Katharine H. Putnam Fellowships in Plant Science Grant

Katharine H. Putnam Fellowships in Plant Science Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
Amount: Up to US $83,000
Last Updated: December 07, 2025

Summary

The Katharine H. Putnam Fellowships in Plant Science, offered by the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, invite early-career researchers with a PhD to conduct independent research using the Arboretum’s extensive living collections. This prestigious program promotes collaboration and aims to enhance the scientific community's understanding of plant sciences, including evolutionary biology and ecology. Successful applicants will gain access to exceptional resources and support, fostering their development as future leaders in academia and horticulture.

Overview

Katharine H. Putnam Fellowships in Plant Science The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University invites applicants for research fellowships in plant science. Putnam Fellowships offer excellent opportunities for advanced research and study using the Arboretum’s living collections of woody plants and research facilities. Scientists with a PhD and who have identified an independent research project that would utilize the Arboretum’s living collections are encouraged to apply. Putnam Fellows conduct basic and applied research in the plant sciences. The goal of the program is to facilitate the research use of the Arboretum’s living collections, thereby stimulating their use within the larger scientific community. The research topics of past Putnam Fellows have included evolutionary biology, taxonomy and systematics, molecular and developmental biology, physiological ecology, propagation, and plant-insect and/or -pathogen interactions. The Putnam Fellowship Program has attracted a diverse array of scholars, and many have gone on to be leaders in academia and public horticulture. The Arnold Arboretum provides exceptional resources for woody plant research. The living collection, numbering some 15,000 plants, in over 2,200 species, is distinguished as one of the most thoroughly documented collections of temperate woody plants in the world. Taxonomic diversity and breadth within the collection are noteworthy, and the floras of China, Japan, and Korea are particularly well represented.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applications are sought from early-career individuals with a PhD in plant biology, evolution, plant genetics, plant ecology, horticulture, or related discipline. Applicants must have their PhD when they initiate their term at the Arboretum. Applicants should be well positioned to conduct original, independent research and to publish their findings in peer-reviewed publications. We encourage applications from groups under-represented in the sciences. Applicants are expected to be fluent in English.The Putnam Fellowship is an independent post-doctoral position. As an independent scholar, Putnam Fellows have access to shared laboratories, equipment, desk space, resources, and interactions with fellow scientists, students and staff. It is not necessary to have a specific faculty host.

Ineligibility

It is not necessary to have a specific faculty host.