Harvard University awards a limited number of Bullard Fellowships annually to individuals representing a variety of disciplines and approaches to the study of forested ecosystems. These full-time residential fellowships allow individuals to foster their scientific and professional growth and to contribute to research on forests at Harvard.
A major goal of the Bullard Fellowship program is to enhance research activities at Harvard Forest and build long-term collaborations that connect Harvard Forest with other parts of the University. Fellows can be based at the Harvard Forest or associated with other departments and centers at Harvard, such as the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, the Harvard University Center for the Environment, the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability, and the Arnold Arboretum. Bullard Fellowships are not intended for post-doctoral fellows; instead they are targeted at individuals with a record of independent scholarship and professional accomplishment.
Fellowships are occasionally awarded in the arts and environmental humanities, though these are rare. Please note that proposals in the arts and humanities must demonstrate a strong connection to the research at Harvard Forest and will undergo a separate review process led by Harvard University colleagues from the appropriate discipline.
Fellowships are typically for 6–12 months, with a maximum stipend of $75,000 for a full-year Fellowship. Awards are not intended for graduate students or recent postdoctoral candidates. Fellows are expected to be in residence throughout their fellowship.
Harvard Forest is committed to establishing and maintaining a diverse and inclusive community that collectively supports and implements our mission.
Applications will open August 1, 2023 for fellowship opportunities in 2024-2025.
The deadline for applications is October 1, 2023.
Research areas include forest ecology, tree physiology, soil biogeochemistry and microbial ecology, forest resource management, conservation and biodiversity, land use planning, and public policy. Fellowships are occasionally awarded in the arts and environmental humanities.
A major goal of the Bullard Fellowship program is to enhance research activities at Harvard Forest and build long-term collaborations that connect Harvard Forest with other parts of the University. Fellows can be based at the Harvard Forest or associated with other departments and centers at Harvard University. Potential fellows are encouraged to contact appropriate Harvard collaborators well in advance of the application deadline.
Location:
United StatesBenefits
- Fellowships are typically for 6–12 months, with a maximum stipend of $75,000 for a full-year Fellowship.
- Awards are not intended for graduate students or recent postdoctoral candidates. Fellows are expected to be in residence throughout their fellowship.
- Harvard Forest is committed to establishing and maintaining a diverse and inclusive community that collectively supports and implements our mission.
- The Bullard Fellowship is a residential program and Fellows are expected to spend a substantial portion of their Fellowship based at either Harvard Forest in Petersham, Massachusetts or at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Currently, staff at Harvard Forest are expected to be on-site Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
- Bullards who expect to spend more than a week or two traveling during their Fellowship should include details in their application.
- Fellows based at Harvard Forest will have a variety of resources available to assist with their Fellowship projects:
- Research Resources: weekly seminars and lab groups (September – April), library, archives, LTER Annual symposium (March), office space, local telephone service and basic office supplies at no cost.
- Housing: The Forest has furnished housing available for Bullards for $1,250-$1,900 per month for 1 to 5 bedroom units.
- Local Transportation: Harvard Forest is located in a rural area. As there is no local public transportation, Bullards must have their own vehicle for transportation. The costs of obtaining a vehicle including insurance ($750-$1,500 annually); purchase of the vehicle ($5,000+) as well as maintenance and gas. Bullards are responsible for purchasing their own vehicle.
- Petersham has many resources for its residents.
- Fellows based in Cambridge will need to make arrangements with their proposed collaborators for access to an appropriate office and/or lab space. Cost considerations should include research support costs (e.g. photocopying, office telephone, fax, office supplies, travel, lab/research/field supplies) and housing ($1,500-3,000/month, based upon size and location of unit). One source for housing convenient to Harvard’s Cambridge campus is http://www.hio.harvard.edu/housing.
- The Fellowships carry stipends up to $75,000; the amount of each award depends on the duration of the Fellowship. Fellows have the option of having the award paid either to themselves or to the Fellow’s employer.
- In most cases, the stipend will supplement income received for devoting a period to research, e.g., sabbatical leave pay for an individual in academic life, appointments with federal support for training of individuals in federal public service, or educational leave with pay for individuals in the private sector. Fellowships are not intended to provide significant funds for original research.
- Travel Fellowships All Bullard Fellows will receive a travel fellowship equivalent to the cost of one round trip between their Fellowship site location and their home base. The fellowship will reflect either the actual airfare or mileage (at rate determined by the IRS) between the two, whichever is lower. Bullards are responsible for the travel costs of any people accompanying them.
- International researchers have additional considerations when applying for a Bullard Fellowship, such as the visa process, logistics, and financial implications. All potential international Bullards should consult the Harvard International Office website (www.hio.harvard.edu), which includes information about visa policies, taxes and health insurance, as well as other helpful topics.
- Costs specific to international scholars vary with the length of the fellowship but include visas (up to $1,500 per person), up to 14% income taxes, health insurance ($300 to $500 per month for a single person and $1000 to $3000 per month for a family of 4 based in Petersham), and the travel to the United States for their families.
Eligibilities
- Bullard Fellowships are generally awarded to individuals who have established themselves in academia, public service, or the private sector.
- Bullard Fellowships are intended for scholars and practitioners who have demonstrated substantial accomplishment and vision; recent Ph.D. graduates are generally not appropriate.
- Awards are not intended for graduate students or recent postdoctoral candidates. Fellows are expected to be in residence throughout their fellowship.
- For those in academic careers, preference is given to holders of doctoral degrees who received their degrees at least two years prior to applying and have published a monograph or at least two (humanities and social sciences) or five (STEM) articles in refereed journals or edited collections.
- Applicants from outside academia must demonstrate leadership in their field and propose a project that shows promise of making important contributions to forest studies, broadly defined.
- All applicants will be considered in terms of the likelihood that studying at Harvard will help advance their careers and the Mission, Vision, and Values of the Harvard Forest.
- Judgments of the Bullard Review Committee are based primarily on the quality of the applicant’s professional accomplishments, academic record, and potential benefits from interaction with the Harvard Forest community and its institutional resources.
- Please note that proposals in the arts and humanities must demonstrate a strong connection to the research at Harvard Forest and will undergo a separate review process led by Harvard University colleagues from the appropriate discipline.
Application Process
- Fellowships may start at any time after September 1. Fellowships are typically 6 – 12 months in duration.
- The application requires:
- A completed web-based application form
- Contact information for 3 references who can give a perspective on the applicant’s proposed program and their personal and professional qualifications for carrying it out. Recommenders should submit their recommendation letters for the 2023-2024 program via the secure online application system by October 15, 2022 (a 2-week grace period post-deadline).
- A statement of research describing the applicant’s professional career to date, proposing a research program at Harvard, and evaluating this program in terms of its potential contribution to the applicant’s future professional career (5-page spaced maximum is requested).
- CV (no more than 5 pages) including the following:
- Colleges and universities; dates of attendance and degrees received
- Professional positions held since graduating college
- Academic prizes and honors, if any
- Significant books, articles, reports, etc.
- Significant education and outreach activities (NSF calls these “synergistic activities”)
- Artists should provide a link to an online portfolio of their work
- Deadline: Applications must be completed with accompanying documentation by October 1 at 5 pm EST. References are accepted until October 15 Midnight EST. Successful candidates will be notified on or before December 15.
Application Deadline: October 1, 2023
Application ClosedOfficial link
