In the 2023-2024 academic year, the Center for International Development (CID) will welcome the first cohort of the CID Visiting Researcher Program. This new initiative will welcome PhD and Post-Doc researchers to pursue their research for a year in residence at Harvard Kennedy School, made possible by support from the UniCredit Foundation.

Through this program, we are excited to bring young researchers to the CID community at Harvard University. We hope to build new relationships that spark innovative ideas and translate into impactful research.
Eliana La Ferrara, Professor of Public Policy
CID Visiting PhD Fellowship
This fellowship is for current PhD students who have finished their coursework. Fellows will have the opportunity to pursue their own economic development research, receiving guidance from a CID faculty affiliate. PhD Fellows will receive a stipend of up to $20,000 to be in residence at Harvard Kennedy School starting January 2024 for up to nine months. Successful applicants must come from a PhD institution in a UniCredit Foundation country (Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia), and their research can focus anywhere in the world. Given the high cost of living in Cambridge, MA, scholars are encouraged to seek additional funding from their home institutions.
The PhD Visiting Fellowship is located at the Center for International Development (CID) at Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, MA. Fellows become members of a tight-knit research community at CID. They will have the opportunity to attend community events, seminars and meetings, exchange best practices and ideas, discuss research, and network with the broader CID and HKS communities.
Participants will be expected to deliver:
- A presentation on your research at CID
- Submission of two research progress reports
- A blog summarizing your research and experience towards the end of the fellowship
Successful applicants must be:
- Current PhD student who has completed their coursework in Economics or Public Policy, although additional fields such as Education, Politics, Computer Science or other pertinent fields may be considered.
- From an institution located in a UniCredit Foundation country (Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia)
- Working on economic development research anywhere in the world
- Willing to relocate to Cambridge, MA for the entirety of the fellowship
- Strong English oral and written communication skills
- Demonstrated academic excellence
Interested candidates can submit an application for the PhD visiting fellowship through this link. Applications must include:
- Home country institution
- A personal statement detailing why you are a strong candidate for this fellowship, how this experience will enhance your learning, and which CID faculty affiliate(s) you would ideally want to discuss your work with. (Please note that we cannot guarantee that we will assign those faculty members.)
- A research statement describing the topic you plan to focus on during this fellowship
- A current CV
- Academic transcripts from all degrees received and in progress (unofficial copies are acceptable)
- Two letters of recommendation from academic (preferred) or professional references (will be requested through the application process)
Applications will not be reviewed unless all pieces of the application have been received.
CID Post-Doctoral Fellowship
An opportunity for a CID Visiting Post-Doctoral Fellow to join the tight-knit research community at CID is forthcoming. The formal application process will open in the coming months. Eligible applicants will have received their PhD in the last five years, and are working on education research related to a UniCredit Foundation country (Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia). If you are interested in learning more, inquiries can be directed to cid@harvard.edu.
Harvard Kennedy School is committed to recruiting a highly diverse group of faculty, students, and staff. We work to ensure that our appointments and selection procedures consciously identify and evaluate people from underrepresented groups. We also actively strive to remove sources of unconscious bias. We invite applications from women, minorities, and those whose background and experience will bring additional dimensions to the community.