Mihaychuk Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Mihaychuk Postdoctoral Fellowship is awarded to promising junior scholars to support academic research that advances knowledge of Ukraine. This fellowship is designed to bring early-career scholars to Harvard University for nine months of focused, independent research. Fellows enjoy access to Harvard's vast research resources and vibrant intellectual environment.

Benefits

• A total stipend of $54,000, paid biweekly for nine months and subject to US income tax.
• The fellowship supports full-time independent research for nine months in residence at Harvard from September 1 to May 31.
• Postdoctoral fellows are eligible for Harvard employee benefits, including subsidized health insurance.
• Access to shared office space but fellows should bring their own computers.
• Full access to Harvard's vast libraries and archival materials, including electronic resources.
• Fellows will pursue their proposed independent research project within the vibrant intellectual environment at Harvard. Fellows are expected to participate actively in the Institute's events and community. This includes giving a lecture on their own research at an event hosted by HURI.
• International scholars are eligible for visa sponsorship by Harvard.
• Please note that HURI does not provide housing for visiting fellows during their residency term. Fellows are expected to secure housing in advance of their arrival and start date. 

Expectations 

• Participate actively in HURI’s events and intellectual community
• Pursue the proposed independent research full-time, without other work commitments, and make substantial progress
• Prepare and deliver a public lecture on their fellowship research at an event hosted by HURI
• Work on campus, in residence at Harvard, for the duration of the fellowship 

Eligibility

• Research fellowships from the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute support significant, innovative, independent research that advances knowledge of Ukrainian history, culture, and society while in residence at Harvard University.
• Fellows must hold a PhD degree or international equivalent (Candidate of Sciences, кандидат наук) in the humanities and social sciences.
• The Postdoctoral fellowship is for early-career scholars who received their doctoral degree in the past five years, between June 2021 and June 2026. Current doctoral candidates whose degree will be awarded before July 1 are also eligible to apply. Incoming Postdoctoral Fellows will need to provide official confirmation of their degree.
• Scholars who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing knowledge of Ukraine through teaching, research, and publication are encouraged to apply.
• Citizens of all countries are welcome.
• Non-US applicants must be eligible to receive and maintain a J-1 visa to carry out research in residence at Harvard supported by a fellowship from HURI. More information can be found here. Please note the two-year national residency requirements, which may apply if you recently held a long-term J-1 visa (more than 6 months).

Application Instructions

• Applications for Academic Year 2026-2027 are due by 11:59 pm EST on January 15, 2026.
• Supporting letters of recommendation are due by January 22, 2026.
• Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
• All application materials must be in English.
• Decisions will be announced in April. No fellowship award is final until approved by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
• Fellowship applications include the following supporting documents, all of which must be submitted within the online application on Harvard's Academic Positions platform:

Supporting Documents

Cover letter

No longer than two pages. The cover letter should explain your interest in this fellowship and residence at Harvard. It should include your academic biography and a short summary of your research plan during the fellowship term. 

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Not longer than three pages. The CV must clearly indicate all academic degrees with the date received, degree-granting institution, and department/field/discipline, current employer(s) and position(s), any publications, if applicable.

Research Proposal

Detailed description of your proposed fellowship research, 3-5 pages, double-spaced. Include the title and abstract of your proposed research project, its significance within your field, and the intended outcome (book project? chapter? article? in which language?).

Title, Abstract, and Table of Contents of your PhD Dissertation

Writing Sample

Please submit one dissertation chapter, article, or book chapter, representing recent work. Please include basic information about the writing sample, such as where it appears and when (journal name, peer-reviewed? Edited volume title? Publication date?). English is preferred, but Ukrainian and Russian are accepted.

Letters of Recommendation

Two (2) letters of recommendation are required. You are responsible for contacting your letter writers in advance and ensuring that the letters are received by the deadline. Letters are due one week after the application deadline.

Recent graduates should include a letter from their dissertation advisor and/or a member of the dissertation committee. Your recommenders should be able to address your career path and prospects, the significance of your proposed project, and your ability to successfully conduct the proposed research.

Apply Now

The application deadline for Academic Year 2026-2027 is 11:59 pm EST on January 15, 2026. Letters of Recommendation are due one week later. Apply here for a Mihaychuk Postdoctoral Fellowship in Ukrainian Studies.