HMS HealthTech Fellowship FAQs

We are looking for individuals from healthcare, engineering, business, design, computer science, and other complementary disciplines. Applicants with a graduate degree and work experience and exceptional individuals with an undergrad degree are welcome to apply! The fellows who will excel in this program are adaptable, creative, team oriented, and enjoy bringing their unique perspective to bear on a problem in the healthcare field.

We typically accept a cohort of 4-6 Fellows. Fellows work together in multi-disciplinary teams.

Teams are assigned to clinical departments where they identify unmet needs and develop solutions with support from mentors, faculty, and Biodesign coaches. The small cohort model fosters collaboration, and the program combines hands-on clinical immersion with shared learning and expert guidance through the biodesign innovation process. 

Throughout the 10-month fellowship, each team works closely with their clinical partner, meeting various milestones aligned with the Biodesign framework.  Everyone on the team is expected to contribute equally to the team project.

In addition to team-based project work, fellows contribute to the broader HealthTech community by serving as project coaches in the Anatomy of Innovation course and mentors in the Junior HealthTech Fellowship program. Fellows also participate in regular workshops, mentorship sessions, and collaborative cohort activities.

Yes, the Fellowship is a full-time commitment. You will be required to be available during normal working hours and may need to commit select evenings and weekends to the fellowship. Due to the intensity and hands-on nature of the program, fellows are expected to fully dedicate their time and will not be able to take on other employment during the 10 months.

However, we believe strongly in a work-life balance and you will be receiving sick and holiday time according to HMS policies during your 10-month fellowship.

By the end of the 10-month program, each HMS HealthTech Fellow will leave with a deep understanding of the Biodesign innovation framework, equipping them to lead healthcare innovation efforts throughout their careers.

Fellows are expected to have developed a concept that addresses a validated clinical need identified during immersion. While company creation is neither required nor expected, the program can provide guidance and connections to support continued early-stage development. 

The 10-month fellowship begins in September 2026 and finishes at the end of June 2027. 

Fellows will receive an Academic Associate appointment and annual salary of $73,800.00 plus benefits. For more information, read about Harvard benefits. Please note that we will confirm benefits with finalists before their acceptance to the program.

No, while we call this a ‘fellowship’, individuals will be onboarded at HMS at an Academic Associate level.

No, an alumnus/alumna is defined as an individual who has received a degree from any school at Harvard University or Radcliffe College, including honorary degrees.

However, we have a robust community of HMS HealthTech Fellows who have previously completed our program and serve as current mentors and instructors.

The curriculum of the fellowship begins with an intensive 10-day bootcamp and then transitions into field work. The bootcamp will be taught by instructors who have previously gone through a Biodesign program,  HMS faculty and industry mentors of various disciplines. During the fieldwork experience, fellows will have access to a team coach and other mentors from the Boston healthcare ecosystem.

The clinical observation will take place at one of Harvard Medical School's affiliated hospitals. We will announce the clinical partner once we select the fellows.

Fellows will be full-time academic associates of Harvard Medical School and will conduct work at an affiliate hospital, therefore the medical school and the hospital will own the IP. Further details will be shared later with applicants. Our goal is to support a clear path to commercialization.

Applications for the 2026-2027 Fellowship must be submitted by Monday, September 22, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

No, there is not. 

Non-US Citizens are welcome to apply to the HMS HealthTech Fellowship, but please note that Harvard Medical School is not able to guarantee Visa sponsorship for this position. All Visa-related decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. Please refer to Harvard’s International Office for up to date information.

We request two professional references and one optional peer reference. The professional references should speak to your qualifications, achievements, teamwork, work ethic, ability to innovate, and skills. The optional peer reference can highlight your skills, leadership, teamwork qualities, and other relevant strengths.
In our application portal, you will be asked to request the references by entering their contact information and clicking “Send Request.” This will email your reference provider immediately with a request to upload a letter of recommendation in the portal. The portal will show you the status of your references and allow you to resend the request if needed. Please note that both references must be received by the application deadline, so we recommend that you input your references as soon as possible and provide ample time for reference providers to complete their recommendations. Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that letters of recommendation are submitted by the deadline. 

All finalists are expected to be available for two interview days on Oct. 24 and Oct. 25, 2024. Individual interview schedules will be provided to finalists before these dates. All interviews will be held virtually.

We have representatives from industry and healthcare to help assess each candidate and build a multi-disciplinary team. We value creativity, exceptional teamwork, and a spirit of innovation. Finalists will interview virtually.

Fellows will be notified of their acceptance by early December 2025.