The Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies (WCED) at the University of Michigan invites scholars who have received their Ph.D. since 2018 to apply for the fully funded WCED Postdoctoral Fellowship. This two-year fellowship supports multidisciplinary research on the broad historical, political, economic, and societal conditions under which democracy and autocracy either emerge and endure or falter and fail.

Up to two awards are available for the 2020-22 fellowship. WCED Postdoctoral Fellows must focus on their own research as well as participate in occasional WCED workshops and events. Further, they must present at least one public lecture during their two-year fellowship. Moreover, the fellowship is a full-time residence at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. A teaching opportunity may be possible during the second year of the fellowship if the fellows desire.

Eligibility for the WCED Postdoctoral Fellowship

Applicants from all disciplines are welcome to apply for the Fully Funded WCED Postdoctoral Fellowship. The past applicants, however, are Fellows that come from political science, sociology, and history.

Since, the WCED fellowship is for postdoctoral candidates, the fellows should have a PhD degree. Fellows should hold the PhD degree no earlier than January 1, 2018. Current PhD applicants, however, must successfully defend and file their dissertation before beginning the fellowship.

Fully Funded WCED Postdoctoral Fellowship

The WCED Fellowship at the University of Michigan offers fully funded financial aids to postdoctoral fellows. The fellowships carry an annual salary of $50,000 and up to $7,000 in research funds during the post-doctoral appointment. Further, the fellowship recipients will be eligible for U-M health, dental, and life insurance options (beginning September 1, 2020 through August 31, 2022). Fellows have full access to U-M library resources.

How to apply for WCED Postdoctoral Fellowship

Candidates can apply for the fully funded WCED Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Michigan by completing the online application form. Further, along with the application, the candidates must submit:

• A two-page research plan that outlines the research project and how the fellow will spend his/her time during the fellowship period
• Curriculum Vitae
• A scholarly writing sample, such as a dissertation chapter, conference paper, or journal article
• Two letters of recommendation

Deadline

The University of Michigan accepts the application for the WCED Postdoctoral Fellowship applications until January 15, 2020, at 11:59 pm EST. Applicants will be notified in March 2020. The fellowship period is from September 2020 – August 2022.