Postdoctoral Fellowship in African and African American Studies

Position Description The Department of African and African American Studies and the Center for Humanities at Washington University in St. Louis invites applications a one-year postdoctoral fellowship to support the activities of the year-long Seminar, “Black Studies, Academic Freedom, and the Future of the American University.” There is an option to apply for a second-year renewal to support the completion of the Seminar proceedings and deliverables. The fellow will play a key role in shaping the Seminar by organizing, administering, and actively participating in its activities, such as helping with guest speakers, compiling readings, archiving proceedings, and facilitating sessions. This fellowship offers an opportunity for an emerging scholar in Black Studies or a related humanities field to contribute to the intellectual development of the project while advancing their own research and engaged scholarship on the Seminar themes. The fellow is expected to be in residence and active in all aspects of the project. We seek applicants who hold a Ph.D. or concentration in Black Studies and whose research focuses on Black intellectual tradition, social movements, higher education, or other areas outlined below. The Fellowship anticipates a yearlong (12 month) appointment, starting around July 1, 2026. Candidates must have completed all requirements for their doctoral degree by the start of the fellowship. The postdoctoral fellow will receive a competitive salary, research funds, office space, and access to university resources. Position Duties The postdoctoral fellow will play a key role in the Seminar by: Assisting in the intellectual planning and execution of the Seminar series. Engaging with faculty, students, administration, and community partners to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and institutional transformation by, for example, leading a monthly working group for graduate students and interested faculty members and/or teaching one course a year that emerges from the Seminar theme and in consultation with the project management team. Actively participating in the Seminar meetings and other activities. Researching and producing scholarly work aligned with the themes of the Seminar, which focus on the history, methodologies, and future possibilities of Black Studies in response to contemporary challenges to academic freedom. Managing and documenting research findings and outputs from various aspects of the Seminars, with assistance from graduate and undergraduate fellows, for scholarly and archival purposes. The postdoctoral fellow will also participate in the broader intellectual communities of AFAS and the Center for Humanities, including programming, faculty workshops, and mentorship of students. Qualifications   Ph.D. in Black Studies or a related field with a concentration in Black Studies, conferred by July 1, 2026. Research interests that critically examine issues that broadly relate to academic freedom, social justice, and democracy. Strong ability to facilitate interdisciplinary and public-facing conversations on the role of universities in advancing equity and justice. Demonstrated experience or interest in community or engaged scholarship. Preferred Areas of Expertise We encourage applicants whose humanistic research engages with one or more of the following areas: Histories of Black intellectual traditions and their role in shaping higher education and academic freedom. Black social movements and activism, including student-led advocacy and institutional transformation. Critical university studies, with a focus on the role of race, power, and knowledge production. The political economy of higher education, examining issues such as privatization, divestment, or racialized labor. Law, policy, and racial justice, particularly as they relate to free speech, curriculum debates, and state intervention in education. Black digital humanities and public scholarship, including digital archiving and social media activism. Comparative and transnational perspectives on Black Studies, considering global movements for academic freedom and decolonization. Application Instructions To apply, please submit (1) a cover letter detailing your research interests, qualifications, and how they align with the Seminar theme, (2) a curriculum vitae, (3) a writing sample (e.g., a published article, dissertation chapter, or equivalent, no more than 35 pages), and 4) names of three references via Interfolio. If advanced to the next stage, candidates will be informed before their references are contacted. Applications will be reviewed beginning February 1, 2026, and finalists will be invited for virtual interviews by early March.