Job Description

The Wolf Humanities Center awards five (5) one-year Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowships each academic year to scholars in the humanities who are no more than five years out of their doctorate. Preference will be given to candidates not yet in tenure track positions whose proposals are interdisciplinary and would particularly benefit from and contribute to Penn's intellectual life.

The programs of the Wolf Humanities Center are conceived through yearly topics that invite broad interdisciplinary collaboration. For the 2027–2028 academic year, our topic will be Empire

The Wolf Humanities Center's 2027–2028 Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship appointment is twelve months (July 1, 2027—June 30, 2028) and carries a minimum stipend of $67,000, a $3000 research fund, and discounted single-coverage health insurance.

During their appointment, Wolf Humanities Center's Postdoctoral Fellows teach one course rostered in one or more of the humanities departments or programs in Penn's College of Arts & Sciences and participate in the Center's weekly Mellon Research Seminar (Tuesdays, 12:00–2:00). Fellows also collaborate on the planning of a public symposium on the Center's annual topic, participate in professional development workshops, and are appointed a faculty mentor.

Qualifications

• Scholars who received or will receive their PhD (or DPhil) between May 2022 and December 2026 are eligible to apply. No exceptions will be made.
• The PhD (and its international equivalent, such as the DPhil) is the only eligible terminal degree. The degree must be in the humanities or in allied fields, such as anthropology or history of science. Ineligible categories include an MFA or any other doctorate, such as EdD; social scientists; scholars in educational curriculum building; and performing artists (note: scholars of performance are eligible).
• Scholars who received or will receive their PhD from the University of Pennsylvania during our noted window of eligibility are welcome to apply.
• The fellowship is open to all scholars, national and international, who meet eligibility requirements. International scholars outside of North America are appointed under a J-1 visa (Research Scholar status). The Wolf Humanities Center reserves the right to revoke the offer if the recipient is unable to meet this condition.
• Fellows are required to be in residence for the term of the fellowship.

Application Instructions

All forms, documents, and letters must be submitted in Interfolio by end of day on November 1, 2026. Note that Interfolio is overwhelmed by large numbers of uploads and submissions in the last minutes before an application deadline. Please plan accordingly.

• Fill out the three required forms in Interfolio:

1. Applicant Profile
2. Equal Employment Opportunity
3. Where did you hear about this position?

• Upload the four required documents in Interfolio:

1. Research Plan
   Please provide a detailed research plan for the year and describe how your project contributes to scholarly debates about "Practice." 1000 words maximum; word limit does not apply to bibliography or citations.
2. Course Proposal
   Please provide a proposal for a course related to the theme of “Empire.” The proposal should be no longer than 2 pages, and should contain 1) one paragraph describing the course objectives (what concepts, facts, and skills will the student learn as a result of taking this course); 2) a selective list of readings; 3) a description of one assignment designed to let students engage actively and creatively with the course content. A full syllabus is not expected. Please note that Postdoctoral Fellows typically teach one course in the Spring semester, usually at the upper undergraduate level. Should you be awarded a fellowship, final details of the course and the syllabus will be worked out in consultation with the chair of the hosting department.
   
3. C.V.
4. Writing Sample
   Please provide a sample publication or unpublished paper of about 20–25 pages. Page limit does not apply to bibliography or citations.

• Submit requests for 3 confidential letters of recommendation in Interfolio.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

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.