Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowships
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Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowships 2022-24
The Society for the Humanities will sponsor two postdoctoral teaching-research fellowships in the humanities, each awarded for the two-year period beginning August 2022. Each fellowship offers a stipend of $56,000/year. While in residence at Cornell, Mellon Postdoctoral Fellows hold department affiliations and joint appointments with the Society for the Humanities, have limited teaching duties, and the opportunity for scholarly work. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellows are invited to attend all of the Society’s events, and are expected to participate in the Society’s weekly Wednesday Fellows Seminar and luncheon.
Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowships are available in two areas of specialization this year, in the departments of Anthropology and Romance Studies.
Anthropology
With the sponsorship of the Society for the Humanities, the Department of Anthropology invites applications for a two-year Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship position beginning August 1, 2022. The fellowship offers a stipend of $56,000/year.
Applicants should be sociocultural anthropologists or archaeologists whose research and teaching demonstrate a commitment to anti-colonial, abolitionist, and/or activist practices. Geographical area of specialization is open. Topical interests might include, but are not limited to, entangled processes of racialization; alternative or diverse economic formations; land, sovereignty, and rural politics; indigeneity; and emerging forms of political action. The department is particularly interested in scholars who embrace its commitment to multimodal, collaborative, and community-based approaches to research and pedagogy. Scholars whose work involves indigenous politics, social justice, or mutual aid coalitions and/or contributes to interdisciplinary conversations in the environmental or rural humanities will receive especially close attention.
The successful candidate should be prepared to teach two courses per year, including one lower-level and one upper-level course. Lower-level courses will be small and may involve some form of community-engaged learning, potentially in coordination with existing campus initiatives such as the Office for Engagement Initiatives, Rural Humanities, the Underground Railroad Project, or the Prison Education Program. Upper-level courses should explore one or more of the core areas of theoretical and methodological concern described above. These courses should be conceived of as seminars and can reflect the fellow’s particular research interests.
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Eligibility Requirements
Applicants eligible for the Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years include those who have received the Ph.D. degree after September 1, 2016 and no later than July 31, 2022. Applicants who do not have the Ph.D. in hand at the time of application must include a letter from the committee chair or department stating that all requirements for the Ph.D. will be completed before the term of the fellowship begins on August 1, 2022. International applicants are welcome to apply, contingent upon visa eligibility.
Application Procedures
The following application materials must be submitted via Academic Jobs Online position #19069 by November 15, 2021.
- Cover page (will be generated via your AJO account):
(a) Full name and home institution
(b) Date (or expected date) of Ph.D.
(c) Research interest(s)
(d) Referees’ names and emails - Curriculum vitae
- Detailed statement of research interests (1,000 – 2,000 words)
- Course proposal with sample syllabus for introductory, 2000-level course
- Course proposal with sample syllabus for upper, 4000-level course
- One writing sample [30-page limit]
- Letter of degree conferral (only for applicants who do not have the Ph.D. in hand by November 15, 2021)
- The names of three references.
Romance Studies
With the sponsorship of the Society for the Humanities, the Department of Romance Studies invites applications for a two-year Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship position beginning August 1, 2022. The fellowship offers a stipend of $56,000/year.
The Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow will teach one course per semester in the Department of Romance Studies, in support of the department’s interdisciplinary curriculum and commitment to diversity. We welcome applications from scholars working in at least two of the languages and literatures taught in the Department–Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese. We are particularly interested in the following areas of specialization: transatlantic/global studies, colonialism, Caribbean/African diaspora, environmental humanities. We welcome scholarly innovation and creative approaches to research and teaching, and we seek candidates whose work is of broad significance to the humanities. In addition to participating in activities in the department, the Fellow will be part of the Society for the Humanities’ cohort of fellows and will be required to participate in the Society’s events, possibly collaborating with a number of ongoing initiatives and programs at Cornell.
In addition to teaching the candidate will be involved with organizing events for undergraduates, participating in department colloquia, have the opportunity to organize workshops or colloquia or bring visitors, informal advising and mentoring of undergraduates and graduates. Ideally the person would help bridge research and teaching in different languages and with different departments at Cornell as part of Romance Studies’ mission to foster collaboration.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants eligible for the Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years include those who have received the Ph.D. degree after September 1, 2016 and no later than July 31, 2022. Applicants who do not have the Ph.D. in hand at the time of application must include a letter from the committee chair or department stating that all requirements for the Ph.D. will be completed before the term of the fellowship begins on August 1, 2022. International applicants are welcome to apply, contingent upon visa eligibility.
Application Procedures
The following application materials must be submitted via Academic Jobs Online position #19177 by October 31, 2021.
- Cover page (will be generated via your AJO account):
(a) Full name and home institution
(b) Date (or expected date) of Ph.D
(c) Research interest(s)
(d) Referees’ names and emails - Curriculum vitae
- Detailed statement of research interests (1,000 – 2,000 words)
- Course proposal with sample syllabus for introductory, 2000-level course
- Course proposal with sample syllabus for upper, 4000-level course
- One writing sample [30-page limit]
- Letter of degree conferral (only for applicants who do not have the Ph.D. in hand by October 31, 2021)
- Three letters of recommendation. Please ask referees to upload their letters directly through the link provided by Academic Jobs Online. Letters must be received on or before October 31, 2021.
Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations.
Questions can be directed to humctr@cornell.edu.