Deadline: September 15, 2025
Applications are open for the Michigan Society of Fellows Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026-2029. The Michigan Society of Fellows invites applications for its prestigious 2026-2029 Fellowships in the humanities, arts, sciences, and professions. These positions offer recent Ph.D. graduates the opportunity to engage in research and teaching at a major research university, providing both financial and intellectual support.
Fellows are appointed as Assistant Professors in relevant departments and Postdoctoral Scholars in the Michigan Society of Fellows for a three-year term, starting August 31, 2026. The Society and the University of Michigan value contributions that address social, environmental, and technical challenges. Applicants are encouraged to highlight how their research, teaching, service, and outreach activities engage with these pressing issues.
Fellowship
- Fellows are expected to be in residence in Ann Arbor for the academic years of appointment (September to May) and to participate in the activities of the Society of Fellows. Off-campus research leave during academic terms will be permitted only in rare cases, only for brief periods of time, and only upon written application to the Chair of the Society well in advance of the proposed leave. Any leave granted will count as part of the fellowship tenure.
- The Society of Fellows provides a one-time relocation allowance of $2,500 (before taxes) to incoming fellows provided as reimbursement in September following the beginning of their appointment. Exceptions to this standard practice are atypical and rarely granted. In situations of extreme need and financial hardship, the relocation allowance may be requested as an advance but is not guaranteed. Incoming fellows should note that relocation monies are considered taxable income by the IRS.
- The Society of Fellows welcomes international scholars to apply to the fellowship. The Society of Fellows will normally pursue J-1 status for its international postdocs who require sponsorship. Sponsorship of other immigration statuses (including H-1B status) is rare and will require a policy exception. International applicants who have just earned their degrees in the United States will be expected to take advantage of J-1 Academic Training (AT) or any F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) time (including STEM OPT), if available. The Society of Fellows will work with the International Center to pursue the relevant immigration status and employment authorization sponsorship, as needed, if F-1 OPT or J-1 AT are not available to an individual applicant.
Eligibility
- The Society invites applications from qualified candidates who are at the beginning of their academic careers, having received a Ph.D. or comparable professional or artistic degree.
- Applicants must complete their Ph.D. (or comparable professional or artistic) degree between June 1, 2023, and August 30, 2026. These dates are strictly observed without exception.
- Applicants who have previously applied for the Society of Fellows’ postdoctoral fellowships may reapply but must complete a new application.
- Candidates who received their terminal degree, in a field in which they are applying, from the University of Michigan are not eligible to apply.
- Non-US citizens may apply and will be considered.
Application
Applicants should prepare to submit:
- Completed application form
- Note: For the department(s) entry please designate the academic department(s) you would expect to be affiliated with at the University of Michigan. This is usually the department of your terminal degree and/or the department(s) in which you are qualified to teach.
- Curriculum vitae.
- Writing/work sample – not to exceed 40, double-spaced pages for unpublished work; not to exceed 20, single-spaced pages for published work.
- Research proposal – not to exceed 3, double-spaced pages.
- Note: The research proposal should outline the methods and aims of research beyond your thesis or other work resulting in your last degree. Please keep in mind that your project proposal will be read by non-specialists, as well as by specialists in your field. Proposals that involve more than one discipline and/or demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches are especially welcome. The Society of Fellows and the University of Michigan recognize and value contributions to the processes of identifying and addressing the social, environmental, and technical challenges our societies and our planet face. We encourage applicants to comment in their research proposal on how their research, teaching, service, and outreach activities contribute to analyzing and tackling such challenges.
Recommenders
- Confidential letters of recommendation from no more than two recommenders should be submitted in PDF format as instructed by the applicant.
- Letterhead is preferred.
- All letters must be submitted electronically.
- Physical letters will not be accepted.
For more information, see FAQ and visit Michigan Society of Fellows Postdoctoral Fellowship.
