Details

Title 2025-26 Fairbank Center Visiting Scholars Program

School Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Department/Area Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies

Position Description

The Harvard University Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies hosts Visiting Scholars from the faculties of other universities around the world as well as Visiting Fellows of Practice with professional expertise to contribute to an area of China studies.

Selected visiting scholars/fellows are invited to be affiliated with the Fairbank Center for one or two semesters (6-12 months) to develop their proposed research in various disciplines of Chinese Studies, broadly defined. Visiting scholars/fellows are not paid or funded by Harvard but will have an academic appointment and access to Harvard libraries and other resources.

The intellectual life of the Center is greatly enriched by the active participation of its affiliates. Visiting scholars/fellows are expected to undertake a clearly defined research project that draws upon Fairbank Center and Harvard University resources. They are also expected to be in residence in the greater Boston area during the period of affiliation and to engage actively in Fairbank Center academic events and activities.

Academic Visiting Scholar applicants must have a doctoral degree and be visiting from a ladder faculty position at another institution, to which they will return after the visit. The visiting period shall correspond with Harvard’s academic calendar, either for autumn semester, spring semester, or one full year from August 1 through July 31. An administrative fee of $1,000 will be charged to academic visiting scholars. Individual office space is not provided although desk space may be available in a shared office.

Visiting Fellows of Practice must be professionals with specialized and extensive China knowledge and interest in pursuing a research project utilizing academic resources. The visiting period shall correspond with Harvard’s academic calendar, either for autumn semester, spring semester, or one full year from August 1 through July 31. Visiting Fellows of Practice will be subject to an administrative fee of $10,000 per semester. Individual office space is not provided although desk space may be available in a shared office.

Apply to visit Harvard’s Fairbank Center for up to one year to pursue research in China studies.

Please indicate on your application if you are applying as an academic scholar or as a practitioner.

Basic Qualifications

This program opportunity is open to scholars from other (non-Harvard) institutions who are actively engaged in China studies research. Academic visiting scholar applicants must have a completed doctoral degree and be visiting from a ladder faculty position at their home university.

Practitioner candidates must be professionals with specialized and extensive China knowledge.

Proficiency in English is required.

Visiting scholars/fellows are expected to reside in the Cambridge/Boston area for the period of affiliation.

Selected visiting scholars/fellows must be able to demonstrate adequate self-funding. Visiting scholars/fellows are not paid or funded by Harvard University.

Additional Qualifications

Application to the visiting scholars program is selective. The Fairbank Center receives more applications from qualified candidates than we have the capacity to invite. All applications are carefully reviewed by a committee of Harvard faculty.

Selected visiting scholars and fellows must demonstrate adequate self-funding for U.S. visa purposes. Harvard International Office requires scholars applying for J-1 visa to show minimum self-funding of US$45,000 per year plus $6,500 per accompanying dependent. Funding may consist of a combination of third-party scholarships, home institution salary or sponsorship, or personal savings.

The United States government requires that visiting scholars/fellows have sufficient English proficiency to be able to function effectively in the U.S. The Fairbank Center is required to certify that a visitor has adequate command of English before their visa application can be processed. English proficiency will be determined via a submitted video recording or a Zoom interview. Note that English proficiency is a U.S. government requirement over which neither the Fairbank Center nor Harvard University has any control.

Special Instructions

To apply, complete the online application and submit these required materials:

• Curriculum Vitae (in English, listing current and recent employment with position titles, academic degrees with dates and discipline, and any publications).

• Research project proposal for the visiting period (in English, no more than five pages)

• Writing sample (an article or paper written in English or in Chinese)

• Photograph (a recent headshot color photo)

In addition, two letters of recommendation must be submitted directly by your references. When you submit the application your references will automatically receive an email inviting them to upload their letter of recommendation.

A recommendation letter from a Harvard faculty member is not required but may strengthen your application. It is not necessary to contact faculty directly. Instead, please indicate in your application if there are Harvard faculty who are familiar with your work.

Candidates may be asked to submit a short video introduction (2-3 minutes ) about their research interests and proposed project. The video will be requested and collected later.

Contact Information

Harriet Wong

Program Coordinator

Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies

Harvard University

Contact Email harrietwong@fas.harvard.edu

Equal Opportunity Employer

The unpaid visiting appointment 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.

Minimum Number of References Required 2

Maximum Number of References Allowed 3

Keywords

Visiting researcher in Chinese studies. China research. China studies. Taiwan studies. Taiwan research. Visiting scholar in East Asian studies. Visiting professor from China. Visiting professor from Taiwan. China Humanities. China Social Sciences.

Supplemental Questions