Application Process

The process for selection as a JPB Environmental Health (EH) Fellow is a multi-stage process that includes the following steps:

  1. Nomination – Potential Fellows must be nominated
  2. Application – Selected nominees will be invited to apply to the Program
  3. Interview – Selected applicants will be invited to come to Harvard for an interview
  4. Selection – Candidates will be notified if they have been selected

Currently, we are not recruiting Fellows.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered as a JPB EH Fellow you must meet the following criteria:

  • First be nominated by a Dean or Department Chair from your institution.
  • Be early career tenure or ladder track faculty at academic institutions in the United States.
  • Demonstrate commitment to research and teaching that address environmental and social determinants of health in underserved populations and/or under-resourced communities in the United States.
  • We seek fellows with diverse disciplinary training (for example: Social and Behavioral Sciences, Engineering, Environmental Health [exposure science, epidemiology], Medicine, Economics, Architecture, Demography, Physical and Natural Sciences).
  • Not already receiving substantial funding for early career training, through a K-award or similar non-NIH mechanism.
  • Not be a faculty member at Harvard University.
  • Hold a PhD, MD or other relevant advanced degrees.
  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Does the focus on research need to be related to U.S. communities?

Yes, this Fellowship program is for faculty at U.S. academic institutions with research interests on domestic U.S. communities and does not include U.S. Territories.

  1. Are under-resourced communities only considered geographically, or also demographically?

Both, geographically and demographically.

  1. I am in the second year of the tenure-track process. I have received a teaching load reduction and start-up funding. Can my start-up package be considered ‘in-kind’ support from my institute for the Fellowship program?

Yes, this start-up package could be considered as institutional support. However, the length of the JBP Fellowship Program (3 years) must be considered when determining this.  If the start-up agreement ends before the Program does, release from teaching, use of space etc. will still be required for participation in the Program. 

  1. I have a terrific colleague who is doing a postdoc, her title is ‘Research Fellow’ but potentially she could be promoted to Research Scientist and she has long-term faculty aspirations.  Would she be eligible to be nominated?

No, this program is for junior faculty in the first years of their career.

  1. Would you pick two Fellows from the same school? 

It is possible.  In this case, the Directors would negotiate cost sharing in support of the Fellows research projects.

  1. Do you have to have a doctoral degree to apply to this program?

Yes, candidates must hold a doctoral degree, or a MD. With a compelling candidate, we would consider other advance degrees.

  1. Do the Fellowship Awards support indirect costs?

No, similar to other academic Fellowship programs the JPB EH Fellowship Program supports direct costs only. Like an NIH K award, the JPB EH Fellowship Program is an investment in the careers of junior faculty at academic institutions across the U.S. The award provides cross-disciplinary training as well as training in proposal development, leadership and communications, along with research funding.

  1. Would you consider an applicant from one to the previously supported university?

We intend to broaden the geographic coverage of the Fellowship program to regions of the US currently not represented.  However, we will consider candidates from previously awarded institutions.