Charles Bullard Fellowship in Forest Research

The Charles Bullard fellowship program is to support advanced research and study by individuals who show promise of making an important contribution, either as scholars or administrators, to forestry and forest-related subjects from biology to earth sciences, economics, politics, administration or law. New On-line Application Procedure is effective immediately.

See a listing of Previous Fellowship Recipients. The fellowship is a highly competitive program which only accepts 5 to 7 recipients a year.

Applications are currently being accepted for 2008-2009

Deadline Date:

Applications Due February 1
References will be accepted through February 4th
Before applying, please review the following:

• Qualifications
• Fellowship Scope
• Program Affiliations
• Stipends
• Duration
• Application Procedure
• Fellowship Location
• Taxes
• Health Insurance
• International Fellows
• Upload a Reference for a Charles Bullard Fellowship Applicant

Qualifications

Bullard Fellowships are generally awarded to individuals in mid-career who have established themselves in public service, in academia, or in the private sector. For those in academic careers preference is ordinarily given to holders of doctoral degrees, but others whose projects show promise of important contributions to forestry, broadly defined, will be considered in terms of the likelihood that study and research at Harvard will help fulfill this promise. Judgments of the Committee are based primarily on the quality of the applicant's professional accomplishments and academic record. Please Note: This is not a post doctoral position and recent PhD graduates are generally not appropriate candidates for a Bullard Fellowship.

Fellowship Scope

The Forest Research Fellowship Program can make available to qualified individuals a wide range of opportunities for research in the several divisions of the university; this is its unique and greatest virtue. Research areas include, for example, forest ecology, tree physiology, forest soils, forest resource management, conservation and biodiversity issues, environmental policy, industrial ecological issues and management processes, forest land planning and public policy.

Harvard University affiliation may be arranged with:

• Harvard Forest, Petersham
• Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain
• Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
• Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology
• Graduate School of Business Administration
• Graduate School of Design
• John Fitzgerald Kennedy School of Government
• or a combination of these research institutions

A Fellow interested in advanced study, either to learn of recent developments or to prepare in fields that were not covered in earlier training, might attend advanced courses and seminars in any appropriate fields. A Fellow could combine two or more fields of study, or study combined with a research program. Bullard Fellows in Forest Research may apply for admission to candidacy for selected advanced degrees, although they will not necessarily be encouraged to do so, since formal degree requirements may divert attention from their special research and study programs. These examples of research and study opportunities do not exhaust the possibilities. The program for each fellow will be unique.
List of former Bullard Recipients and areas of study

Stipends

The Fellowships carry stipends up to $40,000 or more if necessary; the amount of each award depends on the professional status and needs of the recipient and duration of the Fellowship. Fellows have the option of having the award paid either to themselves or to the Fellow's employer.

In most cases, the stipend will supplement income received for devoting a period to research and study, e.g., sabbatical leave pay for an individual in academic life, appointments with federal support for training of individuals in federal public service, or educational leave with pay for individuals in the private sector.

In preparing your stipend request, please consider the information regarding costs discussed in the following sections: Fellowship Location, Taxes, Travel Reimbursement, Supplies Budget, Health Insurance and International Fellows.

Travel Reimbursement:

All Bullard Fellows will be reimbursed for the costs of one round trip travel between their Fellowship site location and their home base. Reimbursement will be either the actual airfare or mileage (at rate determined by the IRS) between the two, which ever one is lower. Bullards are responsible for the travel costs of any people accompanying them.

Supplies Budget

Each fellow is allocated up to $500 in support for related supplies of their Bullard Fellowship Activities.

