Postdoctoral Program

Postdoctoral Fellows are typically recent Ph.D. recipients who want to further their research careers by working in the labs of faculty members with complementary research interests.  These Fellows are usually invited by a Harvard faculty member to work in their lab. Candidates must have completed all of the requirements for the Ph.D., including thesis defense, before they can begin their appointment at Harvard. Postdoctoral Fellow appointments at Harvard University are yearly appointments, renewable for up to a maximum of 3-5 years.

Several of our faculty members have grants to support Postdoctoral Fellows. When these positions become available, they are advertised on our Psychology Department website and in the various online bulletin boards maintained by psychology journals, such as the American Psychological Society's Observer or the American Psychological Association's Monitor. 

Several Postdoctoral Fellows come to Harvard with their own fellowship awards. These Fellows are usually divided into two groups. One group has fellowships that are administered through Harvard (e.g., NRSA awards and other U.S. Federal awards) with one of the Harvard faculty members acting as the Principal Investigator. The other group has fellowships (usually through foreign institutions) that are paid directly to the Postdoctoral Fellow and are not administered through Harvard.  

Postdoctoral Fellows with funding administered through Harvard are eligible for benefits. The benefits payment structure can vary depending on whether the Fellow is paid from a faculty member's grant or from a fellowship. Benefits include 4 weeks of paid vacation, health insurance, dental insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, contributory life insurance, and tuition assistance. In addition, Postdoctoral Fellows, like all Harvard University employees, can purchase athletic stickers, discounted MBTA passes, and have access to a broad range of perks offered through Harvard University. 

The Department of Psychology sits within the Division of Social Science, which is strongly committed to creating and supporting a diverse workforce. Respect and fairness, kindness and collegiality, and trust and transparency are among the values we espouse and promote in our workplace culture. We work hard to ensure a healthy, inclusive and positive environment where everyone does their best work in support of Harvard’s mission. For more on our commitment to diversity, including, and belonging, see our departmental DIB Call to Action.

If you have questions regarding postdoctoral appointments, please contact Cass Ranno in the Psychology Department Administrative Office. 

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.