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, 2022, and August 26, 2025. These dates are strictly observed without exception.
- Applicants who have previously applied for the Society of Fellows’ postdoctoral fellowships may re-apply 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.
Disciplines on hiatus for 2024
As the following units are currently onboarding new fellows, the Society of Fellows will not accept applications in the below disciplines for the upcoming 2025-28 fellowship competition.
- Anthropology
- Classical Studies
- Comparative Literature
- Department of Afroamerican and African Studies (DAAS)
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB)
- Slavic Languages and Literatures
Additionally, the following units will not be accepting applications for the upcoming 2025-28 fellowship competition.
- Astronomy
- Germanic Languages & Literatures
- Music
- Public Policy
- Women’s & Gender Studies
The above departments should all resume receipt of applications in August 2025 for the 2026-29 fellowship competition.
Application Opens
The application form will be available annually on August 1, 12:01 AM EDT.
Application Deadline
The application deadline is Monday, September 16, 2024, 1:00 PM EDT.
Notification to Applicants
- Applicants will receive a confirming email message once the application has been submitted.
- Please provide both surface mail and electronic addresses so we can easily reach you. Please make sure your email is up-to-date.
- The final review will occur at the end of January, and all applicants will be notified in writing by March 31.
- All dossier materials and the selection committee’s evaluations remain confidential. The committee is not able to provide feedback on individual applications.
Dossier Items
For Applicants
- Completed application form, available annually on August 1.
- 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 diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage applicants to comment in their research proposal on how their research, teaching, service, and outreach activities contribute to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusiveness.
For Referees
- Confidential letters of reference from no more than two referees 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.