The Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard University is pleased to announce the 2026-2027 competition for the Hou Family Fellowships in Taiwan Studies.
For academic year 2026-27 the Hou Family Fellowship will sponsor one postdoctoral fellow to join the Fairbank Center to pursue Taiwan-focused research for six to twelve months. Affiliation for the full academic year is encouraged.
The Hou Family Fellow will have the opportunity to engage with the Fairbank Center’s interdisciplinary community of scholars and will have access to Harvard’s world-class libraries and other resources.
In addition to maintaining their own research agenda, the Hou Family Fellow will contribute to the Fairbank Center community in ways that could include the following:
- Presenting research to the Center’s Taiwan Studies workshop series, or to other Center events and audiences,
- Participating in academic seminars, professional development workshops, and community events and activities.
Applications are invited from junior scholars in the humanities or social sciences whose research focuses on Taiwan.
We are currently accepting applications for the 2026-27 Hou Family Postdoctoral Fellowship. The application deadline is February 20, 2026.
Fellowship Details and Eligibility Requirements
Hou Family Postdoctoral Fellowship:
The Hou Family Fellow is expected to be based full-time at the Fairbank Center for six months to twelve months. Travel for research or conferences is permitted, preferably during breaks between semesters.
A strong working knowledge of English and Chinese or Taiwanese is required.
A PhD degree in a relevant field of humanities or social sciences is required. Candidates must provide confirmation of successful completion of their terminal doctoral degree, in the form of a diploma, certificate of completion from the degree-granting institution or letter from the institution’s Registrar by one month prior to the start of the fellowship, at the latest.
Applicants may not be more than five years beyond the receipt of their PhD degree at the start of the fellowship. Priority will be given to applicants with no previous postdoctoral fellowships.
Harvard University doctoral degree recipients are not eligible for this fellowship.
The fellowship will be subject to all rules and regulations of Harvard University.
Harvard is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, age, protected veteran status, disability, genetic information, military service, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or other protected status.
How to Apply
Application deadline: February 20, 2026 for Postdoctoral Fellowship
Please submit the following materials, written in English:
- Online application form (find link below)
- Cover Letter
- Curriculum Vitae
- A five-page, double-spaced research proposal and plan
- A writing sample
In addition, two to three letters of recommendation must be submitted directly by your academic references.
Provide the name and email of each reference in the application form. When you submit your application, your references will each receive an email inviting them to upload their letter directly to the application portal. An application is considered complete when two recommendation letters have been received; a third letter is optional.
All application materials must be in English and submitted via the online application portal https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/
Apply here for the 2026-27 Hou Family Postdoctoral Fellowship: https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/15661
Please contact Harriet Wong, Program Administrator, at harrietwong@fas.harvard.edu if you have any questions.