Postdoctoral Fellowship: Initiative on Race and Resilience

This postdoctoral position is managed through a separate application portal and is shared here to increase visibility. If you are interested, please submit your application through apply.interfolio.com/183812  by April 20, 2026. Applications submitted through this posting will not be reviewed.

The University of Notre Dame’s Initiative on Race and Resilience (IRR) invites applications for a one-year postdoctoral fellowship, beginning in August 2026. We seek a dedicated scholar whose work explores the intersections of race, inequality, and culture. This fellowship is designed to support early-career scholars by providing a robust intellectual home and the necessary resources to advance their research agenda.

The successful candidate will be expected to pursue a program of independent research and participate in the scholarly life of the faculty.  Over the course of the academic year, the candidate is expected to organize and host one formal academic event. This may take the form of a workshop, a guest lecture, a symposium, or a public-facing seminar related to their field of study. The fellow is expected to be in residence.

The Initiative on Race and Resilience is housed in Notre Dame’s College of Arts & Letters,  and is a vibrant interdisciplinary community of students and scholars sponsoring a wide array of campus and community programming, including a writer-in-residence, talks from visiting scholars, workshops, book clubs, and a film series.

Applications are welcome from scholars and artists who do work in areas of race and culture and hold a PhD in areas within the College of Art and Letters. These include:  Africana Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Arabic, Art History, Chinese, Classics, Computer Science, Creative Writing, Economics, English, Film & Television, French, Gender Studies, German, Greek, History, Irish Studies Japanese, Journalism, Modern and Classical Languages, Latino Studies, Linguistics, Music, Medieval Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Political Science, Sociology, Theatre, or Theology

All degree requirements should be completed before August 1, 2026. Preference will be given to candidates who have received their degree within the last five years. Applicants without a degree in hand by the time of application must include a statement from their director attesting to the candidate's ability to complete the PhD before August 1, 2026.

Benefits & Environment

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Dedicated office space on the University of Notre Dame campus.
• Administrative support and a modest budget for the hosted academic event.
• Access to world-class libraries and archival collections.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit the following materials via https://apply.interfolio.com/183812 by April 20, 2026 .

1. Cover Letter (detailing research fit with the IRR).

2. Curriculum Vitae.

3. Research Proposal (max. 1,000 words) outlining the project to be completed and a brief concept for the academic event they would like to host at Notre Dame.

4. Writing Sample (article or dissertation chapter).

5. Three Letters of Recommendation.

Questions may be addressed to Aurea Hernández -Webster, Program Manager, at aherna35@nd.edu.

The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or age in employment. Moreover, Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and complies with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). We strongly encourage applications from candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity.