Every year, Washington University in St. Louis seeks up to two junior scholars for a one-year, renewable residential postdoctoral fellowship in the Program in African & African-American Studies (AFAS). The AFAS postdoctoral fellowship is intended to assist junior scholars to further their careers by providing them with mentorship and with opportunities to advance their research and to enhance their teaching. Along these lines, AFAS welcomes applications from junior scholars whose research and teaching programs center on any aspect of black culture and life in the United States, Africa, and/or the African Diaspora.
AFAS Fellows are provided stipends as well as funding support for research and research-related travel. Fellows also are provided office space and computer equipment as well as given a reduced teaching load (one-course per semester). Fellows are expected to teach courses related to their scholarly area of expertise as it relates to the study of black culture and life in the United States, Africa, and/or the African Diaspora. In addition, Fellows are expected to contribute to the intellectual life of the University by giving public lectures during their stay and by interacting with faculty and students. AFAS will also arrange with Fellows symposia and colloquia on topics of interest to them. Finally, AFAS Fellows are also encouraged to interact socially, culturally, and intellectually with the larger St. Louis community.
Applications are evaluated against a broad set of criteria, with special consideration given to the contribution the candidate makes to the diversity of the University community. Applications should include: (1) a letter of interest which explains the applicant’s proposed research and scholarly interest; (2) a detailed statement of proposed research (up to 5 pages); (3) a curriculum vitae; (4) one writing sample (a publication or dissertation chapter); and (5) an official graduate transcript. Applicants should also request three professors, including their dissertation adviser, to write letters of recommendation on their behalf.
Washington University in St. Louis especially encourages applications from women, members of ethnic minority groups, and disabled individuals. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States and must have received a doctorate after July 1, 2009 and before July 1, 2012. Send application materials to:
Search Committee
The Program in African & African-American Studies
Washington University in St. Louis
CB 1109, One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130-4899
The search committee will continue to review applications until the positions are filled, but priority will be given to applications received by January 15, 2012.
Further inquiries regarding the fellowship should be made by e-mail to gaduncan@wustl.edu and to afas@artsci.wustl.edu.
Biographies of previous African & African-American Studies Postdoctoral Fellows.