Applications are now open for the Rowland Fellows Program 2027 at Harvard University. This prestigious fellowship supports outstanding early-career scientists and engineers who want to establish their own independent research group. It is a fully funded postdoctoral fellowship that provides generous funding, lab space, and full principal investigator rights.
The program is open to recent PhD graduates and current PhD students in all fields of experimental science and engineering. The application deadline is August 1, 2026. There is no application fee.
Key Details:
- Degree Level: PhD (must be completed before starting the fellowship)
- Host Country: United States
- Host Institution: Rowland Institute at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Fellowship Duration: Up to 5 years
- Application Deadline: August 1, 2026 (11:59 PM EDT)
- Start Date: Flexible – July to December 2027
- Nationality: Open to all nationalities (US and international applicants welcome)
- Application Fee: None
What This Scholarship Offers:
- Full Principal Investigator (PI) rights
- Dedicated laboratory space and necessary support rooms
- Generous startup funding for equipment
- Annual research budget of $225,000 for lab supplies, travel, and hiring staff (postdocs, undergraduates, etc.)
- Salary starting at $89,999 per year with full Harvard benefits
- Access to world-class research facilities at Harvard
- Help from staff scientists and engineers to design and build experimental setups
- Professional mentoring, leadership training, and career development support
- Opportunity to teach undergraduates (optional)
Eligibility Criteria:
- You are currently finishing your PhD or have received your PhD after May 1, 2025
- You must complete your PhD before the fellowship starts
- Your research must be experimentally focused in any area of science or engineering
- You can apply from any accredited university in the world
- The program does not support human subjects research or clinical research
Programs / Fields Available:
The Rowland Fellowship is open to all experimental fields in science and engineering. Eligible fields include:
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Engineering
- Neuroscience
- Materials Science
- Applied Mathematics
- Computer Science (experimental focus)
- Biomedical Engineering
- Environmental Science
- And any interdisciplinary combinations of the above
How to Apply:
All applications must be submitted online through the Harvard Careers website.
Required Documents:
- 250-word “Elevator Pitch” (for a general audience)
- Statement of Research (maximum 3 pages including references)
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Vision Statement (1 page) – describing how you will build a supportive lab culture
- Contact information for 3 or 4 references
Important Tips:
- You can save your application and complete it later.
- Declare any use of AI tools and write in your own voice.
- Letters of recommendation are due by August 15, 2026.
For questions, email: rf@g.harvard.edu
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