Belfer Center Announces New Fellowship Program for Senior, Experienced Technology and Scientific Innovators from the Private Sector

Friday, April 24, 2026—Cambridge, MA—The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government today announced it is seeking applicants for a new fellowship program to build bridges between the technology, academic, and policy practice communities. 

The Nova Fellows Program is a new component of the Program on Emerging Technology, Scientific Advancement, and Global Policy at the Belfer Center. Applications are encouraged from experienced, senior technology and scientific innovators from the private sector to pursue policy-relevant work aimed at expanding the understanding, potential, use, impact, and governance of emerging technologies. The duration and on-campus commitment of the fellowship will vary significantly, depending on the situation of the fellows. 

“Today, the private sector is the main driver behind the development of new technologies that have transformative impacts on society, government, national security, the ways in which countries interact with one another, and how power is distributed in the international system.  As we at the Belfer Center and the Harvard Kennedy School seek to better understand the technological landscape and to offer ideas on how to maximize the good and minimize the harm stemming from their development, we need private sector voices in our community, alongside our scholars and government practitioners,” said Meghan L. O’Sullivan, Director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. “The Nova Fellows Program will help us build a bridge between those creating transformative technologies and those responsible for governing their impact. At the Belfer Center, we see this as core to our mission.”  

J. Michael McQuade, Director of the Program on Emerging Technology, Scientific Advancement, and Global Policy, said: “Our program initiatives are built not only on facility with the technologies that are shaping our world but also on understanding how those technologies are envisioned, developed, and deployed. We hope our Nova Fellows will bring that deep knowledge to our efforts while also presenting opportunities for them to gain experience in how policy is formulated, negotiated, and implemented.” 

Working at the frontiers where new science and new technologies are necessitating important dialog and decision making in matters as broad as national security, global governance, diplomacy, and the future of human interactions, the new fellows will join the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, part-time for a portion of the year. 

Elements of the Nova Fellows experience:  

• Collaboration and Mentorship: Participants will interact with students, researchers, and faculty at the Belfer Center, Harvard Kennedy School, and within the broader Harvard community; activities may include leading student study groups, mentoring, and offering technical expertise to public policy students and young scholars. 
• Research and Policy Development: Participants may choose to pursue an independent or collaborative project with other members of our communities, for example, developing a paper, primer, policy recommendation, or hosting a convening that tackles a critical issue at the confluence of emerging technology and policy. 
• Public Engagement: Participants can take advantage of Belfer Center and Harvard Kennedy School events, including lectures, roundtables, and convenings with national and global leaders. 
• Network Building: Participants will have regular engagement with the extensive Belfer Center community, alumni, and policy network. 

Full details including eligibility requirements, application requirements, and submission guidelines are available here.