"CARGC Postdoctoral Fellowship"

Job Description

Postdoctoral Fellowship

INTERNATIONAL CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Center for Advanced Research in Global Communication
Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania

The Center for Advanced Research in Global Communication at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania invites applications for a “CARGC Postdoctoral Fellowship.” This is a one-year position renewable for a second year based on successful performance.

Overview:
The Center for Advanced Research in Global Communication (CARGC) produces and promotes scholarly research on global media cultures and public life. Our work brings together regional and area studies scholarship with theories and methodologies of the humanities and qualitative social sciences to understand how local, lived experiences of people and communities are profoundly shaped by global media and communication technologies and industries. This synthesis of deep regional expertise and interdisciplinary inquiry stimulates critical conversations about entrenched and emerging media and communicative structures, practices, flows, and struggles.

Ongoing research groups focus on media, migration, and diasporas; media environments and the climate crisis; media industries and cultural politics; and media history and theory. We recommend that applicants familiarize themselves with CARGC's mission and research activities listed on our website.

This year, we are especially interested in candidates with expertise in Latin American or South Asian media cultures whose research engages media and creative industries, media entertainment and popular culture, and emerging forms of belonging and citizenship.

For candidates specializing in South Asia, we are seeking a scholar prepared to take a leading role in developing a public history initiative focused on the history of the internet in South Asia and the South Asian American diaspora.
For candidates specializing in Latin America, we are seeking someone prepared to take a leading role in building a transnational research network tracing the platformization of media cultures across the region.

In addition to subject-matter expertise, the ideal candidate will have experience with digital humanities projects and grant-writing.

Fellowship Details
CARGC postdoctoral fellows work on their own research while also participating in and leading ongoing research projects within CARGC. During the fellowship, they present their work as part of a postdoctoral colloquium and work closely with the Research Director on a plan for publishing their research. They will also work closely with the Center on organizing workshops in Asia and Latin America. There are limited opportunities for teaching that are decided in consultation with the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies.

Fellows will receive a minimum stipend of $67,000, commensurate with previous postdoctoral experience. We will also provide a research fund of $3,000, individual health insurance and dependent coverage, a workspace and a computer in CARGC's office, and library access. In addition, CARGC will provide a taxable relocation stipend of $1,000 for domestic relocation and $2,000 if moving internationally. Please note all postdoctoral fellows must submit documentation to demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States. Non-US citizens selected for this position will be required to apply for an appropriate US visa.

This is a residential fellowship. CARGC strives to be an inclusive community of scholars driven by intellectual curiosity and exchange rooted in the life of the Annenberg School, the University of Pennsylvania, and the city of Philadelphia. To foster mentoring and collaboration at all levels, we expect fellows to be fully engaged in the life of the center. Postdocs are therefore expected to work at our office on the Penn campus.

Eligibility:
We welcome applications from early career scholars with Ph.D. awarded by an institution other than the University of Pennsylvania. The chosen applicant must have successfully defended their dissertation by the fellowship start date. The appointment typically begins on August 1.

Submitting Your Application
A complete application consists of:

1. Cover Letter - Please include a section explaining how your research aligns with CARGC's mission, fits with one or more CARGC research themes, and contributes to the field of global media studies in relation to South Asia and/or Latin America.
2. Research Statement - In no more than two double-spaced pages, please explain your core research interests and how you plan to advance your Ph.D. research during the postdoctoral fellowship.
3. CV (not to exceed three pages) - Please list degrees, peer-reviewed publications, academic non-peer-reviewed publications, public scholarship, invited talks, conference papers, other relevant qualifications, and specific research and language skills.
4. References - Please provide names and contact information for two references (including that of your dissertation supervisor). If your application is shortlisted, we will get in touch with your referees in mid-February 2026. Please make sure your advisors/supervisors are aware of this timeline.
5. One peer-reviewed publication - Please include a published peer-reviewed journal article or a chapter published in an anthology/edited collection. An article/chapter accepted for publication and forthcoming is acceptable (but not work that is under review).

Timeline:
All materials must be sent as a single PDF document to cargc@asc.upenn.edu by January 16, 2026. Because of the volume of applications, we are unable to read drafts of submissions. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. We expect to contact finalists for Zoom interviews early in February 2026 and make final decisions shortly thereafter.

Additional Information:
If you have additional questions, please email us at cargc@asc.upenn.edu. Kindly do not contact CARGC staff or the CARGC director individually.