India Fellowship 

The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute – Harvard Global Research Support Centre India (the Mittal Institute India office), 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. 

About Mittal Institute 

The Mittal Institute connects Harvard and South Asia. With over two billion people facing shared challenges and opportunities, South Asia offers unique opportunities for interdisciplinary research, capacity building, and informing policy across a wide range of fields. The Institute works with faculty members, students, and in-region institutions and experts to advance and deepen the understanding of critical issues shaping South Asia and its global impact.   

About the Fellowship

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 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, climate, education, gender studies, political science, sociology, and human geography.  

Fellowship Details 

• The India Fellowship is located within the Mittal Institute India office at New Delhi, and cannot be combined with any other fellowship during the tenure. 

• Fellows will be remotely mentored by a Harvard faculty member in their area of research, and the research produced will be widely disseminated for public benefit in India. 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 the Mittal Institute India office. Participation may include, but is not limited to, reviewing grants, hosting seminars, and engaging with Harvard faculty and affiliates in India.  

• The Fellowship begins in January 2026 and offers a gross 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 expenses 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. 

• 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.

Eligibility 

The Fellowship is meant for recent postdoctoral scholars who have completed their PhD studies in the last five years. For this year’s application cycle, applicants must have obtained their PhD between March 1, 2020, and March 31, 2025. 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. 

Application Deadline: Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST)

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please do not write directly to Harvard faculty regarding the Mittal Institute’s Fellowship opportunities.  

Decisions will be made typically within 3-4 months of the application deadline.

How to Apply 

All application materials should be uploaded and submitted via an online application portal, 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 using the link below

All applicants will need to submit the following through ARIeS:

• A two-to-three-page, double-spaced research plan. Please use 1” margins and Times Roman 12 pt. font. The research plan must include: 
          ◦ Project title and a research abstract
          ◦ Research question(s)
          ◦ Methodology, and
          ◦ Proposed outcome

• 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 that is no more than ten pages, double-spaced. This could be 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.

• A scan of your PhD Diploma (transcripts and proof of prior degrees are not required).

• Two letters of recommendation uploaded directly to ARIeS. At least one of the letters should come from an academic source who is familiar with your scholarly work. Professional references are also acceptable. 

NOTE: 

• Once your application has been received, ARIeS will automatically notify your referees to submit their letters of recommendation. We encourage you to follow up with your referees to ensure timely submission. 

• In case of any issues, letters can be emailed directly to: mittalinstitutedelhi@fas.harvard.edu, with “Mittal Institute India Fellowship Recommendation” and the applicant’s name in the subject line. Letters 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 write to mittalinstitutedelhi@fas.harvard.edu  

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.