Harvard Kennedy School Carr-Ryan Center Fellowships 2026–2027: Fully Detailed Guide to All Fellowship Opportunities (Unpaid & Paid Options)

Applications for the 2026/2027 fellowship cohorts on the Harvard Kennedy School’s Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights Policy are actually formally open, with a deadline of February 22, 2026. These prestigious fellowships spanning Human Rights, Global LGBTQI+ Rights, Racial Justice, and Technology & Human Rights provide a uncommon alternative for students, practitioners, advocates, and researchers to have interaction in superior study, collaborative alternate, and rigorous human rights oriented inquiry.

Each fellowship is designed to deepen international conversations on human rights, racial fairness, expertise, and justice. Fellows be a part of a vibrant mental group, have interaction with Harvard college, take part in seminars and public programming, and develop cutting-edge analysis tasks that contribute meaningfully to international coverage and tutorial discourse.

While a number of fellowships are unpaid affiliations, the Racial Justice Fellowship provides a $10,000 stipend. All applications run for one tutorial 12 months (September 1 – June 30) and welcome each rising and established professionals within the area.

Below is a complete information to all open fellowship applications for 2026–2027, together with eligibility, necessities, application hyperlinks, and deadlines.

Program Overview

The Carr-Ryan Center Fellowship invites people dedicated to advancing human rights scholarship or apply to be a part of a year-long affiliation with the Center. Fellows could:

• Conduct analysis and writing
• Audit Harvard Kennedy School lessons
• Meet college and visiting specialists
• Lead scholar study teams
• Participate in conferences, workshops, and public lectures

This fellowship is unpaid, and candidates sometimes safe exterior funding by way of their home establishments, employers, or grants.

Fellowship Term:
September 1 – June 30 (one tutorial 12 months)

Residency:
Primarily non-residential; restricted shared workplace area could also be accessible.

Eligibility

Applicants could also be:

• Post-doctoral students
• Academics on sabbatical
• Human rights defenders
• Senior leaders in worldwide organizations
• Heads of human rights NGOs
• Researchers or practitioners aligned with Carr-Ryan Center priorities

Both rising and established professionals are welcome.

Required Application Materials

1. Resume/CV
2. Research proposal (up to 3 pages) together with:
   • Alignment with Center analysis priorities
   • Relevant college collaborators
   • Applicant {qualifications}
3. Executive abstract (up to 200 phrases)
4. Two references (names & contact data solely)
5. Relevant writing pattern (up to 10 pages)
6. List of prior publications or skilled outputs (hyperlinks or up to 3 attachments)

Program Overview

The Global LGBTQI+ Human Rights Fellowship is a year-long program for researchers, practitioners, and advocates advancing LGBTQI+ rights worldwide. Fellows work on policy-relevant analysis and culminate their fellowship by presenting on the Global LGBTQI+ Research Symposium in Cambridge, MA.

Fellows can also audit lessons, have interaction with Harvard college, lead study teams, and take part in public programming on the Kennedy School.

Term:
September 1 – June 30

Eligibility and Expectations

Applicants should reveal a dedication to LGBTQI+ human rights analysis or apply. Emerging and established candidates from any self-discipline could apply.

Fellows should commit to:

Monthly Participation

• Attend one month-to-month Zoom cohort assembly
• Engage in peer suggestions & group dialogue

Research Development

• Present their work a minimum of 3 times (concepts, findings, drafts)
• Share supplies prematurely for group evaluation

Spring Symposium

• Present ultimate undertaking on the Global LGBTQI+ Research Symposium

The fellowship is unpaid and primarily non-residential. Limited shared workplace area could also be accessible.

