MCZ Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard University

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About MCZ Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship

Postdoctoral scholars at Harvard University‘s Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) are supported by the Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship program to investigate the identification and formal taxonomic classification of Earth’s animal species. Fellows will answer to one or more academic curators at MCZ, who will also give them access to lab space, office space, and research assistance. The initiative is not restricted to any one taxon; rather, its aim is to achieve wide taxonomic coverage.

This program was started with significant seed funding from the late Faculty-Curator Emeritus and University Research Professor Emeritus, as well as assistance from additional contributors. It was previously known as the Edward O. Wilson Postdoctoral Fellowship (2019–2022). Our commitment to promoting diversity, fairness, and inclusion initiatives as essential principles is demonstrated by the name change. Memorial recognition awards favor a small number of scholars disproportionately, usually those from affluent backgrounds, and people whose personal opinions may eventually conflict with the MCZ’s mission to support an active, diverse community of zoologists who feel valued, supported, and empowered to do their best work.

Fellowship Duration: It is possible to serve for a maximum of two years, with financing for the second year contingent on the first year’s successful performance.

Fellowship Start Date: The beginning date is negotiable. That needs to happen, though, within a year of the fellowship offer being renewed.

• School: Harvard University

Benefits of MCZ Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship

The following advantages are offered by this fellowship program:

• $67,600 stipend each year
• $10,000 per year for travel and research expenses.
• Allowance for relocation
• Any additional perks that qualify

MCZ Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship Requirements

Applicants for the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity postdoctoral fellowship must satisfy the following requirements:

• Possess a doctorate and related expertise doing systematics or taxonomy research.
• Prior to fellowship, fulfill all official prerequisites for the doctorate.
• Applications for this scholarship are open to US and non-US nationals.
• Candidates must list at least one academic curator who has consented to oversee the fellowship.
• Every candidate must reside in the Cambridge, Massachusetts, region.

Required Documents

Candidates should submit the following required documents:

• A one-page cover letter at most
• Research Proposal (max 4 pages, single spaced) outlining the following:
  • The nature and extent of the proposed study project;
  • The methodology and techniques to be used;
  • The ways in which the current MCZ collections would be used and supplemented with new specimens;
  • The needs for a laboratory and equipment; and
  • The anticipated publications and other products that the proposed MCZ faculty-curator sponsor will likely produce by the end of the fellowship period.
• Investigate Anticipation of the budget (one page)
• Resume, no more than three pages
• Five or more relevant publications
• Three reference letters (separately filed via an online method) from scientists who are not Harvard graduates.
• Videoconference and interview with the selection committee

Criteria for Selection

Harvard academic members will review submissions and rank the following criteria in order of importance during the selection process:

• It is likely that the planned study will lead to the identification and formal taxonomic description of yet unidentified animal species.
• Completely developed, well considered research initiatives that provide a strong case for the proposed study’s worth.
• The application of integrative methods to combine various data types in order to solve taxonomic challenges.
• A strong record of accomplishments in taxonomic and systematic research.

Other factors to consider for selecting the candidates:

• Preference will be given to applicants who have earned their doctorates within the previous three years and are not currently associated with Harvard University.
• Priority will be given to those studying taxonomic groups that are not now being studied by an active Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellow in order to foster variety of expertise within the MCZ (please refer to the list of active fellows).
• Proposals that emphasize the systematics and taxonomy of extinct or fossil species will not be taken into consideration by the selection committee at this time.

Application Date and Process

• Click on the link to the application website to apply.

Application Deadline

30 September, 2024

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