Deadline: 8-December-2025
The Raghunathan Family Fellow is required to be in residence for the full 2026–2027 academic year, from August 20, 2026, to May 20, 2027. During this period, the fellow will work closely with a selected Faculty Mentor on their proposed research project while actively engaging with the academic community at the Mittal Institute and Harvard University.
In addition to conducting their own research, the fellow will participate in institute activities such as reviewing grants and fellowships, mentoring graduate students, and contributing to events and collaborative projects.
The fellowship offers a gross stipend of $50,885.71, prorated for the duration of the appointment and disbursed biweekly. For international fellows, Harvard may deduct taxes at the source.
The program also reimburses round-trip economy travel expenses and visa fees for participants residing in South Asia. However, housing is not provided or arranged by Harvard or the Mittal Institute, and fellows must secure at least temporary accommodation before their arrival in Cambridge.
Candidates must have been awarded their PhD prior to applying and within five years of the fellowship start date. For the AY26/27 cycle, this means their PhD should be awarded after August 20, 2021, for a start date of August 20, 2026. Priority will be given to scholars who have not previously accessed Harvard’s resources and have primarily studied at institutions in South Asia.
Applicants must submit all materials through the online application system, ARIeS. Required documents include a five-page research plan, a current curriculum vitae detailing academic qualifications and achievements, a writing sample of up to ten pages, a scanned copy of the PhD diploma, and two letters of recommendation submitted directly through the portal.
Recommenders will not be able to submit their letters until the applicant has completed their application. All materials must be received by the deadline to be considered, and letters may be addressed to “Members of the Selection Committee.” Applicants are advised to reach out to the program coordinator for queries, rather than to Harvard faculty.
The application window for the Academic Year 2026/27 is now open, with the deadline for applications set for Monday, December 8, 2025. Letters of recommendation are due Wednesday, December 17. Decisions will typically be made within two to three months of the application deadline.
For more information, visit The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute.