Research Fellow, Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery

This is a full time, term-limited position with full Harvard benefits. It is funded through December 31, 2021 with the possibility of renewal based upon funding availability.

The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University seeks a Research Fellow to support the work of the Presidential Initiative on Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery. The position is funded through December 31, 2021, with the possibility of renewal.

The Initiative, announced by Harvard President Larry Bacow in November of 2019 and anchored at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, is an effort to understand and address the enduring legacy of slavery within our University community. It is guided by a Presidential Committee, chaired by Radcliffe Dean Tomiko Brown-Nagin, who is also the Daniel P.S. Paul Professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard Law School and a professor of history in Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

In this work, we are committed to:

• a strong grounding in rigorous research;
• a focus on connections, impact, and contributions that are specific to our Harvard community; and
• investment in opportunities to convene our broader University community to examine the impact and legacy of slavery in 2020 and beyond.

About the Position:

Reporting to the Project Manager, Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery, the Research Fellow will play a critical leadership role on the Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery research team. Responsibilities will include:

• conducting extensive, original archival research on topics defined at a high level by the initiative’s Presidential Committee, chaired by Radcliffe Dean Tomiko Brown-Nagin;
• writing compelling and meticulously sourced written summaries of research undertaken;
• guiding the work of a team of graduate and undergraduate student researchers, including compiling and editing students’ written work while providing guidance, mentorship, and quality control;
• drafting assigned portions of the formal report by the Presidential Committee on Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery at the direction of the Chair and Project Manager; and
• other duties related to Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery research and programming as assigned.

The Fellow may also have opportunities to contribute to the initiative’s public academic and community programming.

The successful candidate will possess:

• a relevant doctoral degree;
• subject matter expertise in American history through the lens of race, with an emphasis on the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries;
• experience performing archival research;
• experience supervising student research. (Relevant teaching experience will also be considered.)

Scholars who focus on the Early Republic period in U. S. history are encouraged to apply.

How to apply: 

Interested applicants must apply for the Research Fellow, Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery through HARVARD CAREERS, Harvard University’s online employment application system.  Cover letters are required for every application for a position at the Radcliffe Institute. Please combine your cover letter and resume/CV into a single document when you are instructed to "Upload my resume/CV from my computer."

About the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study

The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University is dedicated to creating and sharing transformative ideas across the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. The Fellowship Program annually supports the work of 50 leading artists and scholars. Academic Ventures and Engagement fosters collaborative research projects and sponsors lectures and conferences that engage scholars with the public. The Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America documents the lives of American women of the past and present for the future, furthering the Institute’s commitment to women, gender, and society.

Our recently completed strategic plan Radcliffe Engaged, 2019-2024, articulates our goals for the next five years. We are proud to be an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to achieving our goals through the efforts of a highly skilled, diverse workforce. With outstanding benefits, competitive pay, extensive learning opportunities, and a stimulating and attractive work environment, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University may be exactly the employer you have been looking for.  Learn more about the people and programs of the Radcliffe Institute at www.radcliffe.harvard.edu. 

Due to the COVID-19 crisis the interview process will occur virtually using Zoom. After hire, the position will have virtual on-boarding and work will be conducted remotely until we return to our Cambridge, Massachusetts campus. The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study does not provide visa sponsorship.