The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute at Harvard University (Mittal Institute) serves as a bridge between Harvard and South Asia, focusing on interdisciplinary research and knowledge exchange. With a vision to address the complex challenges and opportunities in South Asia, the Institute fosters collaborations among Harvard scholars, students, and institutions in the region. It aims to inform public policy, support capacity-building efforts, and encourage academic engagement across diverse sectors such as education, public health, climate change, social justice, and more. The Mittal Institute promotes dialogue and critical scholarship that can make a lasting impact both regionally and globally. By operating both from Harvard and its India-based office in New Delhi, the Institute is committed to deepening academic networks and promoting the dissemination of impactful research that addresses real-world problems affecting over two billion people in South Asia.

The Mittal Institute India Fellowship (MIIF), offered by the Mittal Institute India Office in New Delhi, supports two postdoctoral scholars engaged in independent, self-driven research. This one-year fellowship provides scholars access to Harvard’s vast academic resources and remote mentorship by Harvard faculty. Fellows are expected to contribute to the intellectual environment of the India office through seminars, grant reviews, and collaborations with Harvard affiliates. The research undertaken should be centered on or connected to India and contribute meaningfully to public knowledge. The fellowship offers a monthly stipend and additional travel support for non-local fellows. It begins in January 2026 and encourages interdisciplinary engagement across a wide spectrum of subjects including political science, public health, history, economics, science, gender studies, and more. The research outcomes will be shared widely for the public benefit in India.