Description
The Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard University is pleased to announce the 2026-27 competition for the Hou Family Fellowship in Taiwan Studies.
Applications are invited from junior scholars in the humanities or social sciences whose research focuses on Taiwan. The deadline to apply is February 20, 2026.
The Hou Family Fellowship in Taiwan Studies will sponsor a postdoctoral fellow to join the Fairbank Center to pursue Taiwan-focused research in the humanities or social sciences for six to twelve months between August 1, 2026, and July 31, 2027. Affiliation for the full academic year is encouraged. A doctoral degree in a relevant field is required.
The Hou Family Postdoctoral Fellow will be based full-time at the Fairbank Center during the academic year. They 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 Fairbank Center events and audiences,
- Participating in professional development workshops and serving as a mentor for current graduate students,
- Attending seminars and academic events and participating in community activities.
For fellowship details and application requirements see https://fairbank.fas.harvard.edu/affiliation-2/hou-family-fellows-in-taiwan-studies/
Requirements
The Hou Family Postdoctoral Fellow is expected to be in residence full-time at the Fairbank Center for six months to twelve months.
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 fellowships 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.
