Davis Center Visiting Scholars Program

About this program

Harvard University's Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies hosts a Visiting Scholars Program offering residential research, training, and professional-development appointments (3–12 months) for scholars working on Russia and/or Eurasia, with categories including visiting scholars, practitioner fellows, externally funded postdoctoral fellows, and three fully funded stipendiary postdoctoral fellowships in history, political science, and Slavic languages and literatures. Participants receive Harvard library access, seminar and workshop participation, opportunities to audit courses and present in the New Research Workshop, and visa support for international scholars. Eligibility requires research focused on Russia/Eurasia (Baltics, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia), an in-person commitment aligned to Harvard's academic calendar for a minimum of three months, confirmed external funding and independent health insurance for most positions, and specific category requirements (visiting scholars must hold a Ph.D. and be tenured or tenure‑track; externally funded postdocs must bring funds meeting the appropriate NIH step; stipendiary postdocs must have earned a Ph.D. between September 2021 and September 2026). Applications (now on a formal deadline) require a 200‑word research plan, CV (≤3 pages), cover letter (≤2 pages), a research statement (≤5 pages), and 2–3 letters of recommendation; final acceptance is subject to approval by the Dean and Harvard's governing boards.