Deadline: February 22, 2026
Applications are open for the Carr-Ryan Center’s Technology and Human Rights Fellowship 2026-2027. The Carr-Ryan Center’s Technology and Human Rights Fellowship has long been a key initiative exploring how technological developments shape the future of human life and impact human rights protections. Under the leadership of the Center’s Director, Mathias Risse, this program brought together between 10 and 15 virtual fellows each year. It hosted the webinar series Towards Life 3.0: Ethics and Technology, as well as many conferences and convenings.
As of the Academic Year 2024/25, the Fellowship shifted toward an in-depth focus on some of the most essential challenges of the technology-human rights axis in our time. These are summarized in three questions: Surveillance Capitalism or Democracy? Who knows? Who decides?” Since 2024 the Center embraced this multi-year effort,gathered exceptional expertise among its first two Fellowship cohorts, and has become an ideal home for the pursuit of new answers to the new questions that define this frontier domain.
Fellowship Activities
The cohort meets virtually twice a month for in-depth discussions that draw on Fellows’ research projects. Each Fellow is also expected to join an on-campus convening once each semester for a range of programmed events and activities. These are intended to advance group development through intellectual exchange and shared work-in-progress as projects move into their final stages on their way to publication. Travel subsidies are provided.
While on-campus Fellows may also participate in auditing classes, meeting faculty and other experts, leading student study groups, and engaging in the myriad learning opportunities at the Harvard Kennedy School and adjacent institutions within the University.
Eligibility
- They seek projects that connect to the research programs in Professor Zuboff’s 2019 book, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, her 2022 paper, “Surveillance Capitalism or Democracy, the Deathmatch of Institutional Orders,” and Professor Risse’s 2023 book, Political Theory of the Digital Age.
- Past Fellows have been post-docs, scholars, academics on sabbatical, human rights advocates, senior leaders in international organizations, and established professionals from many distinct fields (law, healthcare, journalism, education, and more) who share a deep commitment to the Fellowship’s intellectual priorities.
- They welcome early career, mid-career, and more senior theorists, researchers, and practitioners whose work aligns with the Fellowship’s priorities and purpose.
Application
Project proposals should be outlined in up to 3 pages and include the following elements:
- Background, context, and time horizon of the research problem.
- Alignment with Carr-Ryan Center priorities.
- The anticipated impact of your work and your qualifications for this research project.
- Executive summary of proposal (up to 200 words)
- The contact information for two references who can comment on your ability to complete the proposed research. These individuals may be contacted by the Carr-Ryan Center and need not submit documentation unless requested.
- Relevant writing sample (up to 5 pages)
- A list of prior publications (with links or up to 3 attachments)
For more information, visit Carr-Ryan Center’s Technology and Human Rights Fellowship.
