Fellowships

Rowland Fellows Program

The Rowland Institute at Harvard seeks the best young experimentalists in all fields of science and engineering. The Rowland Fellowship provides an opportunity to establish an independent program in the rich intellectual environment in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Fellows must have competed their doctoral degree prior to starting their Fellowship term.

Edwin Land founded the Rowland Institute of Science in 1982 to foster high-risk, creative research. In 2002, we became the Rowland Institute at Harvard when we joined the University with the mission of advancing the early careers of experimental scientists and engineers. In our founder’s tradition, we are particularly interested in supporting young scholars who have the potential to establish a ground-breaking research program in their chosen field. Previous Rowland Fellows have gone on to extremely successful careers, mostly in academia, but also in industry and even as founders of startup companies.

The Rowland Fellowship provides a flexible and agile environment, fostering the pursuit of innovative research. The Fellowship provides funding for equipment, postdoctoral fellows and undergraduate students, and general operations. Staff scientists and engineers are available to work with the Rowland Fellows to design and fabricate new experimental set-ups. Shared research equipment are available at facilities within the Institute and throughout Harvard University. The Fellowship lasts up to five years, with a flexible start date; our 2024 Rowland Fellows will have start dates September-December 2024.

How to Apply

Deadline

• 2025 Rowland Fellowships:
  • The application cycle will open by the end of May 2024

Timeline for the Rowland Fellowship application process:

1. Applications will be due mid-August 2024: Applicants apply through the link below, and submit the following materials:
   • Statement of Research (three page limit)
   • curriculum vitae (CV)
   • contact information for three or four references
2. Mid-October 2024: Candidates are contacted to interview.  
3. Mid-November 2024: Finalists come to the Institute to
   1. Present their past and proposed work in a short symposium-style talk
   2. Interview with staff and current Rowland Fellows
4. December 2024: Selection decisions are made and finalists are informed

Some notes about applications:

• 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 these referees about submitting their letter of recommendation.
• 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@rowland.harvard.edu and we will reactivate your account so you can submit the revised version.

Eligibility

• Applicants should currently be in the process of either completing their PhDs, and/or have received their PhD after May 2023. 
• A Ph.D. is required by the time you start your fellowship at the Rowland, but it is very common that applicants do not yet have their Ph.D. at the time of the selection process.
• Your proposed research must be experimentally focused in any field of science or engineering – including physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, neuroscience, etc. 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! We choose Fellows based on the best proposed science at the time of submission.
• 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 you in the visa process if needed.
• Please email rf@rowland.harvard.edu if you have questions regarding eligibility or the application.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Harvard is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.