Undergraduate Summer Programs

Summer 2023

CLIMATE AND AIR QUALITY IN CHINA & ASIA:

Summer Undergrad Research Assistantships in China

 

Program Duration: 8 weeks during Summer 2024

Program Applications Due: Monday, February 3, 2024
Admissions Decisions: Monday, February 17, 2023

Number of Students: 3-5


Applications are now closed. Please check back in December for information on our 2025 summer program.

The Harvard-China Project on Energy, Economy and Environment will provide generous financial support for three to five Harvard undergraduates to participate in directed summer research under the guidance of university professors in China

RESEARCH PROJECTS & SUPPORT:

Sstudents will work under guidance of university professors in Beijing or other Chinese cities. Partner universities are still TBD, though last year we sent students to Tsinghua University and Peking University, in addition to Hong Kong Baptist University (read about their summer 2023 experiences). Students may work on topics including energy system decarbonization, energy and climate economics, atmospheric transport and chemistry, environmental health, or other climate and environment topics. Applications are now open for this program and due on Monday, February 3. 

All research assistants can expect regular meetings with their faculty mentors. Virtual support by Harvard-China Project Faculty Chair Prof. Michael B. McElroy and/or Executive Director Chris Nielsen will also be available if needed.

FUNDING:

Accepted students will receive round-trip airfare to and from China, accommodations, and a stipend more than sufficient to cover miscellaneous expenses such as meals and ground transportation.

The coordination of payment will be facilitated by the Mignone Center for Career Success at Harvard, which is generously sponsoring this research program. Funding for this program is dependent on forthcoming summer funding policies from Harvard College, and subject to change based on final guidance.

ELIGIBILITY:

This program is open to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors currently enrolled in Harvard College. All applicants must be enrolled for the semester following this summer program (Fall semester 2024). Students must also be enrolled in the Spring 2024 semester - if a student, on leave this spring semester, wishes to apply for an exception to be funded, they should be in touch with their Resident Dean to see if they can bring a petition to the Administrative Board.

Students in Environmental Science and Public Policy (ESPP), Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS), Environmental Science & Engineering (ESE) and other natural science and engineering concentrations are particularly encouraged to apply, but we welcome applications from all concentrations.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Accepted students will be required to complete a number of pre-departure meetings, including with the Harvard International Office and Harvard-China Project staff. There will be a mandatory in-person or remote interview with Harvard-China Project staff of those making a short list, prior to final admissions decisions. 

QUESTIONS?

Contact Kellie Nault, Communications Manager, at knault@fas.harvard.edu.


About Our Past Programs

2023 Program

Explore the summer research projects of our five students chosen to return to China for in-person climate and air quality research. 

2022 Program

Learn more about some of the research projects of seven students chosen for in-person "Decarbonization in China & Asia" Research Assistantships. 

2021 Program

Learn more about some of the research projects of seven students chosen to participate in a virtual "Decarbonization in China & Asia" Research Assistantship. 

2020 Program

This year's program was unfortunately cancelled by the global coronavirus pandemic.

2018 Program

Learn about the 2018 summer research program at Tsinghua University and Chinese University of Hong Kong in a Harvard Gazette story, which featured students' perspectives on their experiences.

2017 Program

Learn about our 2017 summer program, which sent thirty Harvard College undergraduate students to Tsinghua University for a two-week intensive summer program on China's environmental challenges.