Postdoctoral Fellowship in Africana Studies

PeopleAdmin, Inc.; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Indiana University Indianapolis invites applications for a Mellon Foundation–funded Postdoctoral Fellowship linked to the newly established Black Humanities in the Midwest (BHIM) Africana Studies Research Center.

With a scholarly record meeting IU’s academic standards for tenure-track positions, the postdoctoral fellow will have the opportunity to be considered for hire as an assistant professor after the second year.

Qualifications

• Applicants must hold a PhD at the time of appointment.
• Current doctoral candidates may apply but must defend their dissertation before the start date.

Responsibilities

• Teach two courses per academic year in Africana Studies, History, Museum Studies, or related fields.
• Contribute to BHIM’s interdisciplinary labs and participate in programs, workshops, and community-engaged events.

Skills

Public history

Education

PhD

Job description

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Africana Studies

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Application Instructions

• Cover Letter (detailing research, teaching interests, and fit with BHIM and CASC)
• Writing Sample (no more than 30 pages)
• Contact Information for Three References.
• Curriculum Vitae
• Letter of Application
• List of References

Finalists will be asked to submit three letters of reference and provide transcripts for their graduate work.

Title Postdoctoral Fellowship in Africana Studies

Appointment Status

Department IU Indianapolis School of Liberal Arts

Location Indianapolis

Position Summary

CASC and the Africana Studies Program at Indiana University Indianapolis invite applications for a Mellon Foundation–funded Postdoctoral Fellowship linked to the newly established Black Humanities in the Midwest (BHIM) Africana Studies Research Center. With a scholarly record meeting IU’s academic standards for tenure-track positions, the postdoctoral fellow will have the opportunity to be considered for hire as an assistant professor after the second year.

We are seeking an early career scholar with expertise in African American/Africana public history, art history in the Black diaspora, or the history of museums or anchor cultural institutions. There is specific interest in scholars who explore the role, history, and transformative impact of museums, Black cultural productions (e.g., photography, film, material culture), and curatorial practice in African American and African-diasporic culture and life. The successful candidate will be instrumental in shaping the future direction of the programs in Africana Studies and Museum Studies, teaching specialized courses in public history, Africana Studies, museum studies, and fostering collaborations with museums, community-based organizations, and Black cultural institutions throughout Indiana and the Midwest.

The BHIM fellow will:

• Teach two courses per academic year in Africana Studies, History, Museum Studies or other appropriate departments/programs;
• Contribute actively to one or more of BHIM’s three interdisciplinary labs: the Research Development Lab, Applied Humanities Lab, or Humanities in Community Lab; and
• Participate in programs, workshops, symposia, and community-engaged events.

Fellows are expected to be in residence at the IU Indianapolis campus during the fellowship period, apart from research-related travel. The successful candidate will be expected to play a role in forwarding the efforts of the Center for Africana Studies and Culture by contributing service to the center. The postdoc will also need to have a productive scholarly agenda in order to successfully transition to a tenure-track appointment.

Indiana University is fully committed to provide mentoring, resources, and structures to support postdoctoral fellows as they seek to meet the scholarly expectations necessary to be appointed to a tenure-track position. The offer of a tenure-track position requires a positive evaluation and approval following the usual governance procedures and policies of the relevant department, the School of Liberal Arts, and Indiana University. As a Carnegie Research 1 campus, the School of Liberal Arts requires all new tenure-track hires to seek promotion and tenure based on overall excellence in research.

As the state’s premier urban research institution, IU Indianapolis is a dynamic campus of over 20,000 students and has been recognized for excellence in civic engagement and community partnerships. IU Indianapolis is committed to being a welcoming campus community and we seek candidates whose research, teaching, and community engagement efforts contribute to robust learning and working environments for all students, staff, and faculty.

Basic Qualifications

Applicants must hold a PhD at the time of the appointment. We seek scholars in Africana Studies or affiliated disciplines (as outlined in above description) who can contribute to BHIM’s research labs and work towards the completion of their book manuscript or other scholarly projects. Current doctoral candidates are welcome to apply but must defend their dissertation prior to the start date. Please note the anticipated or confirmed completion date in the cover letter.

Department Contact for Questions

Questions regarding the position or application process can be directed to Search Committee Chair Joseph Tucker Edmonds: [e-mail].

For Best Consideration Date 04/01/2026

Expected Start Date 08/01/2026