Arctic Initiative Fellowship

Fellows are expected to pursue research that relates to the priorities of the Arctic Initiative: addressing the challenges and opportunities associated with the rapid transformation of the Arctic. A special focus is on exploring to what extent existing governmental and international policies, programs, laws, and regulations are adequate and appropriate to address the evolving challenges and opportunities in the Arctic, and to consider how they can be improved.

In the 2025-2026 academic year, we will prioritize policy-focused proposals on:

Advancing Sustainable Ocean Management (climate change impacts; maritime navigation and new shipping routes; human health impacts; marine litter; ocean pollution; ocean acidification and biodiversity; natural resource management and efficient utilization of marine resources; international and scientific collaborations and challenges and opportunities for Indigenous communities);

Permafrost Thaw (policy implications of improved understanding of how pace of permafrost thaw and pace of global climate change interact; regional impacts of permafrost thaw under plausible scenarios; adaptation/resilience measures against regional impacts; communication of findings to key regional & global audiences);

Resilience in the Far North (infrastructure; transportation; health; food security; community empowerment; governance; culture; connectivity; tourism; shipping; and renewable energy in remote communities – including environmental and economic impacts and exploring ways to increase the resilience of and sustainable development for local Arctic communities and the ecosystems upon which they depend).

Arctic residents and Indigenous candidates, including pre- and postdoctoral scholars, and seasoned practitioners are encouraged to apply. Fellows are expected to be in residence during their fellowship term.

The Arctic Initiative is a joint project of the Environment and Natural Resources Program and the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program at the Belfer Center and fellows will interact — and collaborate — with fellows from both programs, as well as with faculty, visiting policy makers, and other experts at the Belfer Center and the Harvard Kennedy School.

Application Requirements

• CV/ Resume
• Unofficial transcript (pre-doctoral fellow applicants only)
• Research statement (3–5 pages)
• Writing sample (less than 50 pages)
  • Should be one published or unpublished piece written by the applicant (co-authored pieces not accepted) in English that will demonstrate his/her English-language writing ability
  • Can be a journal article, book chapter, dissertation chapter, white paper, etc. you have produced in your field
• Contact information for 3 recommenders submitting letters on your behalf