Korea Institute Graduate Student Research Fellowship: AI in South Korea

Korea Institute Graduate Student Research Fellowship: AI in South Korea, AY25-26 

Application Deadline: Friday, March 28, 2025, 5:00pm  

Announcement: Late April 2025  

Fellowship Period: July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026  

The Korea Institute is recruiting a team of Graduate Student Research Fellows to join a research initiative on Artificial Intelligence in South Korea. Led by Professor Nicholas Harkness (Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Korea Institute), the Project aims to understand South Korea’s technological advances and investments in AI in relation to broad topics in South Korean society (culture, politics, economy, law, language, education, medicine, etc.).  

The Korea Institute invites applications from PhD students from any department in Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. This fellowship is intended for PhD students who have completed their core programmatic requirements (e.g. coursework, general exams) and are not in their finishing year. Graduate Research Fellows will have the opportunity to conduct their own independent research on AI in South Korea while contributing to the collaborative research project. Reporting to the Director, Graduate Research Fellows will attend regular in-person meetings, share research findings, author publications, organize workshops and conferences, and work with scholars and practitioners engaged in AI in South Korea.  

The term is one year, from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The position is renewable for up to three years, dependent on performance and funding. The research stipend is $40,000 for the one-year fellowship period. Graduate Research Fellows are responsible for disclosing any other funding or income sources. This research program is housed and administered by the Korea Institute at Harvard University. 

Application Process:  

1. Please email ONE complete PDF which includes the following items below to Director of Programs, Michelle Choi (michellechoi@fas.harvard.edu) by the application deadline. 

  • A brief cover letter. This letter should include your Harvard department, current G-year of PhD study, faculty advisor, and expected graduation year, as well as the names of two recommenders; and the title of your research proposal. In addition, this letter should outline your interest in the project, your knowledge of AI and/or South Korea, your level of Korean language ability, and an explanation of how participating in this project will support your intellectual and professional goals. 
  • A current curriculum vitae. Your CV should include your 1) contact information (email and phone) and 2) citizenship status (please state if you are a US Permanent Resident).  
  • A research proposal. Your research proposal must describe how your research will address an aspect of AI in South Korea. This research can be a component of your dissertation or a separate project. The proposal should not exceed 500 words. 
  • A current unofficial transcript from my.harvard 

2. Two letters of recommendation from faculty members familiar with your research. Please have your recommendations emailed directly from the faculty to Michelle Choi, Director of Programs, michellechoi@fas.harvard.edu, by the application deadline. Please have your recommenders denote which specific position you are applying for.