Our 2025 program dates will be posted in November. Check back for updates and application information!
Overview
OpenDP Visiting Fellows are part-time positions meant for engineers or scholars in industry or academia who wish to learn about and engage with the OpenDP software suite, bringing this knowledge back to their own work or organization, while also contributing to OpenDP in the process. During their fellowship, OpenDP Visiting Fellows will generally be supported by their own institution (e.g. being “detailed” by their company to OpenDP or using sabbatical pay). For Visiting Fellows from industry, we expect a contribution of additional financial support for the program and OpenDP, detailed below.
The fellowship term will include participation in a seminar on approaches to and challenges in deploying differential privacy and the basics of the OpenDP software suite. There will also be many opportunities to collaborate with the OpenDP team through synchronous working sessions and asynchronous communication.
The start and end dates of the program are listed below, but alternate dates can be considered. Applications should include a proposal of one or two projects that will be the fellow’s focus. Fellows can work remotely for the entire duration of the program. We may provide co-working space on site at Harvard as an option, following the COVID-19 restrictions and policies at Harvard.
This is an employer-sponsored program, meaning the participant remains fully employed at the employer for the duration of the program, while devoting at least 20% of their time to the fellowship activities. The employer sponsors the participant’s work in this program and covers the pertinent expenses, such as the program fee and any program-related travel and lodging. The program fee of $15,000 is applicable to participants from industry and is waived for those from academia.
Hear from our Visiting Fellows in 2024 and 2023!
Program Structure
- Onboarding – Once enrolled, the Fellow will meet with our faculty and staff to go over a detailed program plan tailored to the Fellow’s goals in this program.
- Planning – The Fellow will present the project(s) to the core OpenDP team, who will help determine the best path to incorporate the work into the current OpenDP workstream and/or collaboration with others in the community.
- Execution – The Fellow will work on the project(s) as part of the OpenDP team. The Fellow will have the opportunity to participate in the seminar series, join team meetings related to their project(s), and give one or two mid-way presentations on the progress of their projects.
- Completion – The Fellow will present the completed project(s) to a wider audience that includes the OpenDP faculty, core team, staff, community members, and colleagues from Fellow’s organization. If the outcome of the project is open-source software, the completed code will undergo the standard vetting process for OpenDP code contributions.
OpenDP is dedicated to building a diverse community that is welcoming for everyone, regardless of disability, gender identity and expression, physical appearance, race, religion, or sexual orientation. In particular, we encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups.
FAQ
What are the dates of the program?
We will announce the 2025 program dates in November.
How long is the program?
The program typically runs for 10 weeks from June to August each year, and alternate dates can be considered.
Where will I be working?
Fellows can work remotely for the entire duration of the program. We may provide co-working space on site at Harvard as an option depending on availability.
What is the time requirement?
This is an employer-sponsored program, meaning the participant remains fully employed at the employer for the duration of the program, while devoting at least 20% of their time to the fellowship activities.
What is the cost of the program?
The employer sponsors the participant’s work in this program and covers the pertinent expenses, such as the program fee and any program-related travel and lodging. In 2023, the program fee was $15,000. The fee is applicable to participants from industry and is waived for those from academia.
Who will I be working with in the program?
You will be working with OpenDP faculty, researchers, developers and staff in Harvard’s Institute for Quantitative Social Science and the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Depending on your project, you may also work with other members of the OpenDP community.
What resources are available in the program?
Enrolled fellows will have access to a wide selection of resources available to Harvard researchers during the program. We may provide co-working space on site at Harvard as an option depending on availability.
Do I need my employer’s approval to apply for the program?
We do not require written approval from your employer for the application. However, this is an employer-sponsored program and you are expected to dedicate at least 20% of your time to the work in this program. For industry participants, we expect your employer to sponsor your work and the program fee. We require all participants to sign the OpenDP Contributor License Agreement (CLA) to provide our users the assurance of properly licensed software. We highly recommend that participants obtain their employer’s signature on the CLA.
Is there any visa/citizenship requirement?
If you are in the U.S. on a visa during any part of the program, you must have U.S. work authorization. Depending on the type of visa you are on, you may have to work with your visa sponsor to obtain authorization to work in the program. If you have any questions regarding visa requirements for this program, please email us at info@opendp.org.
How is IP handled?
The OpenDP project uses the MIT License for our software. We require all fellows program participants to sign the OpenDP Contributor License Agreement (CLA) to provide our users the assurance of properly licensed software. We highly recommend that participants obtain their employer’s signature on the CLA.
When will I be notified after my application is submitted?
Please check back in November for application deadlines and schedule. Depending on the date of application, decisions are typically sent in March and April.
Is there financial aid?
This program is intended for fully-employed engineers and scholars and does not offer financial aid.
I am self-employed. Can I apply?
Yes.
How many Fellows are in this program?
We typically enroll 3 to 5 participants each year in the program.