Duration

Fellowships may start at any time after September 1 and must be between 6 and 12 months in duration

To Apply:

The on-line application requires:

• Personal Data Sheet;
  
  
• Please request letters of recommendations from 3 Referees giving their opinions of the applicant’s proposed program and his/her personal and professional qualifications for carrying it out. Applicants will need to provide the 3 Referees names, addresses and email information on-line
  
  PLEASE NOTE: The FIRST TIME you have entered a referee’s email address and press either SAVE OR SUBMIT your application, an email will be automatically sent to the referee with instructions on how to submit the reference on-line. While applicant's are welcome to wait to submit their applications until Feb. 1, it is strongly recommended that an initial application with the 3 referees email addresses be SAVED as soon as possible to allow the referee time to complete their part by Feb. 1
  
  
• A statement describing the applicant's professional career to date, proposing a research and/or study program at Harvard, and evaluating this program in terms of its contribution to the applicant's future professional career (5 page maximum is requested)
  
  
• Financial support requested from the Bullard Fund; other support expected, including sabbatical year pay, other educational leave with pay, and research support. Express in U.S. dollars
  
  
• 2 page CV including
  
  
• Colleges and universities; dates of attendance and degrees received
• Professional positions held since graduating college
• Academic prizes and honors, if any
• List of up to 10 most significant books, articles reports, etc.

Deadline: Applications, including the 3 referees statements, must be completed by February 1 at 5 pm EST. Successful candidates are notified by April 1. Fellowships may begin after September 1 of any given year.

For Additional Information: e-mail hfapps@fas.harvard.edu.

Fellowship Location

The Bullard Fellowship is a residential program and Fellows are expected to spend a substantial portion of their Fellowship based at either Harvard Forest in Petersham, Massachusetts or Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Bullards who expect to spend more than a week or two traveling during their Fellowship should include details in their application.

• Fellows based at Harvard Forest will have a variety of resources available to assist with their Fellowship projects.
  • Research Resources: weekly seminars and lab groups (September - April), computer lab/printers, library, archives, LTER Annual symposium (April), office space, local telephone service and basic office supplies at no cost.
    
    
  • Housing: The Forest has both unfurnished and fully furnished housing available for Bullards for $550-$1200 per month for 1 to 5 bedroom units.
    
    
  • Local Transportation: Harvard Forest is located in a rural area. As there is no local public transportation, Bullards must have their own vehicle for transportation. The costs of obtaining a vehicle will include insurance ($750-$1500); purchase of the vehicle ($1,000-$5,000+) as well as maintenance and gas. Bullards are responsible for purchasing their own vehicle.
    
    
• Fellows based in Cambridge will need to make arrangements with their proposed collaborators for access to an appropriate office and/or lab space. Cost considerations should include research support costs (e.g. photocopying, office telephone, fax, office supplies, travel, lab/research/field supplies) and housing ($1500-3000/month, based upon size and location of unit ).

Taxes

Bullard Fellows are not considered employees of the University and recieve no benefits. For U.S. Citizens, taxes are not withheld by HU. Instead, Bullards are expected to make their own arrangements to pay income taxes via quarterly payments to the IRS.

International Bullards should note that HU will withhold an income tax up to 14% of their stipends unless there is a tax treaty between their home country and the US which reduces or waives this requirement.

Health Insurance

Bullards may wish to purchase health insurance through the University's Program for Students and Affiliates. Insurance purchased through Harvard University can cost between $2000 - $4000 for a year for a fellow and up to $12,000 for a family. International Bullards are required to have health insurance coverage as a requirement of their visia.

International Fellows

International researchers have additional considerations when applying for a Bullard Fellowship such as the visa process, logistics and financial considerations. All potential international Bullards should consult the Harvard International Office web site (www.hio.harvard.edu), which includes information about visa policies, taxes and health insurance as well as other helpful topics.

Costs specific to international scholars vary with the length of the fellowship but include visas (up to $1500 per person), up to 14% income taxes, health insurance (~$2000/6 months for an individual, or ~$6000/6 months for a family of 3 or more), and the travel to the United States for their families. International scholars are required to have health insurance coverage for themselves and members of their family as a condition of their visa.