The Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University gives early career scientists a unique opportunity to develop an independent research program while gaining training and connections within the framework of a top-tier academic environment. The Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship supports researchers that utilize the Arboretum’s living collections of woody plants and research facilities to tackle any area of life science with a prevailing theme of biodiversity.
The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University and its urban landscape in Boston are particularly well-suited for biodiversity research. It is both an outdoor museum of the world’s temperate trees and other woody plants grown in a public open space, all within sight of the Arboretum’s state-of-the-art research laboratories and greenhouses at the Weld Hill Research Building.
- The living collections feature extensive biodiversity both in terms of number of species represented as well as genetic diversity within species, featuring multiple individuals of the same species collected from the wild in diverse biogeographic regions. Bringing these diverse individual trees and shrubs together to grow under shared conditions allows comparative studies within the ultimate common garden experiment.
- The Arboretum has extensive documentation of its living collections of accessioned plants, historical photos over decades, library archives, herbarium specimens, and climate data collected since 1918, offering a unique and important historical perspective.
- The Arboretum has an urban setting, offering opportunities to explore complex, city ecosystems and their interaction with global change. In addition to woody plants, the Arboretum’s 281 acres are the site of numerous other research studies involving wildlife, biogeochemical cycling, soil functioning, microbiomes, and invasive species.
- The Arboretum and its Weld Hill Research Facilities are an integral part of a larger ecosystem of research and scholarship conducted at Harvard University as part of its multi-faceted approach to addressing and reversing the effects of the global change crisis.
Eligibility:
Applications are sought from early-career individuals with a PhD in life sciences, climate sciences, plant biology, evolution, plant genetics, plant ecology, horticulture, or related discipline. Applicants must have their PhD when they initiate their term at the Arboretum. Applicants should be well positioned to conduct original, independent research and to publish their findings in peer-reviewed publications. We encourage applications from those under-represented in the sciences. Foreign nationals are eligible for fellowships, but applicants are expected to be fluent in English.
The Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship is an independent post-doctoral position. As an independent scholar, fellow have access to shared laboratories, equipment, desk space, resources, and interactions with fellow scientists, students and staff. It is not necessary to have a specific faculty host. Applicants are encouraged to develop collaborations and work closely with any and all other members of the Arboretum and broader Harvard communities to refine and develop their project.
Fellowship Details:
Biodiversity Fellows are full-time employees of Harvard University with a salary of $83,000 per year, employee health insurance eligibility, and annual support of up to $10,000 per year for research, travel, initial relocation, and other professional expenses. Fellows are expected to be in full-time residence at the Arboretum during their 3-year tenure and are provided office and research space.
Biodiversity Fellows are expected to publish the results of their research in professional or academic journals and present their work at professional meetings and workshops. Biodiversity Fellows are expected to engage fully in the Arboretum community. While their primary work is conducting original independent research that utilizes the living collections of the Arboretum, Biodiversity Fellows are expected to work collaboratively with the staff of the Arboretum on institutional efforts for education and outreach, for example, participating in Arnold Arboretum outreach and education programs and writing for Arnoldia, the Arboretum’s quarterly magazine.
Application Information:
There is one application for multiple fellowships. While your research proposal will be evaluated for any fellowship(s) selected, please designate one fellowship as your primary fellowship application. The research statement should be tailored for the designated primary fellowship, explaining how the proposed research utilizes the resources of the Arboretum in relation to the fellowship requirements (e.g. the utilization of the Arboretum’s living collection of plants with a focus on biodiversity).
Fellowships are awarded through a competitive review process. To be considered for an award, online applications should include the following:
- Cover letter. The cover letter should clearly state (i) the applicant’s interest in the program; (ii) the length of the term desired by the applicant and potential start-date; and (iii) the applicant’s contact information.
- Abstract. Brief description of the proposed research (175 words or less).
- Research statement. The statement should be no longer than 4 pages, single-spaced, and should describe the research project the applicant proposes to conduct as a Biodiversity Fellow. The statement should describe (i) the nature and scope of the proposed research project; (ii) the approach and methods to be employed; (iii) how the living collections of the Arnold Arboretum would be utilized; and (iv) how the project will advance knowledge about the biodiversity. References should be included but do not count as part of the 4-page limit.
- Research budget. A modest level of funding (up to $10,000 annually) is available for research, travel, professional expenses and relocation to Boston. Applicants should submit a simple, 1-page budget that includes a paragraph detailing all laboratory and equipment requirements and an itemized budget by year for all research, travel and professional costs. Travel expenses for professional conferences as well as up to $2,500 for initial relocation to Boston should be included in the total budget. The budget should accurately reflect and justify what is required for the proposed project.
- Curriculum vitae.
- Three letters of recommendation. As part of the online submission, you must send a request to the referee to submit a letter of recommendation (via the “request” section). The referee will be automatically sent an email with a link to an online submission form where they will upload a letter of recommendation. It is highly recommended that you contact your referee prior to sending the request. Please inform the referee to expect an email from Admin@communityforce.com with instructions for submitting a recommendation letter. Each referee must upload their letter of recommendation via the link by the application deadline.
Selection Criteria:
The selection of Biodiversity Fellows will be based on:
- The range and depth of the applicant’s education and professional experience and their potential future contribution to scholarship.
- The track record of the candidate as an independent researcher. The proposed project should represent an independent line of inquiry, extending beyond the PhD research of the applicant.
- The overall quality of the applicant’s research proposal. The applicant’s research proposal will be assessed with regard to the nature and scope of the work, the approach and methods to be employed, the feasibility of the proposed effort with respect to the term of the fellowship, and how it would advance knowledge about biodiversity.
- The relevance of the research with respect to the living collections of the Arnold Arboretum. The applicant’s research proposal will also be assessed with respect to how the living collections of the Arboretum would be utilized, and how the project fits into ongoing Arboretum programs.
Additional Information:
For questions about the award, Arboretum resources, research proposal or submission process, contact the selection committee (Email).
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Harvard University and the Arnold Arboretum view equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.
EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.