Wang Postdoctoral Fellowship in Chinese Studies

Fairbank Center An Wang Postdoctoral Fellowship (2026‑27)

Final date to receive applications: January 15, 2026

The Fairbank Center will award up to two An Wang Postdoctoral Fellowships to support scholars working in an interdisciplinary research group that will study The Social Foundations of State Power in China
. The group will examine how social structure, inequality, and ideology sustain state capacity and regime durability in contemporary China. Fellows will contribute to research on how the Chinese Communist Party maintains political control amidst rapid economic growth and widening inequality, and how an increasingly heterogeneous society generates broad consent and stability.

Duration: August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027. Fellows will be based in person at the Fairbank Center, Harvard University.

Responsibilities:

• Design and conduct your own research project under the mentorship of Professors Wang and Zhou.
• Participate in workshops, collaborative projects, and community meetings led by faculty mentors.
• Share research findings at seminars and contribute to interdisciplinary discussions within the Fairbank Center community.
• Maintain regular progress reports and align research with the group’s thematic pillars.

Stipend and Benefits:

• Annual stipend of $67,600 – $70,000.
• Harvard University health, dental, vision, and other benefits.
• $3,000 research grant for scholarly activities.

Basic Qualifications:

• Proficient in both Chinese and English.
• Doctoral degree in sociology, political science, economics, communication, history, or area studies.
• Completion of doctoral degree by July 1, 2026.
• Not more than five years beyond receipt of the doctorate at fellowship start.
• Harvard doctoral recipients are not eligible.

Additional Qualifications:

• Junior scholars with research interests in The Social Foundations of State Power in China (e.g., inequality, mobility, governance, ideology).
• Experience with causal inference, spatial analysis, computational text analysis, or ethnographic research is desirable.

Required Application Materials:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Cover letter (1–2 pages) outlining interest and proposed research (no more than 5 pages, double‑spaced).
• Research proposal (no more than 5 pages, double‑spaced)
• Writing sample (academic paper or dissertation chapter)
• Two or three academic reference letters (submitted directly by the references)
• Statement of doctoral degree completion (diploma or certificate)

All application materials must be in English and submitted online by the deadline.

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non‑discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard’s academic purposes. Harvard’s equal employment opportunity policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

• Month and year of expected or received PhD equivalent.
• Discipline of PhD completion.
• Primary area of research (field/geographic specialization).
• Languages other than English in which you have fluency.
• Research interests (≤200 characters).
• Brief description of the specific research project(s) to complete during the fellowship (≤500 words).
• Harvard faculty members you intend to work with during the fellowship.