India Fellowship 

The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute India (LMSAI), an office of Harvard Global Research Support Centre India (HGI), is pleased to offer the Mittal Institute India Fellowship (MIIF) to host two postdoctoral scholars in India. As fellows, scholars will have the opportunity to avail Harvard’s vast resources to contribute to self-driven, independent research. Applicants from any discipline are encouraged to apply, provided their studies advance, facilitate, and promote programs in, and for the public benefit of India. 

The Fellowship is meant for recent postdoctoral scholars who have completed their studies in the last five years. For this year’s application cycle, applicants must have obtained their Ph.D. between March 1, 2019, and March 31, 2024. Those who have not had opportunities in the past to access Harvard’s resources and who have primarily been educated at institutions in India, will be given priority.

Fellows are expected to reside in New Delhi (India) and its vicinity for the fellowship duration of one year to actively participate in the events and intellectual life of LMSAI India. Participation may include, but is not limited to, reviewing grants, hosting seminars, and engaging with Harvard faculty and affiliates in India. Fellows will be mentored by a Harvard faculty member in their area of research, and the research produced will be widely disseminated for public benefit in India. 

The Fellowship begins on September 1, 2024, and offers a stipend of INR 1,00,000 per month. This amount is to cover living costs, medical allowances, books, and research materials during the fellowship period. For candidates outside of New Delhi, economy travel expense for round-trip transportation from the fellow’s hometown to New Delhi will also be provided. All reimbursements and stipends are limited to the dates of the fellowship appointment. 

India Fellowship applications are now closed! 

APPLICATION CHECKLIST 

• Set up a HarvardKey to access Harvard’s application portal. Note: It may take a few hours for your new HarvardKey to become active. 
• Visit and fill out the Online Application Form on CARAT. 
• Upload a two-to-three-page, double-spaced research proposal to the Online Application Form. 
• Upload an updated 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 to the Online Application Form. 
• Upload a writing sample (no more than ten pages, double-spaced) to the Online Application Form. 
• Two letters of recommendation should be uploaded directly onto CARAT by recommenders. If they are unable to, please also have them send the letters to mittalinstitutedelhi@fas.harvard.edu by the application deadline, with “Mittal Institute India Fellowship Recommendation” and the applicant’s name in the subject line.  

Please note: Incomplete applications will not be considered. Do not write directly to Harvard faculty regarding the Mittal Institute’s Fellowship opportunities. If you have questions, please consult our Frequently Asked Questions below or send an email to mittalinstitutedelhi@fas.harvard.edu. 

FAQs 

We encourage all prospective applicants and selected fellows to thoroughly read these frequently asked questions prior to submitting an application or contacting the Mittal Institute Delhi office. 

May I apply to multiple fellowships being offered by the Mittal Institute? 

Yes, you may apply to multiple fellowships. However, since the India Fellowship is located within the Mittal Institute office in New Delhi, it cannot be combined with any other fellowship.

Can an India fellow work on research topics outside India? 

Fellows can work on research topics focused on India or can also choose cross-country research topics interconnected with India. The topics shall advance critical scholarship in India and shall be disseminated widely for public benefit in India. 

Which countries/regions are included in the Mittal Institute’s definition of South Asia? 

The Mittal Institute considers the following countries/ regions as part of South Asia: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and/or the Tibetan Plateau. 

Which fields of study would be a good fit for the India Fellowship?  

The fellowship is open to a diverse range of fields, including but not limited to science and medicine, philosophy, law, religion, language, literature, history, cultural studies, visual arts, economics, linguistics, anthropology, public health, education, gender studies, political science, sociology, and human geography. 

What should the plan of research and writing for the applications include? 

Your proposal should include:  

• Project title and a research abstract,  
• Research question(s),  
• Methodology, and  
• Proposed outcome 

Please Note: Use 1” margins and Times Roman 12 pt. font, two-to-three-pages, double-spaced. 

What should the writing sample be? 

Please submit a chapter of your dissertation or thesis. You may also submit any academic paper, news article, policy brief, or memo that demonstrates your writing skills.   

To whom should the letters of reference be addressed to? 

Letters of reference can be addressed to ‘Members of the Selection Committee.’ 

Who should my recommendation letters come from? 

At least one of the letters should come from an academic source who is familiar with your scholarly work. Professional references are also acceptable.   

How should I identify a Harvard faculty member whom I would like to engage with? 

Once selected, LMSAI will facilitate the process of connecting you with a faculty in your area of research. As part of your research plan, please identify any faculty members you would like to work with during the Fellowship.