Job Opportunity: Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University

The Center for Presidential History (CPH) at Southern Methodist University invites applications for its two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship program, to begin in August 2024. The CPH considers “presidential history” as broadly defined, and so welcomes applicants from all fields, topics, and time periods in U.S. history, particularly those pertaining the nation, politics, citizenship, governance, or executive power. The successful candidate will couple their own research and publishing agenda with their participation in the general academic and public life of the CPH. The CPH supports ongoing public engagement through events, podcasts, and education partnerships, and produces the Collective Memory Project, a filmed oral history of the George W. Bush Presidency. Fellows seeking teaching experience may have opportunity to offer courses through the SMU History department or Honors program in their field of expertise.

Applications must be submitted electronically via Interfolio at http://apply.interfolio.com/136189. Applications must include:

• Cover letter, outlining applicant’s research agenda, experience, and proposal for engagement with the CPH’s work.
• Curriculum Vitae
• Three letters of reference

Review of applications will begin on December 4, 2023. To ensure full consideration for the position, all application materials must be received December 4, 2023, but the committee will continue to accept applications until the position is filled. The committee will notify applicants of its employment decisions after the position is filled. The search committee will begin conducting interviews with finalists via video conference promptly after the review date. For more information on the SMU Center for Presidential History, visit www.smu.edu/CPH.

Fellows receive an annualized salary of $55,000; access to SMU health insurance and benefits; annual funds to support research & conference travel; and opportunity to host a workshop for their book manuscript. Fellows must be in residence at SMU during the term of the fellowship and must have successfully defended their doctoral dissertation before the appointment begins. Preference will be given to applicants for whom additional time and resources will culminate in the completion of a publishable book-length manuscript. Fellows are officially appointed for one year with full expectation of renewal for a second year.

SMU is a nationally-ranked, private, non-sectarian research institution located in one of the nation’s fastest growing metropolitan areas. Our colleagues are part of an inclusive and intellectually vibrant community of internationally recognized scholars across the humanities, social sciences, mathematical sciences, engineering, and business. SMU offers excellent benefits including full same-sex domestic partner benefits. The City of Dallas is one of the nation’s most cosmopolitan commercial and cultural centers, and the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex is the fourth largest in the US. To learn more about Dedman College and SMU, please visit https://www.smu.edu/dedman and http://www.smu.edu.

SMU will not discriminate in any employment practice, education program or educational activity on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. SMU’s commitment to equal opportunity includes nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu.

Hiring is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background check.