The Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard University is pleased to announce the competition for the 2025-26 An Wang Postdoctoral Fellowships in Chinese Studies.
For academic year 2025-26 the Fairbank Center is offering two post-doctoral fellowships to support participants in an interdisciplinary research group that will focus on the timely theme of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Society in Global China. The research group will be led by Dr. Ya-Wen Lei, Professor of Sociology and Dr. Moira Weigel, Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature at Harvard University.
Research Theme:
The 2025-26 An Wang research group aims to examine AI development, adoption, and impact as multidimensional, transnational processes shaped by historical precedents, China’s domestic evolution, and contemporary global dynamics. Potential research may pursue the following thematic areas of inquiry:
- AI development and global diffusion
- Adoption and adaptation of AI in and beyond China
- Historical perspectives on AI development
- Impact of AI on work, professions, and organizations.
We welcome applications from postdoctoral candidates from a range of disciplines, including anthropology, sociology, media studies, history of science, political science, and Science and Technology Studies, with research interests aligned with the above theme.
The application deadline is January 10, 2025.
Expectations:
The one-year fellowship period is from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026. An Wang postdoctoral fellows are expected to reside in the Greater Boston area for the duration of the fellowship.
As part of the interdisciplinary research group, An Wang postdoctoral fellows will conduct their own proposed research project under the mentorship of Professors Lei and Weigel. Using the balance of their available time, they will have opportunities to collaborate on research and to participate in a range of activities to be decided upon by the group. Over the course of the 2025- 2026 academic year, An Wang postdoctoral fellows will have the opportunity to share their research with other scholars working on contemporary China and to be part of the vibrant academic community at the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies.
Total annual stipend for An Wang Postdoctoral Fellows: $67,600 over 12 months. The position is eligible for Harvard University’s subsidized comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and other benefits. In addition, $3,000 in research funding will be available to each fellow.
The fellowships will be subject to all rules and regulations of Harvard University.
Qualifications:
A strong working knowledge of Chinese and English is required.
A doctoral degree in a relevant field is required. Confirmation of doctoral degree completion must be provided by one month prior to the start of the fellowship.
Applicants may not be more than five years beyond the receipt of their doctoral degree at the start of the fellowship. Harvard University doctoral degree recipients are not eligible for this fellowship.
Harvard is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, age, protected veteran status, disability, genetic information, military service, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or other protected status.
To Apply:
Applicants must submit a completed online application by January 10, 2025. All application materials must be in English. Two to three academic letters of recommendation are required.
For more information about the An Wang Postdoctoral Fellowships opportunity and a link to the online application, see: https://fairbank.fas.harvard.edu/programs/an-wang-postdoctoral-fellows/