2025-26 Hou Family Pre-doctoral Fellowship in Taiwan Studies at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Job Description:

Harvard University


Title: 2025-26 Hou Family Pre-doctoral Fellowship in Taiwan Studies

School: Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Department_Area: Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies

Position Description: The Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard University is pleased to announce the 2025-2026 competition for the Hou Family Fellowships in Taiwan Studies.

The Hou Family Fellowships in Taiwan Studies sponsors one Pre-doctoral Fellow who is an advanced PhD candidate in the humanities or social sciences to come to the Fairbank Center to pursue Taiwan-focused research for six to twelve months between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2026. Residence for the full academic year is encouraged.

The Hou Family Pre-doctoral Fellow will have the opportunity to engage with the Fairbank Center's interdisciplinary community of scholars and will have access to Harvard's world-class libraries and other resources. In addition to maintaining their own research agenda, the Hou Family Pre-doctoral Fellow will contribute to the Fairbank Center community in ways that could include the following:

• Presenting research to the Center's Taiwan Studies Workshop series, or to other Fairbank Center events and audiences,
• Participating in professional development and community building activities.

The Hou Family Pre-doctoral Fellow is expected to be in residence full-time at the Fairbank Center for six months (minimum) to twelve months (maximum) between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2026.

Total Pre-doctoral Fellowship stipend: $58,000 for one year, plus up to $3,000 in research support funds. The position is not eligible for Harvard benefits, but the stipend can be used to maintain or purchase a student health insurance plan.

The fellowship will be subject to all rules and regulations of Harvard University.

Basic Qualifications: A strong working knowledge of English and Chinese or Taiwanese is required.

Applicants should be currently enrolled in a humanities or social science doctoral program at another institution.

A bachelor's degree is required. A relevant master's degree is beneficial.

Additional Qualifications: Applications are invited from advanced PhD candidates in a relevant discipline of the humanities or social sciences whose research focuses on Taiwan.

Harvard University doctoral degree candidates are not eligible for this fellowship.

Fellows are expected to reside in the Greater Boston area for the duration of the fellowship.

Candidates must notify the Fairbank Center of any changes to the information provided in their application that may impact their eligibility. Failure to communicate such changes may result in disqualification.

Special Instructions: To apply, you will be required to submit:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Transcript
• Research proposal and plan for the fellowship period (no more than five pages, double-spaced)
• Writing sample (academic paper or dissertation chapter)

In addition, two to three letters of recommendation must be submitted directly by your references. When you submit your application, each of your references will receive an email from the application portal system with a link to upload their letter.

In your application or cover letter you may indicate if there are specific Harvard faculty members with whom you would like to work during the fellowship. Please do not contact faculty directly at this stage.

All application materials must be in English.

Contact Information: Harriet Wong
Program Coordinator
Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies
Harvard University
(617) 495-4007

Contact Email: harrietwong@fas.harvard.edu

Equal Opportunity Employer: Harvard is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, age, protected veteran status, disability, genetic information, military service, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or other protected status.

Minimum Number of References Required: 2

Maximum Number of References Allowed: 3

Keywords: Graduate student fellowship in East Asian studies. East Asia social sciences fellowships. East Asia humanities fellowships. Taiwan studies. Taiwan research. China and Taiwan studies. Taiwan social sciences. Taiwan humanities. History of Taiwan. Taiwan politics. Taiwanese culture. Republic of China. Greater China. Taiwan straits. Taiwan economy.

Supplemental Questions: Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * What is your current university or institution?
   (Open Ended Question)
2. * Please indicate the month and year in which you received, or expect to receive, your PhD or equivalent terminal degree.
   (Open Ended Question)
3. * In what discipline and field is your PhD program?
   (Open Ended Question)
4. * Dissertation title or topic
   (Open Ended Question)
5. * Please list your research interests (200 character limit)
   (Open Ended Question)
6. * Please briefly describe the specific research project(s) you wish to complete during the fellowship (500 words or fewer).
   (Open Ended Question)
7. If there are specific Harvard faculty members with whom you intend to work during the fellowship please provide their name/s and indicate whether you have been in contact.
   (Open Ended Question)
8. * Dates of proposed fellowship period (6 months minimum, 12 months maximum. The standard fellowship period is one year August - July).
   (Open Ended Question)
9. * Fellows are required to be proficient in English. Non-US citizens, if accepted, will be asked to supply proof of English proficiency through documentation or interview. Are you proficient in English?
   • Yes, I am proficient in English.
   • No, I am not proficient in English.
10. * Please list those languages other than English in which you have fluency, specifying reading, spoken, or both
    (Open Ended Question)

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