The Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia seeks to hire a scholar of contemporary Russia for a two-year WCEE Postdoctoral Fellowship, from August 2026 to July 2028. We encourage applications from specialists on Russia proper as well as those who focus on Russia’s interactions with its neighbors (the Baltic states, Moldova, Belarus, Ukraine, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Mongolia, China, Japan). Candidates should have a PhD completed, or nearly completed, in the social sciences and/or cultural studies, broadly construed. We are especially interested in scholars who will complement and add to the coverage offered by our existing faculty.
WCEE Postdoctoral Fellows are expected to focus on their own research, participate in the center’s events, present at least one public lecture during their two-year fellowship, and teach one course per year at the University of Michigan while in full-time residency.
Eligibility
Eligibility is restricted to applicants who have obtained their PhD no earlier than January 1, 2024. Current doctoral candidates are eligible to apply but must have defended and filed their dissertations by July 31, 2026.
Benefits
Fellowships carry an annual salary of $60,000 and up to $10,000 in research funds during the postdoctoral appointment. Fellowship recipients will be eligible for U-M health, dental, and life insurance options (beginning August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2028). Fellows have full access to U-M library resources.
Application materials
Application opens July 1, 2025. Candidates should submit the following via Interfolio:
- A research proposal (2000 words maximum) that describes your intellectual objectives and concrete plan for the fellowship duration
- Curriculum Vitae
- A scholarly writing sample, such as a dissertation chapter or peer-reviewed journal article (50 pages maximum)
- Teaching statement with potential course topics
- Two letters of recommendation
To be assured full consideration, fellowship applications should be received by October 15, 2025, 11:59 PM EDT. Successful applicants will be notified by December 2025.
Please contact the Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia for additional information at weiseraward@umich.edu.
