Mellon Postdoctoral Fellows for 2014-16

Elizabeth Barnett, PhD, English 2014-15 Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow Berea College	Rosie Seagraves, PhD, Spanish and Portuguese 2014-16 Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow Tougaloo College	Kevin Vanzant, PhD, History 2014-16 Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow Tennessee State University

Mellon Postdoctoral Fellows for 2015-17

Courtney Campbell, PhD, History 2015-2017 Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow Tougaloo College	Megan Minarich, PhD, English 2015-2017 Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow Tennessee State University	Jessica Polish, PhD, Philosophy 2015-2017 Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow Berea College

Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowships for 2016-18

With the generous support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Vanderbilt University is pleased to accept applications for three two-year postdoctoral fellowships for recent Vanderbilt University PhDs in the humanities and humanistic social sciences.  These are exceptional opportunities for early-career scholars to pursue their research while gaining mentored experience as teachers and members of academic departments and programs at one of Vanderbilt’s three partner institutions:  Berea College, Tennessee State University, and Tougaloo College.

The fellowships will provide valuable teaching experience at a historically black college or university (HBCU) and/or a small liberal arts college.  We are especially interested in candidates who have an interest in digital humanities and/or public humanities.

Terms of appointment

The fellowships will extend from fall, 2016, to the end of spring, 2018.  Fellows are expected to be in residence at the schools where they are appointed for each of the two full academic years.

Fellows will teach one course each semester in each year of their residency in their home department(s) or program(s).  At least one of the four courses should contribute something new to the curriculum of the host institution. 

Each fellow will be provided an academic-year salary of $45,000, plus benefits, and a one-time research fund of $10,000.  The fund is intended to provide for the initial purchase of a computer or other equipment needed by the fellow, as well as support travel and research.  A one-time moving allowance up to $2,500 also will be provided.  One trip to Vanderbilt per year, to review the progress of the fellow’s teaching and research, will be required and funded.

Vanderbilt University will provide special opportunities on its campus for the postdoctoral fellows to be involved in workshops and training programs related to teaching at HBCUs and liberal arts colleges, as well as a week-long institute on digital humanities and public humanities in May 2016. The successful candidates for the postdoctoral fellowships will be required to complete the Institute and an accelerated version of the Mellon Certificate in Humanities Education.

Application and selection process

Applicants for the 2016–2018 fellowships must have completed a PhD degree from Vanderbilt University no earlier than September 2012, and no later than May 2016.  Candidates who have accepted tenure-track faculty employment are not eligible to apply for this award.

Applications for the 2016–2018 fellowship must be received via email, according to the instructions below, on or before Tuesday, January 19, 2016. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The following must be submitted:

• Completed application form: Mellon Applicant Form 2016-18
• An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae
• A description of the applicant’s teaching experiences, completed research (including dissertation), work in progress, professional goals and plans for publication, and any other information relevant to the applicant’s candidacy – up to three pages
• A personal statement of the applicant’s philosophy and vision regarding how he or she would approach this fellowship opportunity at the partner schools – up to two pages
• Three letters of reference – These should be sent by the referees directly to the email address provided below.

All documents are to be submitted as email attachments, in PDF format, to rpw.center@vanderbilt.edu, by Tuesday, January 19, 2016.

Timeline

January 19, 2016 – DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION
January 20 through March 18, 2016 – Evaluations and selections
Successful candidates notified by email

Should you have questions, please direct them to tiffany.giese@vanderbilt.edu.