Yerby Fellow

Harvard University; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary with benefits

Job summary

Harvard Chan School Yerby Fellowship Program offers postdoctoral, research associate, or visiting lecturer roles across nine departments in a leading public health setting. Fellows pursue independent research, publish, and collaborate on grant initiatives.

It supports a one-year appointment with competitive salary and benefits, renewable after review, located at Harvard Chan School in Boston, MA. Applicants must have a public health doctorate and meet citizenship requirements.

Qualifications

• PhD or comparable doctorate in a public health-related field.
• Candidates for postdoctoral fellowships must have earned a doctorate preferably by application time.
• Two years postdoctoral training for research associates; five years for visiting lecturers.

Responsibilities

• Fellows will be based in one of the School’s nine departments and may hold roles as postdoctoral fellow, research associate, or visiting lecturer.
• Engage in independent research, publish findings, and contribute to grant applications.

Skills

Independent research

Advanced scientific publication

Grant writing

Education

Doctorate in public health-related discipline

Job description

Position Description

The Harvard Chan School Yerby Fellowship Program draws on the rich research environment and intellectual resources of one of the world’s premier public health training institutions. Named for Dr. Alonzo Smythe Yerby , an African-American pioneer in public health, he was the first Black department chair at the Harvard School of Public Health in the Department of Health Services Administration (now known as the Department of Health Policy and Management). This program aims to expand opportunities for those entering the academic public health field and carry forward the kind of work he modeled throughout his career—investing in people, creating pathways, building community, and helping the next generation of public health scholars see themselves moving into academic and leadership roles.

Yerby Fellowship training is available across the broad range of the School’s activities: laboratory sciences, population sciences, and social and policy sciences. Fellows may be recruited into any of the following ranks, as commensurate with experience: postdoctoral fellow, research associate, or visiting lecturer. Each fellow will be based within one of the School’s nine academic departments:

• Global Health and Population
• Health Policy and Management
• Immunology and Infectious Diseases
• Molecular Metabolism
• Social and Behavioral Sciences

Yerby Fellows receive a competitive salary with benefits for one year, renewable for a second year upon completion of a successful review of the first year.

Basic Qualifications

• Applicants for postdoctoral fellowships must have earned a doctorate in a public health-related discipline, preferably at the time of application, but in some exceptional circumstances before the fellowship begins. Candidates for research associate should have at least two years of postdoctoral training completed, visiting lecturers should have five years postdoctoral experience. For more information regarding Harvard Chan School appointment titles, descriptions of titles can be found here.
• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens, permanent residents, or have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival ( DACA ) status by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at the time of application submission. This position is unable to provide visa sponsorship.
• Applicants must submit a completed application through the online application portal that includes the following: curriculum vitae, publication sample(s), official graduate school transcript, 2 letters of recommendation, and responses to all supplement questions.
• Making preliminary connections with Harvard Chan School faculty whose work is of particular interest and who may be suitable intellectual mentors for the applicant is encouraged. Please mention any such outreach or correspondence in relevant application sections.

Additional Qualifications

The Fellowship seeks candidates whose research, teaching, and service will contribute to a stronger public health community. Ideal applicants will show a demonstrated interest in and experience with independent research, advanced scientific publication, and grant writing, even if in the context of team science or scholarly collaborations.

Special Instructions

The deadline to apply is October 25, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET. All applications must be submitted through this online application portal.

Recommendation letters are due by November 10, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The link to submit recommendation letters will be sent to your references only AFTER you submit your completed application.

Contact Information

Mollie-Anne Maxfield
Faculty Affairs Program Manager
[e-mail]

Jennifer Ivers
Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
[e-mail]

Salary Range

$75,000 – $80,000

Minimum Number of References Required

2

Maximum Number of References Allowed

2

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard’s academic purposes.
Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university’s non-discrimination policy . Harvard’s equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Goals: Briefly describe the specific research goals to be completed during the fellowship, preferably including identified department(s) and/or mentor(s) at the School (750 words).

  (Open Ended Question)

• * Background: A personal statement discussing the origin of current and past research accomplishments, interests, and/or goals (250 words).

  (Open Ended Question)

• * Explain how your research would contribute to the School, the profession, and health equity (150 words).

  (Open Ended Question)

• Current Harvard-affiliated fellows ONLY: How would the Yerby Fellowship expand your growth and development opportunities that are otherwise unavailable in your current fellowship?

  (Open Ended Question)