School, is a leading center for STS research and training. The application process for the non-stipendiary pre- and postdoctoral fellowship program academic year 2025-2026 will open sometime in late February 2025. Pre-doctoral fellowships are most appropriate for Ph.D. students in STS or closely related fields who have completed their qualifying exams and embarked on dissertation research and writing. Postdoctoral fellowships are most appropriate for recent Ph.D.’s pursuing research that would benefit from systematic exposure to STS theories and methods.

The Program offers a unique collegial environment in which fellows receive intensive training through coursework in STS and become an integral part of the Cambridge-based STS community. Fellows meet weekly as a group to discuss each other’s research; they also attend weekly STS Circle seminars, audit relevant Harvard graduate courses, and participate in the Program’s major events. Each year’s cohort includes students from varied backgrounds, cultures, and countries. We have hosted students from the US, Canada, Brazil, South Korea, and several European countries (e.g., Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, and the Netherlands).

Non-stipendiary fellows are expected to participate in the Program for one academic year (September-May), but shorter stays of at least one semester (about three months) may be possible with appropriate justification under exceptional circumstances. Fellows may stay for a maximum of two years with appropriate external support.

Applicants will be evaluated for their fit with the Program’s intellectual strengths and substantive research foci. Accordingly, both the research statement and the supporting letter(s) should clearly address the question of fit.

Interested applicants should email lauraflynn@hks.harvard.edu to receive an email when applications are being accepted.

Stipendiary Fellows

The STS Program does not normally provide stipends for Fellows except through funded research projects within the Program. However, prospective stipendiary Fellows may seek support from other Harvard programs that fund study in areas of interest to the STS Program. For information on such opportunities, see for example:

• Center for International Development, Sustainability Science Program
• Harvard University Center for the Environment, Environmental Fellows Program
• Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Fritz Thyssen Fellows

Short-Term Visitors

The STS Program will host short-term visits of up to 4-6 weeks duration by scholars with research interests compatible with the mission of the Program. Such visitors come with their own sources of support; they are not formally designated as STS Fellows but may have limited access to Program facilities. They will be expected to present their own work as well as to interact with Program staff and Fellows during their visit. Short-term visits are arranged on an ad hoc basis to suit the needs of individual applicants. Prospective visitors are advised to contact the Program Director in timely fashion to ascertain whether their visits can be accommodated by the Program.