The Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship program supports postdoctoral researchers at the Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) at Harvard University to pursue the discovery and formal taxonomic description of Earth’s animal species. Fellows will work under the supervision of one or more MCZ faculty-curators, who will provide office space, access to lab facilities and necessary research support. The program aims to achieve broad taxonomic coverage and is not restricted to any particular taxon, living or extinct. Applications from botanists working on plant-animal interactions are also welcome.
Eligibility
- A Ph.D. with relevant research experience in taxonomy and/or systematics is required.
- All formal requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed before the start of the fellowship, though degree receipt may be forthcoming.
- Open to both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens.
- Applicants need to identify at least one faculty-curator who has agreed to supervise the fellowship.
Criteria for selection
Applications will be evaluated by a committee of Harvard faculty who will prioritize the following in the selection process:
- The likelihood that the proposed work will result in the discovery and formal taxonomic description of animal species new to science.
- Fully developed and well thought out research programs with significance of proposed research clearly highlighted.
- The use of integrative methodologies that combine several data types in crafting solutions to taxonomic problems.
- A strong academic record of taxonomic/systemics research.
Additional considerations
- Preference will be given to applicants not currently affiliated with Harvard University, and to those who have received their doctoral degree within the previous three years.
- In order to encourage a diversity of expertise within the MCZ, preference will be given to individuals studying taxonomic groups not currently under investigation by an active Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellow (please refer to the list of active fellows).
Details at
https://mcz.harvard.edu/biodiversity-postdoctoral-fellowship-program