Inclusive History Project / ARC-NCID Postdoctoral Fellowship

During the 2023–2024 academic year, the Inclusive History Project (IHP) will partner with the National Center for Institutional Diversity’s Anti-Racism Collaborative (ARC-NCID) at the University of Michigan (U-M) to offer the IHP/ARC-NCID Postdoctoral Fellowship. The Office of the President has charged the IHP to make an independent and comprehensive assessment of the university’s historical record of inclusion and exclusion, and a framing and design committee composed of a cross-section of faculty, staff, and students is leading the initial phase of this work. This fellowship is a unique opportunity for an early career scholar whose research centers on histories of racism, racial equity, and/or racial justice in higher education, with an emphasis on institutional histories.

The successful applicant will contribute to the IHP’s effort to study, document, and better understand the University of Michigan’s history with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with an initial focus on the history of race and racism. In residence at the NCID and under the guidance and mentorship of the IHP framing and design committee co-chairs and project manager, the fellow will research and report on a defined aspect of the university’s history relating to race and racism. Topics may include, but are not limited to, the history of students of color at U-M, the university’s historical and ongoing interactions with communities of color, and histories of campus activism. Other topics may be developed from the Bentley Historical Library’s holdings, including its recently launched African American Student Project, or identified by the IHP’s framing and design committee. The fellow will have the opportunity to shape the scope and focus of their IHP research based on their own scholarly interests. Additional duties may include presenting this research to relevant communities, preparing materials for teaching, attending IHP team meetings, and collaborating with archivists, faculty, and IHP team members.

The IHP/ARC-NCID Postdoctoral Fellowship is aimed at promoting and supporting the work of outstanding early career diversity scholars. In addition to conducting research for IHP, the fellow will be able to focus 50% of their time on their own research and writing while in residence at the NCID. Secondary affiliation with a relevant academic department at U-M, such as the Department of History or the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education (CSHPE), may be possible.

The fellow will also have the opportunity to engage with the Anti-Racism Collaborative (ARC), a strategic space created to facilitate U-M community engagement around research and scholarship focused on racial inequality, racial justice, and anti-racist praxis. The ARC supports a variety of activities to catalyze innovation in research and scholarship, as well as informed practice, public engagement, and action to advance anti-racist principles and organizing. This postdoctoral fellowship will provide early career scholars with opportunities for professional development, scholarly and career mentoring, and interdisciplinary research, including participating in the activities of the ARC’s community of postdoctoral scholars focused on anti-racism and racial justice.

The initial appointment will be for one year, with the potential for renewal for a second year based on satisfactory performance and funding availability.

Please submit application materials online by 11:59 p.m. ET on January 27, 2023. Letter writers must submit letters of reference by 11:59 p.m. ET on February 1, 2023.

This is a residential fellowship for the 2023–2024 academic year with the possibility of renewal for a second year. The fellowship package includes an annual salary of $60,000, health benefits, plus a total of $3,000 for research and scholarly travel expenses.

Consideration will be given to scholars in all disciplines, including the humanities, social sciences, and education. Scholars who study the history of higher education are especially encouraged to apply.

Candidates must have a PhD in-hand and be no more than three years beyond the completion of their degree. That is, for the 2023–2024 academic year, applicants are required to have earned a PhD no earlier than January 1, 2020, and no later than August 31, 2023.

The application for the IHP/ARC-NCID Postdoctoral Fellowship requires the submission of:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover Letter that explains your overall research interests, your preparation for and interest in conducting research for the IHP, and how this fellowship would fit within your career and research trajectory and goals (2 pages).
   
3. Research Statement that outlines your scholarly work and includes your research plan for the 50% time devoted to your work during the fellowship period. The research statement does not need to specify the topics you may research for the IHP. References, citations, formulas, and graphics do not count toward the page limit (2 pages).
   
4. Diversity Statement that describes your demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through scholarship/research, and/or teaching/mentoring, and/or service/engagement. See Writing the Diversity Statement for more information.There may be some overlap with your research statement (1–3 pages).
   
5. Writing Sample — 30 pages maximum, double-spaced
   
6. References — Names and contact information for three referees who will supply letters of recommendation. When you submit your letter writers’ contact information, emails will be sent to the email addresses you supply with directions for submitting the letters. Letter writers must submit letters of reference by 11:59 p.m. ET on February 1, 2023.

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

COVID-19 vaccinations, including one booster when eligible, are required for all University of Michigan students, faculty and staff across all campuses, including Michigan Medicine. This includes those working remotely and temporary workers. More information on this new policy is available on the U-M Health Response website or the UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint websites.

The IHP/ARC-NCID Postdoctoral Fellowship is administered by the National Center for Institutional Diversity at the University of Michigan. For any questions relating to recruitment, eligibility, technical issues, or program details, please contact: ncidpostdoc@umich.edu.