FAS Mexico Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Sciences

Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Mexico Postdoctoral Fellowships in the Sciences

Application Deadline: May 1, 2013

Mexican scientists who already hold a Ph.D. or equivalent degree may apply for a postdoctoral fellowship in one of the life, physical, or quantitative science departments in Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Applicants must be committed to returning to Mexico upon completion of the fellowship. All applicants must be either employed full-time in Mexico or, if not currently employed full-time, able to demonstrate a prior educational history that has taken place largely, but not necessarily entirely, in Mexico. Applicants must also have completed the doctoral degree no more than three years prior to the application deadline. All candidates must be members of the National System of Investigators, Mexico (SNI), in any of SNI’s categories or levels (Candidate for National Researcher or National Researcher – Level I, II, or III).

All applicants will be expected to return to Mexico upon completion of the fellowship.

Appointments will be highly selective, with applications subject to extensive review. Ordinarily, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences will award only one postdoctoral fellowship under this program each year. Successful applicants will demonstrate superior academic and research credentials and a close fit between the research they plan to conduct during the fellowship and the work of the sponsoring faculty member or laboratory. Notice of appointment may be sent at any time during the year.

Each researcher may be appointed for either a one-year or a two-year term, as determined by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Terms may be extended for an additional year. Extending a two-year term for a third year requires mutual agreement between the individual, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Mexico’s National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT), and the Fundación México en Harvard (FMH).

Those from Mexico wishing to apply should first contact the Harvard faculty member with whom they wish to work, including the following information:
  1. CV;
  2. a research proposal describing the work to be undertaken; and
  3. reference to this announcement and this page.

If the Harvard faculty member accepts the proposal, the applicant should submit the following materials via the Aries website (academicpositions.harvard.edu):

  1. Curriculum Vitae, in English;
  2. copy of the certificate showing assignment of SNI membership;
  3. research proposal, signed jointly with the host Harvard faculty member;
  4. diploma or transcript verifying receipt of the doctoral degree (must include English translation of diploma or transcript, but translation does not need to be a “Certified Translation”);
  5. copy of the photo page of a Mexican passport or other documentation to show that the applicant is a citizen of Mexico;
  6. two letters of recommendation, in English, from individuals in a position to judge the applicant’s record of academic and research accomplishment (uploaded separately);
  7. a note indicating when the applicant and the host Harvard faculty member would like the postdoctoral appointment to start (selected fellows may start their appointments at any time mutually agreeable to the fellow and the host Harvard faculty member); and
  8. a letter of support from the host Harvard faculty member either included with these materials or sent separately by the faculty member.

After being selected, postdoctoral fellows funded under this agreement are required by CONACYT and FMH to do the following (these requirements are separate from the application to Harvard and are not administered by Harvard).

  • Sign a contract with the Fundación México en Harvard that requires the applicant to return to Mexico after completing the Postdoctoral Fellowship.
  • Provide to the Fundación México en Harvard copies of items 1-8 above.
  • Provide to CONACYT the following:
    • a copy of the invitation letter from the Harvard faculty member and relevant Dean;
    • if the accepted fellow is currently employed in Mexico, a commitment letter from the institution of employment to conserve the researcher’s post for the duration of the fellowship; and
    • if the accepted fellow is currently employed in Mexico, a commitment letter by the researcher to return to the home institution upon completion of the fellowship.

Please send any questions regarding the above, in English, to mexicopostdocs@harvard.edu.

This program is made possible by the vision and generosity of the Government of Mexico, through its National Council of Science and Technology, and the Fundación México en Harvard.