"Postdoctoral Fellowship in Black Studies on Public Policy & the Humanities"

Job Details

The Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies(AAADS) at Indiana University Bloomington invites applications for two Mellon Foundation–funded Postdoctoral Fellowships linked to the newly established Black Humanities in the Midwest (BHIM) Africana Studies Research Center.

Position Focus: Public Policy and the Humanities, with emphasis on Criminology, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Justice, or Economics from a Black Studies perspective.

Appointment and Responsibilities

Each BHIM fellow will:

• Teach two courses per academic year in AAADS;
• Contribute actively to one of BHIM’s three interdisciplinary labs: the Research Development Lab, Applied Humanities Lab, or Humanities in Community Lab; and
• participate in departmental workshops, symposia, and community-engaged events. Fellows are expected to be in residence during the fellowship period, apart from research-related travel.

Compensation and Transition

• 10-month academic salary of $60,000 plus full university benefits

• Annual $5,000 research/travel stipend (total $10,000 over two years)

Indiana University is fully committed to transferring each postdoctoral fellow to the rank of assistant professor within the university and will provide the necessary mentoring, resources, and structures for a successful transition. Postdoctoral fellows must maintain IU’s academic standards for a tenure track position, and the offer of a tenure-track position requires a positive evaluation following the usual governance procedures and policies of the relevant department and Indiana University.

Appointment Start Date August 1, 2026 (Fall Semester, 2026–2027 academic year).

Applicants must hold a PhD at time of appointment. We seek scholars in Black Studies who can contribute to BHIM’s research labs and work towards the completion of their book manuscript or other scholarly projects. Current doctoral candidates are welcome to apply but must defend their dissertation and confer their degree prior to the start date. Please note the anticipated or confirmed completion date in the cover letter

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit:

1. Cover Letter (detailing research, teaching interests, and fit with BHIM and AAADS)

2. Curriculum Vitae

3. Writing Sample (no more than 30 pages)

4. Contact Information for Three References

Applications must be submitted via IU Jobs portal by March 31, 2026. Additional materials, such as letters of recommendation or sample syllabi, may be requested at a later stage of review.

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. For details, please see the Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination

About the BHIM Africana Studies Research Center

The Black Humanities in the Midwest (BHIM) Africana Studies Research Center is supported by the Mellon Foundation and fosters humanities-oriented scholarship, artistic expression, and civic engagement rooted in the experiences and legacies of Black and Africana Diasporic communities in Indiana and across the Midwest. BHIM merges critical humanities scholarship with Applied Africana Studies, producing research and public projects that interpret and shape the cultural and civic landscape of the region. Its three interdisciplinary Labs serve as hubs for faculty led research, course development, public programming, and community partnerships.

About the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies (AAADS)

Established in 1970, AAADS at Indiana University Bloomington celebrates our 55-year anniversary as one of the oldest Black Studies departments in the nation. AAADS is a national leader in Black Studies, offering a B.A., 4 dual BAs (with English, History, Religious Studies, and Sociology), an M.A., 3 dual MAs (with Library and Information Science, Public and Environmental Affairs, and the nation’s only MA/MFA in Creative Writing and African American Studies), and the Ph.D. degree—one of only 19 Ph.D. programs in African American Studies nationwide and the only one in Indiana.

AAADS houses signature programs including its performing arts ensembles, the African American Dance Company, IU Soul Revue, and the African American Choral Ensemble. We house the Atkins Living Learning Center, a residential community for incoming freshmen promoting academic excellence through African American history and culture. AAADS also co-founded two landmark archives, the Archives of African American Music and Culture (AAAMC) and the Black Film Center/Archive (BFC/A), and leads the innovative Blackness and Jewishness Project, a first-of-its-kind partnership with IU’s Borns Jewish Studies Program.

About Indiana University Bloomington

Indiana University Bloomington is a leading Big Ten public research university committed to excellence in scholarship, teaching, and service.

Application Deadline: March 31, 2026

Start Date: August 1, 2026

For more information, please contact Dr. Jakobi Williams at jakowill@iu.edu