Dean Welcome Letter, 2024-25

Dear Incoming Postdoc,

As Deans of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and of the Divisions of Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences, and Sciences in the Faculty of Arts & Sciences (FAS) and of the John A. Paulson School of Engineering & Applied Sciences (SEAS), we are delighted that you have chosen to pursue your postdoctoral training among us, and we want to welcome you to Harvard. In doing so, you join a community of over 1,200 postdocs spread over 44 departments, dozens of centers, and seven areas (in SEAS), and from most countries of the world.

We are especially happy to welcome you among us, as we recognize that postdocs, including Research Associates, are critical engines of our university’s research and educational enterprise. Under the general supervision and mentorship of Harvard faculty member, postdocs contribute significantly to the discovery and creation of new knowledge, and in many cases also help to guide the research of undergraduate and graduate students. In turn, the FAS is committed to support your research and your broader professional training, whether in your group, department, division, and school, or in the programming offered by the FAS Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.

In addition to your training, we are committed to the objective of making Harvard the world’s recognized leader in inclusive excellence by fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and equitable research environment where everyone can thrive and by embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values. We are thrilled that Harvard will be able to capitalize on the full range of your ideas, experiences, backgrounds, and personalities to enhance the learning and research environment for everyone.

Best wishes for a happy and productive experience at Harvard! Sincerely,

Hopi, Sean, Larry, Jeff, and David

Hopi Hoekstra, Edgerley Family Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences
Sean D. Kelly, Divisional Dean of Arts & Humanities in the Faculty of Arts & Sciences
Lawrence Bobo, Divisional Dean of Social Sciences in the Faculty of Arts & Sciences
Jeff Lichtman, Division Dean of Science in the Faculty of Arts & Sciences|
David Parkes, Dean of the John A. Paulson School of Engineering & Applied Sciences