Seeger Center for Hellenic Studies Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships

Postdoctoral research fellowships for early-career Hellenists in Modern Greek Studies, Byzantine Studies, or Late Antique Studies, including their relation to the Classical tradition. Deadline: January 4, 2024

The Seeger Center for Hellenic Studies at Princeton University invites applications for two postdoctoral fellowships: (1) The Hannah Seeger Davis Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Hellenic Studies and (2) The Mary Seeger O'Boyle Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Hellenic Studies. These fellowships are awarded annually on a competitive basis. Scholars in all humanities and social sciences disciplines are eligible to apply. There is one online application form for these fellowships.

Terms of the Fellowships

• Fellows will be appointed as Postdoctoral Research Associates from September 2024 through June 2025, conducting research full-time.
• There is also the possibility for renewal for a second full year (July 2025 through June 2026), based on funding and performance.
• Fellows who are renewed may be offered the opportunity to teach or co-teach a course during their second year.
• Teaching opportunities will be subject to sufficient course enrollments and must be approved by the Dean of the Faculty. When teaching, fellows will hold the additional rank of Lecturer.
• Fellows who are renewed for a second year have the possibility of spending up to two months at the Princeton Athens Center, conducting research during Winter session 2026 and/or Summer 2026 (June–July 2026).

These fellowships are intended for scholars in Hellenic Studies, with a special emphasis on Modern Greek Studies, Byzantine Studies, or Late Antique Studies, including their relation to the Classical tradition. The goal of this postdoctoral research fellowship program is to advance the scholarship of outstanding Hellenists at an early stage of their career and thus to strengthen the field of post-Classical Greek Studies in the United States and abroad.

The monthly salary will be $5,400 (gross) for the first year. Fellows may apply for reimbursement (up to $3,000 per academic year) for research-related expenses (such as the purchase of books or copyediting of scholarly work) or travel expenses when presenting a paper at an academic conference during the period of their appointment. Fellows are responsible for their own travel, moving arrangements, and expenses, as well as finding and paying for their housing at Princeton. A few weeks prior to departure, fellows are required to submit a report on their scholarly activities at Princeton, write a memo and a thank you letter to the donor.

Selected candidates will be required to be in residence in Princeton or the local vicinity and demonstrate to the Seeger Center’s satisfaction the ability to be on campus on a daily basis to fulfill responsibilities relating to in-person participation.

During the second-year appointment, fellows have the possibility of spending up to three weeks at the Princeton Athens Center, conducting research during the summer (June/July) and/or Princeton’s winter session. Travel grants will be available via application. If awarded, the grant will cover reasonable expenses and lodging during the time at the Princeton Athens Center. 

During the fall term, fellows offer a lecture organized by the Seeger Center. They enjoy full access to the University's libraries, archival, and computing resources. They are provided a shared workspace at the Hellenic Studies office, as well as access to the Hellenic Studies Reading Room in the University Library. No secretarial services or office supplies are provided. Computing support is available through the University’s Office of Information Technology.

For questions, please contact Linda Taylor, ltaylor@princeton.edu

Eligibility

Candidates are expected to have completed all requirements for the doctoral degree by February 1, 2024 (including the defense, viva voce, or final public oral examination). Candidates are expected to have less than three years of post-Ph.D. work experience. Fellows may not pursue another degree while on this fellowship, nor may they hold any other fellowships, employment positions, or visiting opportunities concurrently with their appointment at Princeton University. Priority will be given to candidates who have not received support from the Seeger Center in the past, as well as to candidates from around the world who bring unique, original ideas and perspectives, to enrich conversations and activities at the Seeger Center. Fellowship awards cannot be deferred to a later term.

The Executive Committee of the Seeger Center for Hellenic Studies awards postdoctoral fellowships on the basis of several criteria: (a) scholarly accomplishment in a discipline of the humanities or the social sciences, and overall academic excellence and promise; (b) potential contribution to an interdisciplinary community of scholars at Princeton; (c) significance and quality of the research proposal in definition, clarity, organization, and scope; (d) potential future impact on the field of Hellenic Studies through teaching and writing; (e) ability to benefit from and contribute to Hellenic Studies at Princeton. Applications are reviewed both by specialists in the candidate’s academic discipline and by an interdisciplinary group of senior scholars in Hellenic Studies. A phone or video interview may be requested. All Committee deliberations and decisions are confidential.

How To Apply

Candidates are required to apply online via AHIRE (Search for D-24-HLS-00001) and submit the following:

• cover letter with title and summary (200 words) of the proposed research project;
• research proposal (five pages; 2,000 words), including a detailed description of the project timetable, explicit goals, selected bibliography, and the reason it is proposed to be pursued at Princeton;
• curriculum vitae with a list of publications;
• sample chapter (in English) of a dissertation or other recent work;
• names and contact information of three referees from individuals who are not current members of the Princeton University faculty;
• a scanned copy of their doctoral degree or a letter from a dean or registrar-level officer on department letterhead confirming the date of completion of all the requirements for the doctoral degree; and
• all non-US citizens and non-US permanent residents are required to provide TOEFL results or equivalent, or a letter from their department head on department letterhead confirming certification of language proficiency in English. With the exception of official transcripts, all submitted documents must be in English.

DEADLINE: All materials submitted by applicants must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, January 3, 2024. Awards will be announced in early March 2024. This position is subject to the University’s background check policy.

The online application has a designated area for email addresses of referees. After the online application has been submitted identifying referees and the required contact information, each referee will receive an automated email message from Princeton University with instructions for uploading their confidential letter of recommendation, no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on January 3, 2024. Materials submitted with the application are the property of the Seeger Center and will not be returned. The Committee does not provide feedback to candidates about their applications.

Non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. permanent residents must ensure that they will be able to enter or remain in the United States and accept employment at Princeton University.

We at Hellenic Studies believe that it is vital to cultivate an environment that embraces and promotes diversity, equity and inclusion — fundamental to the success of our education and research mission.  This commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment and hiring as we actively seek colleagues of exceptional ability who represent a broad range of viewpoints, experiences and value systems, and who share Princeton University's dedication to excellence.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.