Applications are now officially open for the Harvard Global Health Institute (HGHI) Burke Fellowships for the 2026–2027 academic year, marking another prestigious opportunity for early-career researchers, post-doctoral scholars, and junior faculty focusing on global health and climate-health intersections.
These fellowships, supported by Harvard alumna Katherine States Burke, AB ’79, and T. Robert Burke, are among the most respected career-launching programs at Harvard University. Since 2009, more than 50 Burke Global Health Fellows have been funded—many of whom are now leading impactful research around the world.
The 2026 call invites applications for two major fellowship tracks:
- HGHI-Salata Burke Climate and Health Research Fellowship
- HGHI Burke Global Health Fellowship.
1# HGHI-Salata Burke Climate and Health Research Fellowship (Post-doctoral Scholars)
This fellowship is a two-year, fully supported research program created in collaboration with the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability. It is designed for post-doctoral fellows, research scholars, and early-career faculty members conducting work at the critical intersection of climate change and global health.
During the program, selected fellows will collaborate closely with a Harvard faculty mentor in any department or school across the university, making this one of the most interdisciplinary health-research opportunities available in the U.S.
Award Package
- Salary: USD $90,000 per year for two years
- Professional Development Support:
- Up to $3,000 for open-access journal publication
- Up to $5,000 for attending a conference, workshop, or networking event
This financial structure enables fellows to focus exclusively on high-impact climate and health research without the burden of funding limitations.
2# HGHI Burke Global Health Fellowship (Junior Harvard Faculty)
This 12-month fellowship is specifically available to junior faculty at Harvard University and provides two competitive award pathways:
A# Research Awards – $90,000 Each
These awards support early-career Harvard faculty working on foundational or exploratory global health research. Projects that present unconventional or groundbreaking questions—often overlooked by traditional funding agencies—are especially encouraged.
B# Curriculum Development Awards – $30,000 Each
These grants support faculty who are innovating in teaching and course design, particularly at the undergraduate level. The fellowship encourages novel pedagogical approaches and global-health-focused academic content creation.
Additional Benefits for All Fellows
- Up to $3,000 toward open-access publication
- Up to $5,000 for global health conferences, research events, or networking activities.
This combination of research funding and professional-development support is structured to build strong research profiles, expand international networks, and contribute to global academic leadership.
Why These Fellowships Matter?
The HGHI Burke Fellowships are recognized globally for their transformative impact. They empower promising researchers to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues—climate change, infectious disease, health equity, global policy, and emerging health-system challenges—while gaining unprecedented access to Harvard’s world-class research ecosystem.
Whether you are a post-doctoral scholar aiming to deepen your climate-health expertise or a junior faculty member aspiring to expand your research footprint or innovate curriculum, the HGHI Burke Fellowships provide a prestigious and well-funded pathway to elevate your academic career.