The Ash Center awards several dissertation research fellowships to Harvard Kennedy School Ph.D. candidates or other Harvard University students in related fields.

Eligibility

Doctoral dissertation topics should fall within the parameters of the Center’s work on democratic governance. The Center particularly encourages applications from doctoral students writing about issues of democracy in “hard places”; citizen participation; government innovations at the regional and local level, and questions specific to South-East Asia. Candidates should have an excellent academic record and well-defined research objectives. Preference will be given to applicants whose projects have progressed beyond the conceptual stages of the research.

Benefits

The fellowship will provide up to $30,000 annual stipend and work space at the Ash Center for two fellowships.

How to Apply

The deadline for the 2013-2014 fellowship has now passed.
To apply for the 2014-2015 fellowship, please submit a two to three page explanation of the nature and current status of the dissertation, a resume, sample chapter(s) or other examples of professional writing, and the names of two faculty members who can be consulted as references. Email your proposal by April 1, 2014* to Juanne Zhao, Program Assistant, Democratic Governance Program at the Ash Center (juanne_zhao@hks.harvard.edu). Questions should be directed to Bruce Jackan, Associate Director for Democracy, Students, and Fellows Programs (bruce_jackan@hks.harvard.edu).
*Date subject to change

2012 Doctoral Fellow Announced

• Emma Saunders-Hastings, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Government, Harvard University - Her doctoral research examines private philanthropy as a problem for democratic governance.
• Shauna Shames, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Government, Harvard University - The Roots of Political Ambition: Gender, Race, Class, and the Decision to Run for Office