Mittal Family Climate Fellowship

Climate Fellowship

The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute at Harvard University is pleased to offer the Mittal Family Climate Fellowship for Post-Doctoral Scholars researching the impacts of climate change on South Asia. The Mittal Family Climate Fellowship will provide crucial resources and opportunities for scholars dedicated to studying the impacts of climate change on South Asia. This fellowship aims to support innovative research projects that explore how climate change has influenced the region’s past, is shaping its present, and will affect its future. By fostering a deeper understanding of climate dynamics in South Asia, the fellowship will contribute to the development of sustainable solutions and policies that address the region’s unique climate challenges. Eligible topics include adaptation and resilience, mitigation efforts, climate-related public health, water resource management, biodiversity and ecosystem protection, climate policy and governance, and climate technology solutions. 

Fellowship Details

Scholars are expected to be in residence for the upcoming academic year. For the 2025-2026 academic year, it will be from September 15, 2025, to June 15, 2026. The selected fellow will be granted desk space for this period. 

The gross stipend for the Mittal Family Climate fellow is $50,700 USD for 9 months, equivalent to a monthly gross stipend of $5,633 USD paid on the last business day of the month. This amount is prorated on the fellowship’s start and end dates. For foreign citizens, Harvard may be required to take taxes out of the payment upfront. Please contact the Harvard International Payee Tax Compliance Office with any questions. 

Round-trip economy travel expenses and visa fees from South Asia to Boston will also be reimbursed (for participants residing in South Asia only). All reimbursements and stipends are limited to the dates of the appointment. 

Neither the Mittal Institute nor Harvard University sponsors, provides, or procures housing for fellows during their residency. Fellows are expected to have at least temporary housing by the start date of their fellowship and arrival in Cambridge. More information and resources on housing in the Cambridge area can be found on the FAS Office of Postdoctoral Affairs Housing site. 

Eligibility

This is a Post-Doctoral Fellowship, and candidates must have received their PhD with preference given to those who have received their PhD in the past five years. Scholars who have not had past opportunities to access Harvard’s resources and who have primarily been educated at institutions in South Asia will be prioritized. 

Research proposals should be designed to foster deeper scholarly engagement on climate change, catalyze the creation of new knowledge, and contribute to the development of sustainable solutions across South Asia. Research can be focused on any region within South Asia. 

Research Proposal Requirements 

As part of the application, scholars must submit a five-page, double-spaced research plan. Applications should propose impactful climate research projects that address the critical challenges of climate change in the region with a focus on at least one of the following:  

Adaptation and Resilience: Innovative strategies for communities to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, particularly in vulnerable coastal, agricultural, and urban areas.  

Mitigation Efforts: Research on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and promoting energy efficiency in sectors such as transportation, industry, and agriculture.  

Climate-Related Public Health: Exploring the intersection of climate change and health, focusing on topics like air quality, heat stress, waterborne diseases, and the broader impacts on mental and physical well-being.  

Water Resource Management: Addressing water scarcity, glacier retreat, and sustainable management of transboundary water systems, which are of critical importance in the South Asian context.  

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Protection: Projects that aim to preserve biodiversity, protect natural habitats, and explore nature-based solutions for mitigating the impacts of climate change.  

Climate Policy and Governance: Analyses of regional and national policies, governance mechanisms, and frameworks to enhance climate action, including the role of public-private partnerships and international cooperation.  

Technology and Innovation: Exploring new technologies, data analytics, and innovative approaches that can accelerate climate action, with an emphasis on scalable solutions suitable for the South Asian context. 

Deadlines

Applications for the Academic Year 2025/26 Fellowship are due December 10, 2024. 

Reference letters are due December 20, 2024. 

Decisions will be made typically within 2 – 3 months of the application deadline. 

How to Apply

All application materials should be uploaded and submitted via an online application form called ARIeS. To start, please create an account on the ARIeS site. 

Once your account is active, you will be able to create and submit an application through this posting.

All applicants will need to submit the following through ARIeS:

• A five-page, double-spaced research plan 
• An updated and current curriculum vitae, which lists your academic degrees (including disciplines and the dates the degrees were received), your publications and research presentations, and any previous grants and/or fellowships. 
• A writing sample (no more than ten pages, double-spaced) 
• Two letters of recommendation uploaded directly to ARIeS. NOTE: Recommenders will NOT be able to submit their letters until you have completed your application and will have until December 20, ten days after the application deadline, to submit their letters. If need be, letters can be emailed directly to thomaselliott@fas.harvard.edu by December 20, with “Mittal Institute Fellowship Recommendation” and the applicant’s name in the subject line. They can be addressed to ‘Members of the Selection Committee.’ 

All materials must be received by the application deadline to be considered. If you have questions, please reach out to our program coordinator rather than to Harvard faculty. 

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. 

Ajmal Khan A.T is an interdisciplinary researcher who works at the intersection of environment, development, and climate change. Read more.

Vidya Subramanian, a former Raghunathan Fellow, talks about her research and time at The Mittal Institute. Read more.