Nonresident Associates in Research

Application deadline: March 15

The Center’s Nonresident Associates in Research Program is designed primarily for China studies scholars based in the New England area who travel to Cambridge to use Center resources and participate in Center activities. The work of the associates covers a wide range of fields, including anthropology, religion, political science, economics, history, and literature. Together with the Center’s Visiting Scholars and Postdoctoral Fellows, the Associates in Research create a lively community for interdisciplinary exchange.

The Fairbank Center provides no funding or office space for Associates in Research but assists with providing physical library access to Harvard University collections through the issuance of a special borrower card (this card does not grant access to Harvard’s digital collections except when accessed through a Harvard library computer). Please note that the Associate in Research affiliation does not constitute a formal academic appointment at Harvard University.

There is a fee for affiliation as an Associate in Research. A faculty selection committee determines acceptance and renewal to the program. The application form is available below. Two letters of recommendation are required, preferably including one letter from a Harvard faculty member.

How to Apply

Applications will be reviewed once a year, with affiliations beginning July 1 and ending June 30. The annual application deadline is March 15. 

Current Associates in Research will receive information in June about the affiliation renewal process for the following academic year.

New and renewing Associates in Research will be asked to sign the Fairbank Center Associate in Research Participation Agreement.

Please contact us at fairbankcenter@fas.harvard.edu if you have any questions about the application or the Associates in Research program.

Download the application form here.