University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, Department of History
Postdoctoral Fellow in African or East Asian History
Institution Type: | College / University |
Location: | Minnesota, United States |
Position: | Post-Doctoral Fellow |
Postdoctoral Fellow in African or East Asian History
PPFP in CLA at UMN
As part of a continuing commitment to build a culturally diverse intellectual community and advancing scholars from underrepresented groups in higher education (including, but not limited to, individuals from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (“BIPOC”), and others), the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota is pleased to announce its participation in the President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, made possible by the Office of the President, the Office of the Provost, the Office of Equity and Diversity, and the Office of the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
As part of the University of California Partnership for Faculty Diversity, the goal of the University of Minnesota program is to offer a rewarding postdoctoral experience that includes the possibility of a transition to a tenure-track faculty position after two years. The university seeks applicants whose research, practice, teaching, and service will contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education and at the University of Minnesota.
About the Position
At the University of Minnesota, postdoctoral associates are academic employees who conduct research and/or advance their artistic praxis and are supported by a network of mentors who will welcome fellows to the our schools/departments, partner with them on advancing their research agenda/body of work, expose them to new research techniques and/or practices, work towards their full integration into the program, and connect them to resources beyond their home departments. This one-year fellowship is renewable for a second year. Renewing for a second year has been the norm with previous President’s Postdoctoral Fellows at the University of Minnesota.
Postdoctoral Fellow in African or East Asian History
The Department of History invites diverse PPFP applicants whose research, teaching, and service builds upon our program’s existing strengths in Africa (especially the possibility of expanding our coverage into the Horn of Africa) or East Asia (especially China).
We welcome applicants who work in all historical periods, but have particular needs in the early modern/pre-modern period. Preferred thematic research areas include: Race, Ethnicity, Migration, Diasporas; Public History; Empire/Colonialism; Environmental History; and/or Disability and Illness.
Fellows are not required to teach, but may do so by overload assignment in the second year. At the end of the postdoctoral fellowship period, the fellow will be considered by the Department of History for a full-time, tenure-track assistant professor position.
The award-winning faculty in the Department of History are interdisciplinary and multifaceted in their approaches to history, with expertise ranging from the ancient and medieval to the modern and post-modern and an eye to new directions including public history and digital humanities. The Department of History commits itself to fostering a truly democratic education by promoting, through studies, deliberation, and action, values that are central to robust and pluralistic democracy. This commitment includes (1) intersectional diversity: adopting interventions that work toward undoing hierarchies of race, class, gender and bases of exclusion by group or identity; (2) equity: recognizing that a just society must actively combat the inequalities of outcome that result from these hierarchies; and (3) inclusion: creating an environment in which historically under-represented individuals and groups not only subjectively feel part of the department, but are empowered to shape its collective life.
Mentorship/Selection for History
In your application, please a) specify the Department of History and b) your chosen departmental faculty mentor from among our faculty (https://cla.umn.edu/history/people/faculty). Applicants are encouraged to identify one or more faculty mentor(s) in their Research Proposal, but the Department of History has designated Professor David Chang (dchang@umn.edu) as the acting “Faculty Mentor” all applicants should list when they upload their materials to the UC Portal System. In the preliminary application process, the acting “Faculty Mentor” will generate automated mentor letters of support for all applicants. After reviewing all applications, the search committee will contact the list of applicants who have been selected for the second phase of the search. For inquiries related to the PPFP, please contact Department Chair and Professor Sarah C. Chambers at chambers@umn.edu.
Eligibility and Evaluation of all PPFP Applicants to the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota:
- Preferred applicants will have completed their doctoral degree in their field within the past ten (10) academic years and no later than August 27, 2023.
- The primary criterion for selection is evidence of scholarship and creative work competitive for a potential tenure track appointment in the postdoctoral fellow’s department/school.
- An important secondary criterion is the support of the proposed department/School and mentor(s) to host the fellow, and the extent to which the candidate’s research, teaching, and service will contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education and at the University of Minnesota.
Award Details for 2023-25 PPFP:
- Salary: $65,000, plus health benefits
- $4,000 research funds, $500 for travel to system campuses, $1000 for travel for the fellow and mentor for PPFP events (per year)
- Office space and computer
- School mentoring and workshops
- Expectation of a tenure-track position at the end of the fellowship, subject to satisfactory performance, departmental review and vote, and College approval.
Required Application Materials:
For full consideration, please be sure to include the following materials in your application:
- Thesis abstract – one page
- Research Proposal – 700-1,000 words (not including references and citations) - this can be the project you would like to work on over the term of your postdoctoral fellowship period. In your research proposal, please list faculty mentors who you would be interested in working with. Note that each participating unit has designated an acting “Faculty Mentor” to endorse your application when it is submitted via the UC Portal System. Through the selection process, participating units will work closely with applicants to identify an appropriate mentor or mentoring committee to work with during their postdoctoral appointment.
- Education and Background Statement – 500-700 words describing your personal background; contributions to diversity and equal opportunity through your academic career; relevant professional/non-traditional academic experience; and rationale for your postdoc commitment.
- Curriculum vitae
- Sample of work – sample publication or unpublished paper for PhDs, please limit to 35 pages (not including references and citations)
- Name, Institutional Affiliation, and Email contacts of Two References
How do I apply & what are the deadlines? (Please note UMN’s PPFP deadline is November 30, 2022)
- Application instructions can be found on the University of California website
- Apply online via the PPFP website
- Questions? Contact ppfp@umn.edu
Closing Date: November 30, 2022, 11:59p.
Review of applications will begin immediately. Applicants may be asked to submit additional materials as units’ engage in their selection processes.
About the the College of Liberal Arts
Established in 1868, the College of Liberal Arts supports the University of Minnesota's land-grant mission as home to disciplines in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. With 31 departments on the Minneapolis campus, it is the largest college in the University of Minnesota system. The College of Liberal Arts is committed to intellectual freedom, the pursuit of new knowledge, and the belief that the liberal arts are the foundation of academic learning. CLA prepares students to be independent and original thinkers, to be innovators in their chosen fields, to create meaning in their lives and in their life’s work, and to become productive citizens and leaders in their communities and the world.
Diversity & Equal Opportunity
The University of Minnesota recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.
The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the University of Minnesota: http://diversity.umn.edu.
Background Check
Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and eligibility to work in the United States. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.
About the University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the United States, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, communication agencies, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.
Contact: |
For inquiries related to the PPFP, please contact Department Chair and Professor Sarah C. Chambers at chambers@umn.edu. |
Website: | None |
Primary Category: | Area Studies |
Secondary Categories: | African History / Studies Asian History / Studies Early Modern History and Period Studies |
Posting Date: | 10/24/2022 |
Closing Date | 11/30/2022 |