Postdoctoral Fellowship Humanities at JHI Toronto

The Jackman Humanities Institute (JHI) invites applications for two postdoctoral fellows in 2027-28.

Fellows will be in residence at the JHI from July 1, 2027 to June 30, 2028, joining an intellectual community that also includes faculty researchers, distinguished visiting fellows, graduate and undergraduate students. Fellows are expected to reside in Toronto and contribute to the JHI’s programming and activities.

This is an open call for scholars in the humanities or qualitative social sciences.

Eligibility

• Open to applicants who hold a doctoral degree in a humanities or humanistic social science discipline, earned between July 1, 2024  and June 30, 2027
• The JHI interprets “Humanities” as a broad category, including political theory, interpretive social sciences, music, and the arts
• If you will be enrolled as a full or part-time student during any part of the fellowship period, you are not eligible to apply
• If you hold a tenure-track appointment at a degree-granting university, you are not eligible to apply
• Doctoral candidates and graduates of the University of Toronto are eligible to apply
• The JHI Postdoctoral Fellowship is open to citizens of all countries

Funding and Benefits

The postdoctoral fellowship is an award of $75,000 CAD plus benefits.

The JHI will provide:

• Membership in the year’s Circle of Fellows
• 24/7 use of a dedicated office as well the JHI’s meeting spaces and office facilities
• University of Toronto Library access
• Faculty mentoring
• Administrative support
• Note: Financial support for moving expenses is not provided

Responsibilities and Expectations

As a residential fellow, the JHI Postdoctoral fellows will

• Relocate to a dedicated office at the JHI for the fellowship period
• Work at the JHI during the period of fellowship activity (early September until the end of April); the office is yours from July 1, 2027 until June 30, 2028, but you are not required to be in Toronto during the summer months.
• Contribute to JHI events, including the weekly Circle of Fellows Seminar, workshops, lectures, and public events
• Present your research at the weekly Circle of Fellows seminar
• Produce a brief report summarizing your fellowship research by the end of May 2028, for inclusion in JHI’s Annual Report

Teaching is not a component of this fellowship, but the incumbent may apply for sessional positions in their home disciplines as available.

Engagement as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto is covered by the terms of the CUPE 3902 Unit 5 Collective Agreement.

Application Components

All applicants must complete the online application form and upload the following documents as a single PDF:

• Project proposal: 4-6 pages
• Curriculum Vitae
• Writing sample: published, peer-reviewed academic article preferred; alternatively, a dissertation chapter or non-peer-reviewed article may be provided

You will be asked to provide information for external referees: two names with email addresses.. Your referees will receive an emailed request for a letter of reference as soon as you submit your application. Please ensure that they are aware of your application and that they should expect a request to provide a letter of reference. Letters of reference are due Tuesday, November 17, 2026, three weeks after the application deadline (Tuesday, October 27, 2026).

You will also be asked to provide a biography and project summary (maximum 100 words each). If you are selected for a fellowship, these texts will be used for publicity and reporting.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated by an adjudication committee based on the:

• Promise and demonstrated excellence in research and scholarship
• Originality, creativity, and scholarly merit of the proposed research
• Capacity to engage in intellectual exchange beyond one’s own discipline

Important Dates

• Applications can be submitted as of Tuesday, August 4, 2026
• Application deadline: Tuesday October 27, 2026 at 4:00pm
• Reference letter deadline: Tuesday November 17, 2026 at 4:00pm
• Results: early January 2027
• Fellowship Period: July 1, 2027 to June 30, 2028

Contacts and Additional Resources

• Please see our FAQs below 
• Questions about this fellowship opportunity? Contact Kimberley Yates, JHI Associate Director
• Technical questions about the application form or process? Contact Sonja Johnston, JHI Communications Officer