FELLOWSHIPS in US RELIGION and POLITICS

Rachel McBride Lindsey

In lieu of the rigorous original research and incisive commentary that readers of this blog have come to expect, please excuse this shameless promotion of two fellowships at the Danforth Center on Religion and Politics for academic year 2014-2015. The deadline for both is January 1, 2014. The full announcement for each fellowship is included after the break, but in a nutshell, the Dissertation Completion Fellowship is for doctoral candidates in their final year of writing and the Postdoctoral Fellowship is for recent PhDs and is renewable up to two years. Both fellowships require residency in St. Louis and up to two fellows from each category will be selected.  The Danforth Center is a nonpartisan, interdisciplinary, and research-intensive academic center at Washington University in St. Louis. Applications from scholars in religion, political science, sociology, gender studies, history, American studies, and related fields whose research contributes original insight into issues relating to religion in American public life are encouraged to apply.

Dissertation Completion Fellowship in American Religion and Politics

The John C. Danforth Center at Washington University in St. Louis is pleased to offer up to two fellowships to support completion of a dissertation pertaining to religion and politics in the United States. Fellows will spend the 2014-2015 academic year in residence at Washington University. While most of their time will be devoted to writing, fellows will contribute to the Center’s intellectual life by organizing a small event of interest to the wider University and general public and by participating in the Center’s weekly colloquium. Teaching opportunities may be available but are not required as part of the dissertation fellowship.

Compensation: Fellows will receive a stipend of $28,000 and a limited allowance for relocation. They will be given additional support for organizing their public event. Some funds may be available for professional travel. Fellows will be expected to continue their medical and other benefits through their home institutions.

Required Qualifications: Applicants should be currently enrolled in a doctoral program in religion, politics, history, American studies, anthropology, gender and sexuality, or another relevant field. They should be at work on a dissertation that is centrally concerned with historical or contemporary topics in the religious and political experience of the United States. By the time of application, prospective fellows should have received approval for the dissertation prospectus from their home institutions and satisfied all other requirements for doctoral candidacy. The fellowship is for one year and is non-renewable. Fellows must be prepared to complete their dissertation before the conclusion of the fellowship. Washington University in St. Louis is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, and it especially encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply. The fellowship is not open to students enrolled in a doctoral program at Washington University.

Application Instructions: Applicants must send the following items to the Center at rap@wustl.edu by January 1, 2014. 

• A  current curriculum vitae
• A cover letter that includes a description of a panel, small symposium, or other public event to be organized during the fellowship year
• A 500-word description of the dissertation and its current state of progress
• A copy of the approved dissertation prospectus
• A writing sample, not to exceed 3000 words, from the dissertation

Please also arrange for three confidential letters of recommendation to be sent directly to the Center. One of these letters should come from the applicant’s dissertation advisor and should address the applicant’s timeline for completing the dissertation. Letters of recommendation are due by email January 1, 2014.

     Invitations to fellows for 2014-2015 will be announced by February 15, 2014.
     

     John C. Danforth Center Postdoctoral Fellowship in Religion and Politics

The John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics seeks applications from junior scholars and recent Ph.D. graduates for up to two postdoctoral fellowships in residence at Washington University in St. Louis. The appointment is for one year, renewable for a second year. Eligible applicants must have completed the Ph.D. by July 1, 2014, and no earlier than January 1, 2008. The scholars will spend most of their time pursuing research and writing on their own projects. They will also devote time to serving the intellectual life of the Danforth Center and the University through teaching one course per year, participating in the Center’s weekly interdisciplinary seminar, and giving a public lecture each academic year. Washington University in St. Louis is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer and especially encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply.

Required Qualifications: Applicants should hold a doctorate in religious studies, politics, anthropology, American studies, history, gender and sexuality, or another relevant field. Scholars should be engaged in projects that focus attention on religion and politics in the United States, historically or in the present day.

Compensation: Salary for Postdoctoral Fellowships is commensurate with experience.

Application Instructions: Applicants must send all of the following information as a single pdf file to the Center at rap@wustl.edu:

• A cover letter including a research project title and a project summary of 200 words or less
• Current curriculum vitae
• A brief (5 page) overview of the proposed research project, including a statement of how working at the Center will contribute to your aims
• A relevant writing sample (published or unpublished)
• Two undergraduate course proposals

Please also submit three letters of academic recommendation.

Applications will be reviewed until the positions are filled, but priority will be given to applications received by January 1, 2014. For more information, contact the Center at (314) 935-9345 or via e-mail at rap@wustl.edu.

Applicants will be notified of fellowship decisions by February 15, 2014.