Skip to content
 

German Kennedy Memorial Fellowship

 
Anna Adorjani, German Kennedy Memorial Fellow 2025-2026

The German Kennedy Memorial Fellowship was established in 2016 at the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies (CES) to bring highly accomplished European social scientists to undertake research at Harvard University for one academic year. This fellowship was supported by the Federal Republic of Germany and is designed for scholars who are citizens of an EU member state other than Germany.

Thục Linh Nguyễn Vũ, German Kennedy Memorial Fellow 2023-2024

Overview

CES encourages applications from scholars from all social science disciplines (including history) whose work is related to modern Europe and who are citizens of an EU member state. Applications are judged on the quality and significance of the proposed project and the applicant’s record of achievement and promise. The Fellowship provides a generous stipend of $70,000 for ten months of continuous residential research at CES from September to June. Accepted candidates will join fellow Europe-focused scholars from around the world as part of the Center's Visiting Scholars Program.

This Fellowship is administered by the Center, and each application is reviewed by the CES Steering Committee. Accepted fellows are expected to be in residence at CES from September 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. As a member of the Center’s Visiting Scholars Program, fellows are required to attend the weekly New Research on Europe Seminar  and give one presentation on their research for feedback from their peers.

Applications for the Visiting Scholars Program and the German Kennedy Fellowship are open and will close on December 14, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. (EST).

Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted or reviewed.

Application Portal

Application Details

  • Hold citizenship of an EU member state other than Germany. Note: CES welcomes eligible German citizens to apply for the John F. Kennedy Memorial Fellowship through the DAAD.
  • Pursue an independent project on modern Europe in the social sciences (including history).
  • Possess a Ph.D. at the time of application. (Please note that applications from students in a degree program at the time of application submission will not be considered).
  • Have completed their Ph.D. degree no more than eight years prior to the application and have a track record of academic publications.
  • Commit to being in residence at CES from September 1 through June 30 for ten continuous months. (Fellows may not hold concurrent academic appointments.)
  • Be unencumbered by teaching and/or other academic responsibilities that impede their participation in the Center’s activities during the Fellowship.
  • Be fluent in English.

Note: Preference is given to applicants who intend to pursue academic careers in Europe.

For a list of previous recipients of the German Kennedy Memorial Fellowship see here.

Marcin Wroński, German Kennedy Memorial Fellow 2024-2025

Scholars who are citizens of Germany, Spain or a European country may be eligible to apply for these fellowships offered by the Center:

Albana Shehaj
Albana Shehaj

For inquiries, all correspondence should be written in English and addressed to CES Program Manager Albana Shehaj.

Albana Shehaj
Program Manager & Seminar Chair, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University
Close