Job Details

Postdoctoral Fellow in American History (2027-2029) - SMU Center for Presidential History (Position 00053950)

Position Number: 9932238
Location: Dallas, United States
Position Type: Liberal Arts - History

Postdoctoral Fellow in American History (2027-2029) - SMU Center for Presidential History (Position 00053950)
Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences

Location: Dallas, TX
Open Date: Oct 30, 2026

Description:
The Center for Presidential History (CPH) at Southern Methodist University invites applications for its two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in American History program, to begin August 15, 2027. Applicants may get a sense of the breadth of the postdoctoral program by viewing the profiles of current and past postdoctoral fellows here.

The CPH supports ongoing public engagement through events, podcasts, and education partnerships (local and national), and produces the Collective Memory Project, a documentary and filmed oral history of the George W. Bush Presidency and its times. Postdoctoral fellows couple their own research and publishing agenda with their participation in the general academic and public life of the CPH. During their tenure, postdoctoral fellows will be expected to teach one course through the SMU History Department, and will receive extra compensation for that work. Preference will be given to applicants with experience or demonstrated interest in contributing to the Collective Memory Project's ongoing oral histories.

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 book manuscript workshop.

SMU is a nationally-ranked, private, non-sectarian research institution located in one of the nation's fastest growing metropolitan areas.

Qualifications:
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.

Application Instructions:
To apply, visit <a href=""https://apptrkr.com/9932238"">https://apply.interfolio.com/196673

Applications must be submitted electronically via Interfolio at https://apply.interfolio.com/196673. 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 January 26, 2027. To ensure full consideration for the position, all application materials must be received by COB January 25, 2027, 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. Hiring is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background check. 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.

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.