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David E. Bell Postdoctoral Fellowship

Last verified 14 October 2026 by the Scholarships for Africans editorial team

Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies: USD75,000 salary plus fringe benefits/subsidized health insurance; up to USD4,000 relocation and USD11,000 research/travel/computer fund over two years. Eligibility and application conditions apply.

Provider
Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies
Host country
United States
Deadline
December 8, 2026, noon ET, including three recommendation letters.
Region
Americas

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Eligibility & requirements at a glance

Review the recorded eligibility, funding and deadline information below. Confirm the current award conditions on the provider's official source.

Who can apply
US and international scholars; social-science/population-health fields; doctorate completed within three years of application or requirements completed by August 13, 2027. Two-year full-time local residence required. Eligible visa routes include F-1 OPT, TN or J-1, not H-1B. Existing institutional affiliations must be unpaid; other paid work generally prohibited unless exceptionally approved by the director.
Funding
Varies
Study level
Postdoctoral
Deadline
December 8, 2026, noon ET, including three recommendation letters.

Key eligibility criteria

  • US and international scholars; social-science/population-health fields; doctorate completed within three years of application or requirements completed by August 13, 2027. Two-year full-time local residence required. Eligible visa routes include F-1 OPT, TN or J-1, not H-1B. Existing institutional affiliations must be unpaid; other paid work generally prohibited unless exceptionally approved by the director.

Recorded funding information

  • Varies

About the David E. Bell Postdoctoral Fellowship (2026)

David E. Bell Postdoctoral Fellowship Provider: Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies Study destination: United States Study level: Postdoctoral Award USD75,000 salary plus fringe benefits/subsidized health insurance; up to USD4,000 relocation and USD11,000 research/travel/computer fund over two years. Eligibility US and international scholars; social-science/population-health fields; doctorate completed within three years of application or requirements completed by August 13, 2027. Two-year full-time local residence required. Eligible visa routes include F-1 OPT, TN or J-1, not H-1B. Existing institutional affiliations must be unpaid; other paid work generally prohibited unless exceptionally approved by the director. Eligible African countries: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe. All other academic, residency and programme requirements also apply. Application timing December 8, 2026, noon ET, including three recommendation letters. Cycle: 2027–2029 How to apply Official programme information: https://popcenter.harvard.edu/postdoctoral-fellowships/bell-fellowship/how-to-apply/ Application route: https://popcenter.harvard.edu/postdoctoral-fellowships/bell-fellowship/how-to-apply/ Details checked against official sources on 2026-10-14. Check the provider's current instructions before applying.

Funding information

The funding information below is recorded in this listing; it does not establish additional covered components. Check amounts, caps, exclusions and conditions on the official source.

  • Varies

David E. Bell Postdoctoral Fellowship eligibility

Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.

  • US and international scholars; social-science/population-health fields; doctorate completed within three years of application or requirements completed by August 13, 2027. Two-year full-time local residence required. Eligible visa routes include F-1 OPT, TN or J-1, not H-1B. Existing institutional affiliations must be unpaid; other paid work generally prohibited unless exceptionally approved by the director.

David E. Bell Postdoctoral Fellowship document information

No explicit document checklist is recorded here. If an application is required, prepare only the materials the provider requests.

    How to apply for the David E. Bell Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026

    Follow the provider's stated process. The checks below are guidance, not additional application requirements. Any original editorial instructions remain in the description above.

    1. 1
      Check the provider's process

      Consult https://popcenter.harvard.edu/postdoctoral-fellowships/bell-fellowship/how-to-apply/ to confirm whether consideration is automatic or requires an application, and follow only the process stated there.

    2. 2
      Check eligibility and any requested materials

      Listed eligibility: US and international scholars; social-science/population-health fields; doctorate completed within three years of application or requirements completed by August 13, 2027. Two-year full-time local residence required. Eligible visa routes include F-1 OPT, TN or J-1, not H-1B. Existing institutional affiliations must be unpaid; other paid work generally prohibited unless exceptionally approved by the director.. Confirm the current criteria and, if submission is required, use the provider's own checklist.

    3. 3
      Check dates and next steps

      Listed deadline information: December 8, 2026, noon ET, including three recommendation letters.. Confirm any cutoff, time zone and follow-up process with the provider.

    David E. Bell Postdoctoral Fellowship deadline & application timeline

    Provider deadline information: December 8, 2026, noon ET, including three recommendation letters.. This text cannot be safely converted to a countdown; check the official source for its meaning. The earlier milestones are optional planning suggestions only.

    1. Planning suggestion: 12 months out

      Check the current call and decide whether this opportunity fits your plans.

    2. Planning suggestion: 6 months out

      If the provider requires tests or documents that take time, plan for them using its published instructions.

    3. Planning suggestion: 3 months out

      If an application is required, review the provider's process and prepare only the materials it requests.

    4. Planning suggestion: 1 month out

      If submission is required, allow time to check your materials and any stated cutoff.

    5. Provider deadline
      December 8, 2026, noon ET, including three recommendation letters.

      Provider deadline information: December 8, 2026, noon ET, including three recommendation letters.. Confirm the current instructions and any cutoff or time zone on the official source; no additional time is assumed here.

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    Editorial verification note

    Terms: https://popcenter.harvard.edu/postdoctoral-fellowships/bell-fellowship/terms-and-conditions/ . Eligibility/visa: https://popcenter.harvard.edu/postdoctoral-fellowships/bell-fellowship/faqs-about-postdoctoral-fellowships/ . F-1 OPT/J-1 typically supported, not H-1B; existing paid affiliations must cease or become unpaid. Named academic research fellowship, employee-postdoc classification disclosed.
    Last checked 10/14/2026

    Frequently asked questions

    Who can apply for the David E. Bell Postdoctoral Fellowship?+

    US and international scholars; social-science/population-health fields; doctorate completed within three years of application or requirements completed by August 13, 2027. Two-year full-time local residence required. Eligible visa routes include F-1 OPT, TN or J-1, not H-1B. Existing institutional affiliations must be unpaid; other paid work generally prohibited unless exceptionally approved by the director.

    What funding does the David E. Bell Postdoctoral Fellowship offer?+

    Listed funding: Varies. Confirm amounts, exclusions and conditions on the official source. This label does not establish any additional benefit components.

    When is the application deadline?+

    Provider deadline information: December 8, 2026, noon ET, including three recommendation letters.. Confirm the current cutoff and any time zone on the official source; no additional cutoff or late-submission policy is assumed here.

    What documents do I need to apply?+

    No explicit document checklist is recorded here. If an application is required, prepare only the documents requested by the provider; requirements may differ from admission requirements.

    How do I check the application process?+

    Consult https://popcenter.harvard.edu/postdoctoral-fellowships/bell-fellowship/how-to-apply/ to confirm whether consideration is automatic or requires an application, and follow only the process stated there. Listed eligibility: US and international scholars; social-science/population-health fields; doctorate completed within three years of application or requirements completed by August 13, 2027. Two-year full-time local residence required. Eligible visa routes include F-1 OPT, TN or J-1, not H-1B. Existing institutional affiliations must be unpaid; other paid work generally prohibited unless exceptionally approved by the director.. Confirm the current criteria and, if submission is required, use the provider's own checklist. Listed deadline information: December 8, 2026, noon ET, including three recommendation letters.. Confirm any cutoff, time zone and follow-up process with the provider.

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