The University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) has announced an outstanding opportunity for emerging scholars passionate about humanities research, climate justice, environmental justice, and public impact. Applications are now open for the Environmental Justice Postdoctoral Fellow position under the newly established Environmental Justice + Humanities Hub.
This prestigious fellowship is designed for scholars who want to advance academic leadership at the intersection of environmental justice and the humanities while contributing to groundbreaking research, mentorship, curriculum development, and community-centered environmental impact initiatives.
The fellowship is supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and offers postdoctoral researchers the chance to work alongside renowned environmental justice scholars and interdisciplinary leaders at one of the world’s leading public research universities.
About the Environmental Justice + Humanities Hub
The Environmental Justice + Humanities Hub was officially launched in December 2024 as a transformative initiative dedicated to integrating humanities scholarship into environmental justice research, education, and public engagement.
The Hub seeks to strengthen the role of humanities perspectives in addressing critical environmental challenges such as:
- Climate change
- Environmental racism
- Pollution
- Biodiversity loss
- Land dispossession
- Environment-based insecurities
- Indigenous environmental issues
- Community resilience and sustainability
The initiative emphasizes both local and global environmental justice engagement. While rooted in Michigan and the broader Midwest region of the United States, the Hub also fosters international collaboration and global scholarly connections.
The Hub aims to create lasting social impact through:
- Humanistic research
- Public scholarship
- Mentorship programs
- Community partnerships
- Environmental justice education
- Curriculum innovation
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
Fellowship Overview
The Environmental Justice Postdoctoral Fellowship offers scholars the opportunity to deepen their research while becoming active contributors to a vibrant intellectual community focused on environmental justice and humanities scholarship.
The selected fellow will join a rapidly growing network of students, faculty, staff, and researchers who are advancing environmental justice education and scholarship at the University of Michigan.
This position is especially attractive for early-career academics because it provides:
- Dedicated research time
- Strong institutional mentorship
- Leadership opportunities
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Curriculum development experience
- Community engagement opportunities
- Academic career acceleration support
Unlike many postdoctoral positions, this fellowship does not include teaching obligations, allowing fellows to focus more extensively on research and professional development.
Research and Academic Focus Areas
Applicants from a wide range of humanities disciplines are encouraged to apply, provided their work strongly connects to environmental justice.
Potential academic backgrounds may include:
- Environmental humanities
- Indigenous studies
- History
- Literature
- Philosophy
- Anthropology
- Cultural studies
- Religious studies
- Political theory
- Ethnic studies
- Gender studies
- Public humanities
- Media studies
- Geography
- Arts-based environmental research
The University of Michigan is particularly interested in candidates whose research demonstrates:
- Strong humanities methodologies
- Commitment to environmental justice
- Public-facing scholarship
- Collaborative engagement
- Educational innovation
- Interdisciplinary thinking
Mentorship and Leadership Structure
The selected fellow will work directly under the mentorship of renowned environmental justice scholar Dr. Kyle Whyte.
The fellow will also receive advisory support from:
- Sara Soderstrom
- Sarah Nahar
- Eric Hemenway
This mentorship structure provides fellows with access to interdisciplinary guidance, academic networking opportunities, and collaborative project development.
What the Selected Fellow Will Do
The Environmental Justice Postdoctoral Fellow will play an active leadership role within the Hub and broader University of Michigan environmental justice community.
Key responsibilities include:
1. Conduct Independent Research
The fellow will continue advancing their own scholarly research agenda throughout the fellowship period.
This includes:
- Publishing academic work
- Developing future research projects
- Building academic collaborations
- Strengthening professional visibility
2. Develop New Environmental Justice Projects
The fellow will collaborate with faculty, staff, and students to design and oversee at least one major project that contributes to the growth and impact of the EJ + Humanities Hub.
Projects may include:
- Community engagement initiatives
- Research collaborations
- Public humanities programs
- Environmental storytelling projects
- Curriculum innovation
- Policy engagement activities
3. Mentor Students
The fellow will support undergraduate and graduate students working on environmental justice and humanities-related projects.
Mentorship responsibilities may involve:
- Research advising
- Project guidance
- Professional development support
- Collaborative learning opportunities
4. Participate in Leadership and Planning
The selected candidate will serve on advisory and planning committees associated with the Environmental Justice + Humanities Hub.
This provides meaningful institutional leadership experience for early-career scholars.
Why This Fellowship Stands Out
This opportunity is especially valuable because it combines:
- Research freedom
- Institutional support
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Environmental justice leadership
- Humanities scholarship
- Public impact
- Mentorship opportunities
Additionally, the absence of teaching requirements allows fellows to concentrate on building a stronger publication record and developing innovative research projects.
The University of Michigan also emphasizes intentional mentoring throughout the fellowship to help accelerate the fellow’s long-term academic career trajectory.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for this fellowship, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a Ph.D. in any academic field
- Complete the Ph.D. within four months of the fellowship start date
- Demonstrate strong humanities-focused research
- Show commitment to environmental justice scholarship
- Demonstrate interest in humanities education
- Possess leadership potential within environmental justice communities
Although the Ph.D. field is open, the candidate’s dissertation and primary research areas must substantially focus on humanities scholarship.
Required Application Materials
Applicants must submit all materials in a single PDF document.
Required documents include:
- Cover letter describing:
- Relevant experience
- Scholarly interests
- Specific interest in the fellowship
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Writing sample or artistic production
- Published or unpublished
- Article-length preferred
- Names and contact information of three references
The cover letter is especially important and should clearly explain how the applicant’s background aligns with the fellowship’s goals.
Application Review Process
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the posting period.
The University of Michigan notes that:
- The position may be filled at any time after the minimum posting period
- Early applications are strongly encouraged
- Review continues until the position is filled
Application Deadline
No fixed final deadline has been announced.
However:
- Applications are reviewed as they are received
- The position can close once filled
- Interested candidates should apply as early as possible
Click Here for more and to apply
Work Arrangement
The fellowship may include hybrid or remote work flexibility depending on departmental approval and annual review processes.
Work mode arrangements are subject to institutional policies and may change over time.
Equal Opportunity Commitment
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice within higher education and research.
Final Thoughts
For scholars passionate about environmental justice, humanities research, climate justice, Indigenous studies, and public scholarship, this postdoctoral fellowship represents a rare opportunity to grow within a world-class research institution while contributing to meaningful social and environmental transformation.
The Environmental Justice + Humanities Hub at the University of Michigan is building a powerful interdisciplinary future, and this fellowship places emerging scholars at the center of that mission.
For more global fellowship opportunities click Here
