Mittal Family Climate Fellowship (South Asia)

The Mittal Family Climate Fellowship will provide crucial resources and opportunities for scholars dedicated to studying the impacts of climate change on South Asia. This fellowship aims to support innovative research projects that explore how climate change has influenced the region’s past, is shaping its present, and will affect its future. By fostering a deeper understanding of climate dynamics in South Asia, the fellowship will contribute to the development of sustainable solutions and policies that address the region’s unique climate challenges. Eligible topics include adaptation and resilience, mitigation efforts, climate-related public health, water resource management, biodiversity and ecosystem protection, climate policy and governance, and climate technology solutions.

While working directly with their selected Faculty Mentor on their personal research project (proposed in their application), the Mittal Family Climate Fellow will fully engage with the intellectual life at the Mittal Institute and at Harvard. At the end of their residency the Mittal Family Climate Fellow will present their work in a Mittal Institute seminar moderated by their faculty mentor. Apart from their own research, fellows will participate in grant and fellowship reviews, mentor graduate students, and help collaborate on other events and projects at the Institute.

Areas of Research

• As part of the application, scholars must submit a five-page, double-spaced research plan. Applications should propose impactful climate research projects that address the critical challenges of climate change in the region with a focus on at least one of the following:
  • Adaptation and Resilience: Innovative strategies for communities to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, particularly in vulnerable coastal, agricultural, and urban areas.
  • Mitigation Efforts: Research on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and promoting energy efficiency in sectors such as transportation, industry, and agriculture.
  • Climate-Related Public Health: Exploring the intersection of climate change and health, focusing on topics like air quality, heat stress, waterborne diseases, and the broader impacts on mental and physical well-being.
  • Water Resource Management: Addressing water scarcity, glacier retreat, and sustainable management of transboundary water systems, which are of critical importance in the South Asian context.
  • Biodiversity and Ecosystem Protection: Projects that aim to preserve biodiversity, protect natural habitats, and explore nature-based solutions for mitigating the impacts of climate change.
  • Climate Policy and Governance: Analyses of regional and national policies, governance mechanisms, and frameworks to enhance climate action, including the role of public-private partnerships and international cooperation.
  • Technology and Innovation: Exploring new technologies, data analytics, and innovative approaches that can accelerate climate action, with an emphasis on scalable solutions suitable for the South Asian context.

Funding Information

• The gross stipend for the Mittal Family Climate fellow is $50,700 USD for 9 months, equivalent to a monthly gross stipend of $5,633 USD paid on the last business day of the month. This amount is prorated on the fellowship’s start and end dates.
• Round-trip economy travel expenses and visa fees from South Asia to Boston will also be reimbursed (for participants residing in South Asia only). All reimbursements and stipends are limited to the dates of the appointment.
• Scholars are expected to be in residence for the upcoming academic year. For the 2025-2026 academic year, it will be from September 15, 2025, to June 15, 2026. The selected fellow will be granted desk space for this period.

Eligibility Criteria

• This is a Post-Doctoral Fellowship, and candidates must have received their PhD with preference given to those who have received their PhD in the past five years. Scholars who have not had past opportunities to access Harvard’s resources and who have primarily been educated at institutions in South Asia will be prioritized.
• Research proposals should be designed to foster deeper scholarly engagement on climate change, catalyze the creation of new knowledge, and contribute to the development of sustainable solutions across South Asia. Research can be focused on any region within South Asia.

Application Requirements

• All applicants will need to submit the following:
  • A five-page, double-spaced research plan
  • An updated and current curriculum vitae, which lists your academic degrees (including disciplines and the dates the degrees were received), your publications and research presentations, and any previous grants and/or fellowships
  • A writing sample (no more than ten pages, double-spaced)
  • Two letters of recommendation uploaded directly to ARIeS.

For more information, visit The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute.