David Weil
Democracy Visiting Senior Fellow, AY2023-2025
Co-Director, Transparency Policy Project, AY2018-2025
Reimagining Democracy Visiting Fellowship
Applications for AY2025-26 are now open. Applications are due January 10, 2025 at 11:59pm EST.
Contact Info
- Jose Martinez, Democratic Governance Program Administrator
- jose_martinez@hks.harvard.edu
Related Fellowships
About the Fellowship
The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation invites faculty, doctoral, and postdoctoral students to apply to its Democracy Visiting Fellowship Program and further their research on substantive democratic governance issues.
Eligibility
We are broadly interdisciplinary and invite scholars who use approaches from political theory and philosophy, political science, sociology, law, or history. We are especially interested in drawing scholars whose work focuses on innovations in public participation and political participation in democracies or non-democracies.
The Ash Center is a global and values-driven community that believes diverse perspectives are paramount to better understanding and addressing real-world problems. In fostering an environment of rigor, curiosity, and integrity, we value and respect different opinions, lived experiences, and diverse research and policy areas and approaches. We actively seek candidates who share our commitment and values.
Expectations & Benefits
The duration of the fellowship is one academic year, lasting from August 1 through July 31 of the following year. Democracy Visiting Fellows are expected to be in residency during their appointment to participate in required on-campus activities. The main requirement is attendance to a weekly democracy community seminar series, throughout the academic year, make a presentation of your research, and engage in the activities of the Ash Center and Kennedy School more broadly. Where relevant to their work, Fellows may be asked to contribute to the development of other Ash Center research or program activities. Fellows are also expected to attend a mandatory new fellow orientation that will take place during the month of August.
The Democracy Visiting Fellowship carries a modest administration fee, and offers institutional support including physical and online library access, access to Harvard’s electronic resources, and use of our shared fellow study space.
How to Apply
All Ash Center fellowship applications can be accessed through our universal fellowship application. You will be asked to create an account and log into the application. Once logged in, your progress is automatically saved as you fill out the application before submitting. You can revisit your application at any time on the “My Applications” menu item.
Meet the Current Fellows
George Greenidge Jr.
Democracy Visiting Fellow, AY2021-2025
Alberto Alemanno
Democracy Visiting Fellow, AY2024-2025
Maneesh Arora
Democracy Visiting Fellow, AY2024-2025
Naomi Beyth-Zoran
Democracy Visiting Fellow, June 2024-June 2025
Freddy Guevara
Democracy Visiting Fellow, AY2024-2025
Jonathan Jayes-Green
Democracy Visiting Fellow, AY2024-2025
Jie (Jason) Lian
Democracy Visiting Fellow, AY2024-2025
Nicolas Rodriguez
Democracy Visiting Fellow, AY2024-2025
Willie Webb
Democracy Doctoral Fellow, AY2024-2025
Elizabeth Zechmeister
Democracy Visiting Fellow, AY2024-2025
Dimitri Courant
Democracy Post-doctoral Fellow, AY2023-2025
Sara Sadhwani
Non-resident Democracy Fellow, AY2023-2025
Hari Ramesh
Visiting Scholar, August 2024 - January 2025
Bailey Flanigan
Wojcicki Troper HDSI and Democracy Postdoctoral Fellow, AY2024-2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Are letters of recommendation required?
Each fellowship is different, some do require letters of recommendation while others simply ask for references. Please login and view each application for requirements.
I need to make a change to my application—can I edit it once submitted or re-submit?
Throughout the application process, the application will automatically save and you can revisit it at any time. If you an unsure of any response, we encourage you to wait (your application does autosave and you can revisit it at any time on the “My Applications” page) and only submit once you’re ready. You cannot change your application once it is submitted.
Can I confirm that my application was received?
On the “My Applications” page, the status of your application will be displayed. The status “Submitted” indicates it has been received.
Do you provide visa sponsorship for Ash Center fellowships?
Yes, Harvard University can provide J-1 visa sponsorship for eligible fellows.
When will I hear the final decision?
All fall applicants will be notified by early spring.
Will I be required to relocate to Cambridge to complete this fellowship?
Yes, we expect fellows to be in Cambridge to participate in required on-campus activities.
How does the Reimagining Democracy Visiting Fellowship differ from the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation Fellowships?
Both sets of fellowships are focused on building and supporting healthy democracy, so there is inevitable overlap in the research interests of the Fellows. We encourage the Fellows in both programs to collaborate, share their work, and build common purpose together.
Fellows in the Reimagining Democracy program work with Ash Center Director Professor Archon Fung. They focus on substantive democratic governance issues, especially on innovations in public participation and political participation in democracies or non-democracies.
The Allen Lab Fellows work with Professor Danielle Allen in the Lab for Democracy Renovation. They focus on advancing the theory of power-sharing liberalism through work on tech and democracy, advancing new frameworks for political economy, renovating governance mechanisms, and building civic education policy.
While the Allen Lab provides some remote/part-time fellowship opportunities, Reimagining Democracy Program fellowships require residency and tend to be full-time, lasting for the full academic year.
