Building More Stately Mansions
by Aaron Douglas

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA‑CHAMPAIGN
AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES & RESEARCH PROGRAM
CHANCELLOR’S POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP

THE POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP FOR 2008-2009 HAS BEEN AWARDED. INVITATIONS TO APPLY FOR THE 2009-2010 FELLOWSHIP WILL BE POSTED IN NOVEMBER 2008.

PROGRAM

The Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program at the University of Illinois, Urbana‑Champaign assists scholars who study Africa and its Diaspora. For African Americanists or scholars researching the African Diaspora and committed to university teaching and research, this fellowship program provides a stipend, close association with faculty at the university and assistance in furthering the fellow's development as a productive scholar. The University of Illinois Library holds nearly ten million volumes and ranks third among academic libraries in North America and first among public libraries in the world. The Library system contains hundreds of thousands of items relating to African Americans and Africans in the Diaspora including areas of the world such as the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, Great Britain, France, Germany and the Pacific Islands. The Library has an African-American Bibliographic unit, which provides technical support for research.

AWARDS

Two Postdoctoral fellowships are available with the African American Studies and Research Program for 2008-2009. Preference will be given to scholars working in 20th Century African American literature (the Black Arts Movement, the Chicago Renaissance, etc.) or the social sciences. Applicants are encouraged to identify an appropriate University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, scholar in their field with whom they would like to work. The fellowship appointment period is for one year from August 16, 2008 to August 15, 2009.

ELIGIBILITY

An applicant must demonstrate promise for a tenure‑track appointment at a research college or university. An applicant must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and must have received a doctorate or appropriate terminal degree within the past four years, or have completed this requirement by June of the fellowship year. The candidate’s primary research focus must be African American, and/or African Diaspora Studies.

CONDITIONS

Recipients of these fellowships must be in residence full-time at the University of Illinois Urbana campus for the duration of the award period, and must participate in the Program’s activities. Fellows may not hold other fellowship awards at the same time they are receiving a postdoctoral fellowship on this campus. In addition to working on their research project, fellows are expected to teach an introductory course for the Program during the spring semester and give a brown bag lecture from which a working paper will be produced. Fellows are also expected to participate in the program’s reading group, colloquia and conferences. In pursuit of these goals, the fellows will receive the status of visiting scholars in African American Studies.

STIPEND AND ALLOWANCES

The stipend for the twelve-month period is $42,000. In addition, $5,000 will be provided for research, relocation, travel, and related expenses. Full fringe benefits will be available during the 12-month appointment period.

APPLICATION

Candidates should request an application packet and submit a completed application, curriculum vitae, a statement of the research project to be undertaken during the fellowship year, official graduate transcripts, a sample of scholarly writing, and three letters of recommendation (including one letter from the thesis/dissertation advisor). Please contact Shirley Olson at (217) 333-7781; email: sla@uiuc.edu or aasrp@uiuc.edu

EVALUATION AND SELECTION

Applications are evaluated and selected by the African American Studies and Research Program faculty. Members representing the applicant's discipline may also review the scholarly records, letters of reference, and research proposals of the applicants. Decisions will be made by Friday, February 15, 2008.

Applications must be postmarked no later than January 16, 2008.

Submit application and supporting materials to: Shirley Olson, African American Studies and Research Program, 1201 W. Nevada, Urbana, IL 61801, (217) 333‑7781; e-mail: sla@uiuc.edu or aasrp@uiuc.edu. For more information see our website: http://www.aasrp.uiuc.edu.