Applications are open for the Bloomberg Harvard Visiting Scholars Program, an initiative of the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University designed to support rigorous, policy-relevant research addressing urban challenges and city leadership.

The program brings researchers into residence at Harvard for protected time to advance a specific research project while becoming part of the Center’s intellectual community. It is intended for scholars whose work can contribute both to academic knowledge and to practical approaches that help cities and their leaders deliver better results for residents.

About the Program

The Bloomberg Harvard Visiting Scholars Program is being launched for the first time and aims to establish a lasting community of researchers whose work can strengthen the practice of urban problem-solving and city leadership.

Successful applicants will be appointed as Bloomberg Harvard Visiting Scholars and may spend either one semester or a full academic year in residence at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University.

During the residency, scholars will focus primarily on the research project outlined in their application while participating in a limited number of activities designed to encourage knowledge exchange and engagement with the wider Harvard community.

Areas of Research

The Bloomberg Center for Cities is particularly interested in research connected to issues such as:

• Mayoral leadership and management strategies
• Conditions that support high-performing staff and teams
• Organizational capabilities for innovation
• Evidence-based policy solutions and the capacity required to implement them
• Data and artificial intelligence for stronger decision-making
• Effective approaches to cross-sector collaboration
• Urban problem-solving and city leadership
• Improving the ability of cities to deliver results for residents

Applications may come from a range of academic and disciplinary backgrounds, provided the proposed research aligns with the mission and interests of the Bloomberg Center for Cities.

Scholar Engagement

Although research remains the primary focus of the residency, scholars are expected to contribute to the intellectual life of the Center through several structured activities.

These include hosting one research seminar per semester, convening a student study group connected to their research twice a month with monthly office hours, and organising one event such as a talk or panel for the broader Harvard community.

These activities are intended to create opportunities for discussion, collaboration and exchange rather than turn the visiting scholar into a full-time instructor.

Research Proposal Requirements

The proposed research should clearly explain:

• The urban problem or city leadership challenge being addressed
• The research questions the project will investigate
• The theory or theories underpinning the research
• The research design and methodological approach
• The significance of the project to both research and practice
• The expected outputs and potential impact of the work

Some applicants may be invited for an interview with members of the selection committee before final decisions are made.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be assessed based on:

• Clarity and significance of the research problem
• Strength of the research design
• Potential contribution to scholarship and practical urban problem-solving
• Alignment with the mission and thematic interests of the Bloomberg Center for Cities

Don't miss out on the application deadline which is October 28, 2026.

Selected Applicants Notified: February