"2026-28 Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in History of Art and Visual Studies"

Job Details

With the sponsorship of the Society for the Humanities, the Department of History of Art and Visual Studies invites applications for a two-year Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship position beginning August 1, 2026. The fellowship carries a stipend of $64,000/year.

The Department of History of Art and Visual Studies at Cornell University seeks a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in comparative antiquity. The successful candidate will adopt a comparative approach to the study of art history and visual culture pre-1000 AD. Geographic specialization is open, and may include the Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean, and/or Eurasian Steppe / Silk Road. We are especially interested in comparative approaches that address (for example) the intellectual status of the image, the political functions of art, or visual theology across multiple regions.

The Mellon Fellow will teach two courses per year: one introductory lecture, and one advanced seminar. The lecture should be a broad introduction to ancient art; the Fellow will be free to configure this course as they see fit. The seminars may address more specialized topics relating to the Fellow’s research. Seminars in ancient art frequently include a mix of advanced undergraduate and graduate students, including those in Archaeology, Classics, Fiber Science and Apparel Design, Medieval Studies, and Near Eastern Studies.

Applications for the Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in History of Art and Visual Studies are due October 31, 2025. Applications must be submitted through Academic Jobs Online Job #30300.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants eligible for the Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in History of Art and Visual Studies for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 academic years include those who have received the Ph.D. degree after September 1, 2020, and no later than June 30, 2026. Applicants who do not have the Ph.D. in hand at the time of application must include a letter from the committee chair or department stating that the Ph.D. degree will be conferred before the term of the fellowship begins. International applicants are welcome to apply, contingent upon visa eligibility.

Apply through AJO: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30300

Application Procedures

The following application materials must be submitted via Academic Jobs Online position #30300 by October 31, 2025.

1. Information Cover Sheet (will be generated via your AJO account): (a) Full name and home institution (b) Date (or expected date) of Ph.D. (c) Research interest(s) (d) Referees’ names and emails
2. Cover Letter
3. Curriculum vitae
4. Detailed statement of research interests (1,000 – 2,000 words)
5. Course proposal with sample syllabus for introductory, 2000-level course
6. Course proposal with sample syllabus for upper, 4000-level course
7. One writing sample [30-page limit]
8. Diversity statement [optional – submit a separate statement or embed the information into other parts of your application materials]
9. Letter of degree conferral (only for applicants who do not have the Ph.D. in hand by January 4, 2026)
10. Three letters of recommendation. Please ask referees to upload their letters directly through the link provided by Academic Jobs Online. Letters must be received on or before October 31, 2025.

For further information please email, humctr@cornell.edu.

Society for the Humanities

The Society for the Humanities was established at Cornell University in 1966 to support research and teaching in the humanities. It is intended to be at once a research institute, a stimulus to educational innovation, and a continuing society of scholars. The Society and its Fellows have fostered path-breaking interdisciplinary dialogue and theoretical reflection on the humanities at large.

Mellon Postdoctoral Fellows are invited to attend all of the Society’s events, and are expected to participate in the Society’s weekly Wednesday Fellows Seminar and luncheon.