FAQs for Postdoc Application
Q: How should I address the cover letter?
A: “To Whom It May Concern” is fine! (And no physical mailing address is necessary.)
Q: Should I reach out to any of the faculty affiliated with the initiative to discuss my application?
A: No; due to the volume of applicants, faculty cannot meet with anyone during the application process.
Q: Does the work I propose have to be related to inequality in America specifically, or may I propose to study inequality globally, or in another country?
A: Because the focus of the initiative is inequality in America, your proposed research must also focus on that topic. However, cross-cultural comparative research will be considered, as will research on American inequality within a global context.
Q: Does "inequality in America" mean inequality anywhere on the continents of North and South America, or is this short-hand for the "United States of America"?
A: We mean the United States (though, as noted above, comparative studies or research looking at the USA in a global context are potentially of interest).
Q: What disciplines are eligible?
A: We don't have strict criteria, and we have funded a diverse group of scholars. Most of the proposals we've received come from scholars in traditional social science fields, but if we believe we can identify suitable mentors we will consider applications from other disciplines. Please contact iai@fas.harvard.edu if you have questions about fit.
Q: Can I propose more than one project in my research statement?
A: Sure; if you plan to carry out multiple projects to address your research goals, please describe them. Your research statement should outline what you hope to accomplish in the two years of your postdoc; ambitious is fine, but stay realistic!
Q: What kind of writing sample should I submit?
A: Something that demonstrates your research and analytical skills, as well as your ability to communicate clearly and concisely; preferably a document of which you are the solo (or at least, first) author. It is better, for example, to submit a writing sample that clearly reflects your own skills rather than submitting an article published in a prestigous journal where you are just one of many authors. (After all, the prestigous article will be listed on your CV in any case, and committee members can track it down.) The writing sample does not have to be a published work, but please explain what it is, and list any co-authors.
Q: Do citation/reference lists (bibliographies) count as part of the word/page limit for the research statement and/or writing sample?
A: These are not counted as part of the page/word limit; that is, they can spill over onto additional pages. (However, keep in mind that your goal is not simply to submit the longest statement/writing sample possible! A concise, well-written argument can be very persuasive.)
Q: Do I need to include citation/reference lists (bibliographies) for my research statement and/or writing sample?
A: Probably. For instance, if you are citing other researchers' work to explain your own research, you should attribute this and include the full citation at the end of the research statement and/or writing sample. That said, your research statement is a concise explanation of your plans, not a full scholarly paper. Your citation list might not be very long!
Q: What if my writing sample is longer than 25 pages?
A: If it's a few pages longer, that's okay. However, the review committee will not read a substantially longer document. Furthermore, large files bog down our system. Please do not submit a document that greatly exceeds the page limit; instead, excerpt the relevant pages (including citations) of a longer work.
Q: Do you require a specific format for citations/references (e.g., APA, MLA, etc.)?
A: No; you can use any style.
Q: Do you accept applications from foreign nationals?
A: Yes, provided that your research experience and interests are relevant to the topic of inequality in the USA. Scholars from outside the United States may be appointed under either a J-1 (Research Scholar) or F-1 OPT (Optional Practical Training) visa, depending on their circumstances. If awarded a fellowship, the initial term of appointment for international scholars is September 1, 2024 - August 31, 2025. Please note that any appointment at Harvard is contingent upon obtaining appropriate visa status, and the US government is the final arbiter of all immigration-related cases. The Harvard International Office, as regulations permit, is available to help individuals obtain temporary visa status to work at Harvard.
Q: Do I need to identify a faculty host for the purpose of visa sponsorship?
A: No. For the purpose of visa sponsorship the program director serves as faculty host.
Q: Do the application materials have to be written in English?
A: Yes, all materials, including the letters of recommendation, must be in English.
Q: How does the letter of recommendation component of the application work?
A: First, please note that you should alert your referees of the letter-of-recommendation deadline (Nov 29) well in advance. They might find it helpful, in terms of tailoring their letters, if you provide some information about the fellowship and your research proposal. In terms of actual submission mechanics:
- In the application, the applicant lists email addresses for three referees. These email addresses must be accurate and cannot include hidden spaces at the beginning or end or any other typos. Triple-check this! These can be the referees' personal email addresses, or they can be the email addresses of a departmental office that processes letters of recommendation, or they can be the email addresses of your letter-writers' assistants. They can even be Interfolio email addresses. Just keep in mind that this is the only way we will get in touch with your referees, and this will be done in an automated fashion through the portal. We do not have the bandwidth to chase down missing letters or to try to find alternate methods of contacting referees.
- As soon as an applicant submits their application (on November 16th or earlier), this triggers the portal to send an automated message to all three referee email addresses. Applicants (who are not using Interfolio) may want to let their referees know to look for an email message from academicpositions@harvard.edu (occasionally referees may have to search their spam/junk filters). Note that referees will not be able to upload their letters to the portal in advance of the applicant's submission.
- Referees should follow the instructions for uploading their letters in the email from academicpositions@harvard.edu. They may have better luck if they upload a PDF over a Word doc, but if the upload is successful (or not), they should receive a message on their screen.
- Applicants should be tracking the letter submissions per these instructions. Applications that are missing letters will be considered incomplete and will not be forwarded to the selecton committee for review. (If an applicant notices an error on one of the email addresses after submitting their application, but before the letter deadline, they can contact Jennifer Shephard [see below], and she can help fix the error.)
Q: Who should I contact about technical difficulties with my application?
A: First, visit the Aries help page. If none of the information there applies, please email academicpositions@harvard.edu. Please include as much information as possible about the issue you are having, including your computer's operating system and version (e.g., "Windows 10 Enterprise, version 1809, build 17763.737"), and your browser and version (e.g., "Google Chrome Version 76.0.3809.132 (Official Build) (64-bit)"), as well as what you were doing just prior to the issue occurring, and the text (or a screenshot) of any error messages.
Q: Is there an interview process for this fellowship?
A: No. Candidates are selected based on their application materials, including letters of recommendation.
Q: What is the timeline for decisions?
A: In 2024 we expect to make decisions in late April. We typically make our first-round decisions (to narrow the pool to a long 'short list') in mid-to-late January, and at that time we notify all applicants of their status. The committee typically meets to select 'finalists' (initial offerees and short waitlist) in mid-to-late February, and again, we notify all remaining applicants at that time. The hiring process usually extends into March, as this involves back and forth discussions with candidates.
Q: What are my chances of receiving this fellowship?
A: In terms of sheer numbers, we typically receive several hundred applications per year for just four positions. This should not discourage anyone from applying! We are seeking a large and diverse pool of candidates, and we are especially interested in receiving applications from populations that are typically under-represented in higher education as well as from candidates from beyond the 'Ivy League'!
Q: Can I get feedback on why I was not selected as a finalist, or how to improve my application for next year?
A: Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications, we cannot offer specific feedback to candidates.