Rowland Fellows Program Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026 – Harvard University

Fellowship Description

The Rowland Fellows Program at the Rowland Institute at Harvard University offers exceptional early-career experimentalists in all fields of science and engineering the opportunity to establish an independent research program in the rich intellectual environment of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded by Edwin Land in 1980, the Rowland Institute fosters high-risk, creative research.

Rowland Fellows have full principal investigator rights and establish their labs in an interdisciplinary and interactive environment. The program particularly supports scholars who have the potential to establish a ground-breaking research program that bridges traditional disciplinary boundaries. Previous Rowland Fellows have gone on to extremely successful careers, mostly in academia, but also in industry and as founders of startup companies.

Fellowship Location

The fellowship is based at the Rowland Institute at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. In 2024, the Institute moved to Harvard's main campus to be closer to collaborators and university resources.

Application Deadline

Applications for the 2027 Rowland Fellowships must be submitted by August 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT. Letters of recommendation are due by August 15, 2026.

Host Institution

The Rowland Institute at Harvard University is a research institute dedicated to advancing the early careers of experimental scientists and engineers. The Institute provides an interdisciplinary, interactive environment where Fellows have full principal investigator rights and access to Harvard's world-class resources and facilities.

Level and Fields of Study

Level: Postdoctoral Fellowship (early-career researchers).

Fields: The program accepts applications from such a broad range of fields, but proposed research must be experimentally focused in any field of science or engineering, including:

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Engineering
• Neuroscience
• Materials Science
• Other experimental sciences

Not supported: Human subjects research or clinical research of any type, as the fellowship is designed to enable Fellows from multiple disciplines to share overlapping laboratory spaces.

Target Group

The fellowship targets early-career experimentalists who are in the process of completing their PhDs or have received their PhD after May 1, 2025. US citizens and non-citizens are eligible for appointment. The program encourages applicants from the broader scientific community; candidates can apply from any accredited academic institution whether in the United States or internationally.

Fellowship Duration & Amount

Duration: Up to 5 years (with flexible start dates).

Benefits include:

• Full principal investigator rights – Fellows establish their own labs
• Dedicated laboratory space and ancillary spaces as needed
• Generous start-up funding for capital equipment
• Yearly budget starting at $225,000 for general operations (lab supplies, travel, etc.) and hiring personnel (postdoctoral fellows, postbacs, undergraduates)
• Salary starting at $89,999 per year with full Harvard benefits
• Opportunity to teach undergraduates during the Fellowship
• Staff scientists and engineers available to design and fabricate new experimental set-ups
• Shared research equipment at the Institute and throughout Harvard University
• Mentoring to develop a productive lab culture, support for scientific writing, budgeting, and career development
• Leadership training and access to Harvard's Core for Mentorship Excellence

Fellowship Eligibility

Essential criteria:

• Career stage: Currently in the process of completing a PhD or received PhD after May 1, 2025. Fellows must have completed their doctoral degree prior to starting their Fellowship term.
• Research focus: Proposed research must be experimentally focused in any field of science or engineering.
• Institutional affiliation: Can apply from any accredited academic institution, whether in the United States or internationally.
• Citizenship: US citizens and non-citizens are eligible. Harvard can assist with the visa process.

Not eligible: Human subjects research or clinical research of any type.

Application Procedure

1. Review the fellowship information – Visit the Rowland Institute website to learn about the program and current Fellows.
2. Prepare your application materials – Gather the following:
   • Elevator Pitch – 250 words describing your research goals to a general audience
   • Statement of Research – Three-page limit including references, describing your research proposal and summary of recent work
   • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
   • Vision Statement – One-page limit describing how your personal values and experiences inform your plan for a productive and supportive lab culture
   • Contact information for 3-4 referees – Automated emails will be sent requesting letters of recommendation
3. Submit your application – Only applications submitted through the Harvard Careers website will be considered.
4. Ensure referees submit letters – Letters of recommendation are due by August 15, 2026.
5. Application review process:
   • September 2026: Eligibility notifications
   • October 2026: First-round Zoom interviews
   • November 2026: Finalists invited to a two-day interview at the Institute
   • December 2026: Selection decisions and notifications

Important notes: You can log back in to make changes before submitting. Once submitted, you cannot revise materials — if you need to submit a revised version before the deadline, email [email protected]. Please declare use of AI tools in your application and describe their use. Caution is advised against using AI-generated materials as-is, as admissions committees can often sense AI-written materials.

Official Website & Application Link

Rowland Institute – Fellowships Official Page

Application Portal: Harvard Careers website (link available on the Rowland Fellows page)

Contact Email: [email protected]