Du Bois-Mandela-Rodney Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of Michigan 2025/2026

The Department of Afroamerican and African Studies (DAAS) at the University of Michigan invites applications for the Du Bois-Mandela-Rodney Postdoctoral Fellowship Program from scholars working on Africa or the African diaspora.

Application Deadline: 1st November 2024 at 5:00 PM eastern standard time. 

Eligible Countries: International

To be Taken at (Country): Ann Arbor Campus, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Type: Research, Fellowship

About Award: The Department of Afroamerican and African Studies (DAAS) at the University of Michigan invites applications from scholars working on Africa or the African diaspora for the Du Bois-Mandela-Rodney Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Consideration will be given to all disciplines, including the humanities, social sciences, and, in some cases, law, business, urban planning, and other professional schools. Scholars from or who study the Gullah-speaking Sea islands, Cape Verde islands, the Anglophone Caribbean, the Canary Islands, Madagascar, and/or other less studied areas are especially encouraged to apply.

This is a residential fellowship for the academic year. The fellowship package is worth $56,000 plus benefits. Included in the package is a stipend of $52,000, which also includes health insurance, a total of $3,000 to support research and scholarly travel expenses, and up to $1,000 for the cost of relocation to Ann Arbor.  Successful candidates can expect to maintain affiliations with DAAS and departments and research institutes related to their projects. Fellows will be expected to conduct a DAAS work-in-progress seminar on their research during one of the semesters in residence in the form of a five or six-week “mini-course” as well as to be a presenter in at least one colloquium during the academic year. The mini-course should be designed to expose a small group of upper-level undergraduates and graduate students to new, specialized, and advanced research topics in Afroamerican and African Studies.

Eligibility: Candidates must have a Ph.D. in hand from an institution other than the University of Michigan and be no more than five years beyond the completion of their degree. That is, for the 2024-25 academic year, applicants are required to have earned a Ph.D. no earlier than January 1, 2020 and no later than August 31, 2025.

Selection Criteria: Consideration will be given to all disciplines including the humanities, social sciences and in some cases law, business, urban planning and other professional schools. Scholars from or who study the Gullah speaking Sea islands, Cape Verde islands, the Anglophone Caribbean, the Canary Islands, and Madagascar and/or other less studied areas are especially encouraged to apply.

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of Award:

• This is a residential fellowship for the academic year. The fellowship package is worth $56,000 plus benefits. Included in the package is a stipend of $52,000, which also includes health insurance, a total of $3,000 to support research and scholarly travel expenses, and up to $1,000 for the cost of relocation to Ann Arbor.  
• Successful candidates can expect to maintain affiliations with DAAS and departments and research institutes related to their projects. Fellows will be expected to conduct a DAAS work-in-progress seminar on their research during one of the semesters in residence in the form of a five or six-week “mini-course” as well as to be a presenter in at least one colloquium during the academic year. The mini-course should be designed to expose a small group of upper-level undergraduates and graduate students to new, specialized, and advanced research topics in Afroamerican and African Studies.

Duration of Award: 1 year

How to Apply: Applicants can submit an online application at http://apply.interfolio.com/152614 with the following:

1. Cover Letter – can include biographical information, an indication of the applicant’s intellectual path, and their knowledge of DAAS
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Research Statement – 3 to 5 pages (1000 words)
4. Personal Statement & Diversity Commitment 
5. Project Abstract 
6. Writing Sample – 30 pages maximum, double-spaced
7. Names and contact information for three references who will be asked to respond through an online system. 

In addition to the above materials, applicants who have not yet completed their Ph.D. must also submit the following materials:

An official transcript or copy of one indicating when the applicant completed all the requirements for the Ph.D. except the dissertation (ABD status). If an applicant who has not yet completed his or her Ph.D. yet is selected to be a fellow, he or she must also submit proof that all the requirements of the Ph.D. have been completed by August 31, 2025, in order to begin the fellowship in September.

The name and contact information of the dissertation faculty advisor to verify whether the applicant is likely to complete the dissertation by August 31, 2025. The advisor will be asked to respond through an online system.

• It is important to go through all
  application requirements in the Award Webpage (see Link below) before applying.
• GOODLUCK

Visit Award Webpage for Details