The McNeil Center for Early American Studies will appoint a Barra Postdoctoral Fellow for a two-year term, beginning 1 July 2027. Applications are welcome from junior scholars whose work focuses on any aspect of the histories and cultures of North America in the Atlantic world before 1850. Applicants must have earned the PhD no earlier than 2023 and must have completed all requirements for the degree when the appointment commences. Candidates who have received McNeil Center funding for a related project at the pre-doctoral stage are not eligible. Proposals reliant on research in Philadelphia-area archives, libraries, and museums are especially welcome.
The Barra Postdoctoral Fellow will receive a starting stipend of at least $67,000, an additional $3,000 in travel and research funds, and health insurance. The fellow will enjoy private office space in the Center’s facility at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as full library privileges at the university. During the term of appointment, the fellow will teach one course per year in an appropriate department at the University of Pennsylvania. The remainder of the fellow’s time will be devoted to research, writing, and participating in the Center’s academic programming.
Applications for the Barra fellowship must be submitted online by 1 November 2026.
The following items must be prepared for uploading as pdf files: a curriculum vitae; a proposal not to exceed 1,500 words, double-spaced, describing the general scope of the project and the specific work proposed during the fellowship term; and an unpublished writing sample related to the project, double-spaced, limited to 7,500 words exclusive of notes.
Two confidential letters of support should be uploaded separately by the letter writers or submitted by email to mceas@sas.upenn.edu Please ask recommenders to address the specifics of this application. Do not send generic letters from job placement dossiers.
Questions may be directed to:
The McNeil Center for Early American Studies
University of Pennsylvania
3355 Woodland Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4531
215-898-9251
mceas@sas.upenn.edu
The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
