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Postdoctoral Fellows

The Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies (WCED) at the University of Michigan invites scholars who have received their Ph.D. since 2021 to apply for a WCED Postdoctoral Fellowship. This two-year fellowship supports multidisciplinary research on the broad historical, political, economic, and societal conditions under which democracy and autocracy either emerge and endure or falter and fail. 

Three positions are open for a 2023-25 fellowship. WCED Postdoctoral Fellows are expected to focus on their own research, participate in occasional WCED workshops and events, and present at least one public lecture during their two-year fellowship, while in full-time residence at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. A teaching opportunity may be possible during the second year of the fellowship, if desired.  

Eligibility:

We welcome applicants from all disciplines, though recent applicants and Fellows have primarily come from political science, sociology, history, and anthropology. Fellows must have successfully defended and filed their dissertation before beginning the fellowship. Eligibility is restricted to those who have received their Ph.D. after January 1, 2021.

Benefits:

Fellowships carry an annual salary of $55,000 and up to $7,000 in research funds during the post-doctoral appointment. Fellowship recipients will be eligible for U-M health, dental, and life insurance options (beginning September 1, 2023 through August 31, 2025). Fellows have full access to U-M library resources. 

Application materials:

Candidates will be required to submit via Interfolio:

  • A two-page research plan that outlines the research project and how the fellow will spend their time during the fellowship period
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • A scholarly writing sample, such as a dissertation chapter, conference paper, or journal article
  • Two letters of recommendation

Fellowship applications must be received by January 15, 2023, 11:59 PM EST. Applicants will be notified in March 2023. The fellowship period is from September 2023 – August 2025.