Application Process

The deadline to apply for the 2026-27 academic year is January 15, 2026. The application portal will open in fall 2025.

Before You Apply

• You must contact one of the approved faculty sponsors from this list and secure his/her willingness to sponsor your appointment.

How to Apply

• All application materials should be submitted electronically through the CARAT platform.
• Follow the instructions in CARAT to create a new account.
• Non-Harvard applicants will need to click the link at the top of the CARAT landing page.
• Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Please Note

• CMES visiting researcher positions are unpaid academic appointments and are made for a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 12 months.
• Individuals may hold an appointment for no more than two consecutive years, pending renewal.
• Part-time appointments or non-consecutive appointments for a fraction of a year will ordinarily count as a one-year appointment when determining eligibility for renewal.

A complete CMES Visiting Researcher Application Includes:

• Application form (link above)
• CV
• Research proposal
• Written sample of your research
• Two letters of recommendation

Other Information about Applications and Academic Appointments

Applications are reviewed by the CMES Steering Committee. Applicants will be contacted with a decision by the end of March.

Academic appointments are not final until they have been approved by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the Governing Boards of the University.