Required Application Materials

• Resume/CV
• Research proposal (up to 3 pages)
• Executive abstract (up to 200 phrases)
• Two references (contact particulars solely)
• Writing pattern (up to 10 pages)
• List of publications or comparable deliverables

Required Prompt Responses

Applicants should tackle:

1. Intended impression of analysis on LGBTQI+ activists, communities, or policymakers
2. Residency wants, if any
3. Funding sources (fellowship is unpaid)

Personal Information Section

Applicants should additionally present:

• First & final identify
• Email and cellphone quantity
• Current establishment and place
• Gender identification & pronouns
• Mailing tackle

Program Overview

The Racial Justice Fellowship focuses on reworking methods and establishments to advance racial and financial fairness. Fellows from a variety of sectors together with academia, civil society, enterprise, expertise, human rights, and public curiosity expertise design and execute analysis aligned with the Center’s priorities.

This is the solely fellowship that features direct monetary help.

Funding:
$10,000 stipend for the educational 12 months
Other bills are unfunded, although restricted journey subsidies could also be accessible.

Term:
September 1 – June 30

Residency:
Primarily non-residential; restricted workplace area could also be accessible.

Fellow Responsibilities

• Conduct impartial analysis
• Participate in periodic Zoom conferences with college
• Engage with different fellows
• Present their work for suggestions
• Share analysis outputs for publication and promotion by the Center

Fellows are anticipated to journey to Cambridge, MA for an in-person convening, with restricted journey help accessible.

Eligibility

Open to:

• Post-docs
• Scholars
• Academics on sabbatical
• Human rights defenders
• Senior NGO or worldwide group leaders
• Practitioners with analysis related to racial and financial justice

Research should align carefully with the Center’s priorities.

Application Requirements

1. Resume/CV
2. Research proposal (up to 3 pages)
3. Executive abstract (up to 200 phrases)
4. Two references
5. Writing pattern (up to 10 pages)
6. List of publications

Program Overview

The Technology & Human Rights Fellowship explores how technological developments—particularly AI, surveillance capitalism, and digital governance—form human rights protections.

Jointly directed by Professor Mathias Risse and Professor Shoshana Zuboff, this fellowship builds on the foundational work from:

• Zuboff’s The Age of Surveillance Capitalism (2019)
• Zuboff’s paper Surveillance Capitalism or Democracy? (2022)
• Risse’s Political Theory of the Digital Age (2023)

Term:
September 1 – June 30

Funding:
Unpaid, however journey subsidies offered for on-campus convenings.

Residency:
Primarily digital, with required on-campus convenings every semester.

Fellow Activities

• Attend digital cohort conferences twice per thirty days
• Join on-campus convenings as soon as per semester
• Present drafts and work-in-progress
• Engage with college, specialists, and college students
• Audit lessons and take part in Harvard studying actions

Eligibility

Open to students, theorists, researchers, technologists, and practitioners whose tasks align with the fellowship’s mental priorities.

Past fellows embody researchers from various fields similar to:

• Law
• Journalism
• Healthcare
• Education
• Human rights
• Technology coverage

Proposal Requirements

(Up to 3 pages)

1. Background and context of analysis downside
2. Alignment with Center priorities
3. Anticipated impression & applicant {qualifications}
4. Executive abstract (200 phrases)
5. Two references
6. Writing pattern (up to 5 pages)
7. List of publications (hyperlinks or attachments)

Apply by February 22, 2026.

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General Application Steps

1. Visit the official application portal through the hyperlinks offered for every fellowship.
2. Prepare all required supplies in PDF format.
3. Submit your application by 11:59 PM EST, February 22, 2026.
4. Do not contact the Center immediately due to excessive application quantity.
5. All purposes endure evaluation by the Dean of the Harvard Kennedy School.
6. Fellowships don’t lead to employees or college positions.

The Carr-Ryan Center Fellowships at Harvard Kennedy School present an unparalleled alternative for students, activists, and practitioners to form international dialogues on human rights, racial justice, LGBTQI+ rights, and expertise. Whether funded or unfunded, every fellowship provides world-class tutorial engagement, mentorship, mental collaboration, and visibility to your work.

With purposes open till February 22, 2026, this is a wonderful alternative for people prepared to contribute meaningfully to human rights analysis and international coverage improvement.

Apply now

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