Now Accepting Applications – DEADLINE May 31, 2023
The Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University invites applications for two Postdoctoral Fellowships in Disaster Studies. The fellowships extend for 12 months, from September 1, 2023, to August 31, 2024. These fellowships and the activities organized by and with the fellows are intended to launch a long-term project, triggered by present concerns arising from the recent devastation in Turkey and Syria as well as the urgent need to develop our understanding of the history of seismicity in the region.
Beginning in September 2023, the fellowships are intended to bring to Harvard University scholars who have already conducted research in disaster studies in the broader Middle East region, with a preference for work on earthquakes. Advanced levels of competence in Arabic and/or Turkish and strong familiarity with archival sources are required. Successful candidates will be appointed for one year with a fellowship that will be renewable up to three years in total, depending on continued funding and satisfactory performance. Successful candidates will reside in the greater Boston area for the term of the fellowship and will be eligible for Harvard University’s subsidized, comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and other benefits.
Application Materials
Applicants are required to submit the following materials, which must be received by May 31, 2023:
- A current curriculum vitae, in English
- A research proposal (statement of purpose) not to exceed 1500 words, in English
- A writing sample not to exceed 5000 words, in English
- Three letters of recommendation, including one written by the candidate’s dissertation advisor, in English. This letter should be submitted directly by the recommender via the application portal
Please read the instructions below regarding how references should be submitted.
Application Procedures
All application materials should be submitted electronically on CARAT, a Harvard platform for grants and fellowships. Applicants should carefully follow the steps described below to submit their applications:
STEP ONE (Important): All applicants need to obtain a HarvardKey from the Harvard system. The HarvardKey takes approximately one hour to activate; applicants should allow time for this activation step. Applicants can complete the application only once a HarvardKey is issued to them.
STEP TWO: Applications should be submitted exclusively on CARAT. Applicants need to use their HarvardKey to access the CARAT platform. All application materials should be uploaded as PDF files; no other file format is accepted by CARAT.
REFERENCES: All reference letters should be submitted directly by the recommender on CARAT, exclusively. Applicants can send a reference request to their recommender’s email address through the CARAT platform, while completing their application. The recommender will receive a link to upload their letter as a PDF file (no HarvardKey is required from the recommender to upload a reference letter).
Applications are due by May 31, 2023, Midnight, EDT. Applications that are not submitted on the CARAT platform will not be considered.
Evaluation
Applications will be evaluated by a CMES committee based on the relevance and the quality of the research proposals and the applicants’ language proficiency. The successful applicant will be notified by June 30, 2023.
Terms of Fellowship
The 12-month salary for this position is $65,000 to cover the successful applicant’s accommodation, food, and visa fees. As an employee postdoc, the successful applicant will be eligible for Harvard University’s subsidized, comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and other benefits. A round-trip economy class ticket to Boston will be issued in addition to the stipend. It is estimated that the successful applicant will spend 35 hours per week on scholarly research and academic engagement.
Harvard University is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. For more information about CMES programs and opportunities, visit the CMES website. For further requests, please feel free to contact Jesse Howell at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies.