Hou Family Postdoctoral Fellowship in Taiwan Studies

2026-27 Hou Family Postdoctoral Fellowship in Taiwan Studies Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Final date to receive applications: February 20, 2026

Title: 2026-27 Hou Family Postdoctoral Fellowship in Taiwan Studies
School: Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Department: Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies

The Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard University is pleased to announce the  competition for the Hou Family Fellowship in Taiwan Studies. The Hou Family Fellowship sponsors one post‑doctoral fellow, who recently graduated or is currently teaching, to pursue Taiwan‑focused research in the humanities and social sciences for six to twelve months during the academic year 2026‑2027. Residence at the Fairbank Center for the full academic year is encouraged.

The Hou Family Postdoctoral 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 Fellow will contribute to the Center community in ways that could include the following:

• Presenting research to the Center’s Taiwan Studies workshops, or to other Fairbank Center events and audiences.
• Participating in professional development workshops and serving as a mentor for current graduate students.
• Attending seminars and academic events and participating in community building activities.

The Fellow is expected to AVa be resident at the Fairbank Center for six months (minimum) to twelve months (maximum) between August 1, 2026 and July 31, 2027.

Stipend: $67,600 for one year. The Postdoctoral Fellow position is eligible for Harvard University’s subsidized comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and other benefits. In addition, up to $3,000 in research funds are available upon approval of a submitted request. The Fellowship will be subject to all rules and regulations of Harvard University.

A strong working knowledge of English and Chinese or Taiwanese is required. A doctoral degree in a relevant field is required. The doctoral diploma or Registrar’s certificate of degree completion must be received one month prior to the start of the fellowship (by July 1 2026). Fellows are expected to reside in the Greater Boston area for the duration of the fellowship.

Applications are invited from junior scholars in a relevant discipline of the humanities or social sciences whose research focuses on Taiwan. Applicants may not be more than five years beyond the receipt of their PhD degree at the start of the fellowship. Priority will be given to applicants with no previous post‑doctoral fellowships. Harvard University doctoral degree recipients are not eligible for this fellowship.

Candidates must provide confirmation of successful completion of their terminal doctoral degree, in the form of a diploma or similar, by July 1 2026, at the latest. Applicants must notify the Fairbank Center of any changes that affect eligibility. Failure to communicate such changes may result in disqualification.

To apply, you are required to submit the online application form and the following:

• Research proposal and plan for the fellowship period (no more than five pages, double‑spaced).
• Writing sample (academic paper or dissertation chapter).
• Doctoral diploma, if available.

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. If you have not yet received your doctoral degree at the time of application, one of the letters must be from your PhD dissertation advisor.

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

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Salary Range: $67,600 - $69,000

Minimum Number of References

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