#  Visiting Scholars 

 



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**Call for Applications: Stone Visiting Scholars**

The Stone Program at the Harvard Kennedy School invites applications for a 2026-2027 Visiting Scholar fellowship. This fellowship supports scholars conducting research related to wealth distribution, inequality, and social policy. It offers scholars in the social sciences the opportunity to advance their research and writing while in residence within a multidisciplinary environment of faculty and graduate students studying inequality. All fellowship awards will be made on the merits of the proposed research and its connection to the Stone Program’s research focus, as well as the scholar's potential to contribute to the Stone Program's community. These awards provide salary support, office space, and access to other university resources, and they entail the expectation of contributing to the intellectual life of the Stone Program.

**Eligibility**  
We invite applications from tenured or tenure-track faculty carrying out research in the social sciences (especially, but not limited to, economists, sociologists, and political scientists). All applicants must have a PhD or equivalent terminal degree.

**How to Apply**  
Interested applicants should send their CV to <inequality@hks.harvard.edu>, along with a description of their proposed research agenda. This description should be 2 pages long, single spaced, excluding references. This description should include an explanation of (1) the significance of the research, (2) the anticipated work product, (3) the timeline for the research and how the Visiting Scholar position corresponds to the timeline, and (4) how the research will be shared with the Stone Program community and with the broader public. Applicants should also state their current base, academic-year salary. The application documents must be submitted as a single, combined PDF. Word documents will not be accepted.

**Evaluation**  
Applications will be evaluated by a review committee of faculty members affiliated with the Stone Program.

**Deadline**  
The deadline for 2026-2027 Stone Visiting Scholar applications is October 15, 2025.

**Terms**  
Faculty will be recognized as Stone Visiting Scholars in honor of the support provided by James M. and Cathleen D. Stone. Stone Visiting Scholars are provided office space at the Harvard Kennedy School and are expected to be in residence and contribute to the collective intellectual life of the Stone Program during the academic year of their visit. Examples of contributions to the intellectual life of the Stone Program include co-teaching in the Proseminar on Inequality and Social Policy for Stone PhD Scholars (who are graduate students working on inequality from across Harvard University), attending the Stone Inequality and Social Policy Seminar Series (held weekly over lunch), giving a talk in the Stone Inequality and Social Policy Seminar Series, and moderating the annual Stone Lecture in Economic Inequality. Visiting scholars also may be invited to mentor Stone PhD Scholars or Stone Postdoctoral Fellows.

### **Frequently Asked Questions**

**What salary support is offered by the fellowship?**  
The fellowship provides a salary equal to 50 percent of the visiting scholar’s current, academic-year salary at their home institution. If the selected scholar’s employer does not offer paid sabbaticals, the scholar may request more than 50 percent of their current salary, but they should not assume that this request can be granted.

**How long is the fellowship?**  
The appointment runs from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, but visiting scholars are not required to be in residence on campus until the academic year begins in September, 2026. In some circumstances, a residency of one semester will be considered, but the preferred length of residence is two semesters.

**Do visiting scholars need to be in residence on campus?**  
Yes, scholars are expected to be on campus during the academic year so that they can be a part of the Stone Program’s intellectual community. To facilitate this, each scholar is provided a private office within the Harvard Kennedy School and access to other Harvard facilities, including all libraries. Fellows are responsible for finding their own housing, but are eligible to apply for Harvard University Housing.

**What are the main activities of the fellowship year?**  
The central purpose of the fellowship is to provide scholars with time for their own research and writing. In addition, attendance at our weekly Stone Inequality and Social Policy Seminar Series is expected. This seminar convenes over lunch on Mondays at noon during the academic year. Visiting scholars are also offered the opportunity to present their research during a talk in the Stone Inequality and Social Policy Seminar Series. The Stone Program hosts other programming throughout the year, including occasional dinners and book talks. Visiting scholars who co-teach the Proseminar on Inequality and Social Policy, which meets once weekly for one semester, can be nominated for an additional appointment as a Visiting Professor at the Harvard Kennedy School. The Stone Program enjoys supporting Visiting Professor appointments.

**Can I teach at my home institution during the fellowship?**  
No, the Stone Visiting Scholar fellowship is intended for scholars who are on sabbatical leave from their home institutions.

**I recently received a PhD. Can I apply for this fellowship?**  
Applicants for the Stone Visiting Scholar fellowship should be at least three years beyond their PhD. For opportunities for recent PhD recipients, please explore the [Stone Program Postdoctoral Fellowship](/postdoctoral-fellowships).

**Is there additional funding available?**  
During their fellowship, Stone Visiting Scholars can apply for supplemental research funding through the Stone Research Grant system. Examples of uses for these small grants include research or conference travel, data purchases, and research assistance. This funding is not guaranteed.

**Who are the previous Stone Visiting Scholars?**  
To view the list of previous visiting scholars, [click here](https://inequality.hks.harvard.edu/stone-visiting-scholars).

**If I am not selected, can I reapply?**  
Yes, applicants can reapply to be Stone Visiting Scholars in future academic years.

**If you have other questions, please send them to** [**inequality@hks.harvard.edu**](mailto:inequality@hks.harvard.edu)**.**