How to Apply
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.
To apply, please submit the following in a single PDF file to:
- Cover letter describing your relevant experience and scholarly interests
- Curriculum vitae
- A published or unpublished writing sample (article length) or artistic production
- Names and contact of 3 References (to be contacted after an initial interview)
Who We Are
The Environmental Justice (EJ) + Humanities Hub, supported by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, aims to create a permanent presence for the humanities as a cornerstone for the University of Michigan's longstanding commitment to environmental justice scholarship, pedagogy, and public service. The EJ + Humanities Hub emphasizes both a foundation in Michigan and the midwest and an importance for connecting to other parts of the world. The University of Michigan's EJ + Humanities Hub unlocks humanistic research, education, mentorship, and social impact towards ending environment-based insecurities and environmental injustices associated with climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. The Hub, launched in December 2024, as it is in the very beginning stages of developing its programming and web presence. The announcement of the new hub is here: https://news.umich.edu/u-m-mellon-foundation-announce-new-environmental-justice-humanities-hub/
Mission Statement
At the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), we are at the forefront of building a more sustainable and just world for all by transforming the impact of higher education and reimagining the future. We are advancing action through innovation, research, education and engagement in society, and developing leaders who are empowered to halt the climate crisis and create an environmentally sound future for generations to come.
To learn more about SEAS and our values, please visit our website at https://seas.umich.edu/about/seas-values.
Job Summary
University of Michigan's School for Environment and Sustainability invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship to advance scholarly leadership at the intersection of humanities research, humanities education, and environmental justice. The successful candidate will be part of the new Environmental Justice + Humanities Hub at the University of Michigan. The successful candidate will play an important role in a community of humanities scholars at the University of Michigan that are advancing place-based education in environmental justice, a new environmental justice minor, and the creation of new courses, curricula, and research with humanities emphasis.
The postdoctoral fellow will work under the direct mentorship of Dr. Kyle Whyte (School for Environment and Sustainability), and will have an advisory team of Sara Soderstrom (LSA, SEAS, PitE), Sarah Nahar (SEAS, PitE), and Eric Hemenway (SEAS). We are seeking candidates who have just finished their Ph.D. (or will have done so within 4 months of the start date) who are demonstrable specialists in humanities and environmental justice. We have a vibrant community of students, staff, and scholars in environmental justice and the ideal candidate will be expected to be an intellectual leader in this community.
Required Qualifications*
Ph.D. in any academic field, completed within 4 months of the start date. While the Ph.D. field is open, the candidate's dissertation and a substantive amount of their principal research areas must be humanities focused. The ideal candidate clearly makes contributions to the humanities research of environmental justice and has a demonstrable commitment to humanities education in relation to environmental justice.
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Additional Information
This postdoctoral fellow position does not come with teaching expectations. The fellow will be expected to grow their own research during the fellowship time. Kyle Whyte and the postdoctoral fellow, in consultation with students, staff, or faculty, will develop at least one new project that supports the growth and impact of the Hub, which the fellow will oversee within a reasonable proportion of their time. The fellow will be expected to support mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students in the humanities who are focusing on environmental justice projects, and serve on advisory and planning committees for the EJ + Humanities Hub. All aspects of the postdoctoral fellow's work will be geared toward growing the fellow's academic qualifications and record to accelerate the advancement of the fellow's scholarly career. Faculty and staff will deliver intentional mentoring to the postdoctoral fellow across the course of the fellowship.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
Applications will be reviewed as received throughout the posting period and continue until the position is filled.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.