Rowland Fellowship at Harvard 2027 – Fully Funded Early‑Career Research Program

The Rowland Institute at Harvard invites applications for the Rowland Fellowship 2027, a prestigious program for outstanding early‑career experimentalists in all fields of science and engineering.

This fully funded fellowship provides independent research opportunities, generous start‑up funding, and full principal investigator rights in the rich intellectual environment of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Fellows receive a starting salary of 89,999peryear,ayearlyoperationsbudgetof89,999peryear,ayearlyoperationsbudgetof225,000, dedicated lab space, and full Harvard benefits. The application deadline is 1 August 2026. If you are looking for similar opportunities, explore fully funded scholarships in USA for international students.

About the Rowland Fellowship

Edwin Land founded the Rowland Institute of Science in 1980 to foster high‑risk, creative research. In 2002, it became the Rowland Institute at Harvard, with the mission of advancing the early careers of experimental scientists and engineers. In 2024, the Institute moved to Harvard’s main campus to be closer to collaborators and university resources.

Following its founder’s tradition, the Rowland Fellowship supports scholars who have the potential to establish groundbreaking research programs that bridge traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Fellowship Benefits

Fellows will have full principal investigator rights and will establish their labs in an interdisciplinary and interactive environment. They receive dedicated laboratory space and ancillary spaces as needed, such as tissue culture facilities. Generous start‑up funding for capital equipment is provided, depending on the Fellow’s research program. A yearly budget starting at 225,000isavailableforgeneraloperations,includinglabsupplies,travel,andthehiringofpersonnelsuchaspostdoctoralfellows,postbacs,andundergraduates.Fellowsreceiveasalarythatbeginsat225,000isavailableforgeneraloperations,includinglabsupplies,travel,andthehiringofpersonnelsuchaspostdoctoralfellows,postbacs,andundergraduates.Fellowsreceiveasalarythatbeginsat89,999 per year with full Harvard benefits.

Fellows may have the opportunity to teach undergraduates during their Fellowship, enabling contact with students in an active research setting rather than a classroom. This helps Fellows recruit talented students to their labs and provides teaching experience that will benefit them in any career they choose. Staff scientists and engineers are available to work directly with Rowland Fellows to design and fabricate new experimental set‑ups. Shared research equipment is available at facilities within the Institute and throughout Harvard University, including the Center for Nanoscale Systems and the Bauer Life Science Core Facility.

Fellows receive mentoring to develop a productive lab culture, support for scientific writing and budgeting, and ongoing support for career development throughout the Fellowship period, including leadership training and access to Harvard’s Core for Mentorship Excellence.

Fellowship Duration

The fellowship lasts up to five years with a flexible start date. Incoming 2027 Rowland Fellows will have start dates between July and December 2027.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the 2027 cycle, applicants should currently be in the process of completing their PhD or have received their PhD after 1 May 2025. Fellows must have completed their doctoral degree prior to starting their Fellowship term.

Proposed research must be experimentally focused in any field of science or engineering, including physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, neuroscience, and related fields. The program accepts applications from such a broad range of fields that the research conducted by current and past Fellows can be used as a guide, but should not be considered restrictive. Fellows are chosen based on the best proposed science at the time of submission.

The program cannot support 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.

Candidates can apply from any accredited academic institution, whether in the United States or internationally. US citizens and non‑citizens are eligible for appointment as Rowland Fellows. The staff at the Rowland Institute and Harvard University can assist with the visa process if needed.

For applicants interested in other research fellowships in the United States, see USA's latest scholarships in 2026.

Application Requirements

Applications must be submitted through the Harvard Careers website. Only applications submitted through this portal will be considered. Required materials include:

• A 250‑word “elevator pitch” to describe your research goals to a general audience

• A Statement of Research (three‑page limit including references), describing your research proposal and, if relevant, a summary of any recent work that supports the planned experiments

• A curriculum vitae (CV)

• A Vision Statement (one‑page limit) to describe how your personal values and experiences in academia inform your plan for a productive and supportive culture within your group

• Contact information for three or four references. Automated emails will be sent requesting letters of recommendation directly to your references, with a submission deadline.

Important Dates for the 2027 Cycle

The deadline for applications is Saturday, 1 August 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT. Letters of recommendation are due by 15 August 2026.

In September 2026, applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will be notified by email. In October 2026, candidates are contacted for a first‑round Zoom interview, and unsuccessful candidates will be notified by email.

In November 2026, finalists come to the Institute for a two‑day interview. On Day 1, candidates participate in a symposium and give a brief presentation on both past and proposed research. On Day 2, candidates interview with current Rowland Fellows, Rowland staff, and the admissions committee.

In December 2026, selection decisions are made and finalists are informed.

Additional Application Notes

Your application need not be completed and submitted in one sitting; you can log back in at a later time to make additions and changes. When your application is completed and submitted, instructions will automatically be sent to your referees about submitting their letter of recommendation, with a deadline of two weeks. You might want to alert your referees earlier via email that the automated letter request is coming, so that they have more time to complete it.

Once completed and submitted, you cannot revise your materials. If you do need to submit a revised version after submittal but before the deadline, please email rf@g.harvard.edu, and the team will reactivate your account so you can submit the revised version.

Please declare use of AI tools in your application and describe their use. Importantly, their use should not replace your original thinking. The required materials seek to elicit responses that reflect your personal experience and unique motivations and should be written in your own voice. Caution is advised against using AI‑generated materials as‑is, as admissions committees can often sense AI‑written materials because they lack personal nuance and can be rather vague in the details.

For any questions regarding eligibility or the application, please email rf@g.harvard.edu.

For additional financial aid options across North America, explore financial aids for students in North America. And to see a complete list of open fellowships and scholarships, visit list of all open scholarships in North America.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non‑discrimination. The university seeks talent from all parts of society and the world and strives to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Differences help the community advance Harvard’s academic purposes. Harvard’s equal employment opportunity policy outlines its commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, sex, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university’s non‑discrimination policy.

Final Thoughts

The Rowland Fellowship is a transformative opportunity for early‑career experimentalists who want to establish an independent research program at one of the world’s leading universities. With generous funding, full PI status, and a supportive interdisciplinary environment, this fellowship can launch a successful academic or industry career. The deadline is 1 August 2026. Prepare your materials carefully, write in your own voice, and apply through the Harvard Careers website.

Apply Now for Rowland Fellowship 2027