University of Minnesota Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

Fellowship Description

Purpose
Recognizing that diverse communities foster thriving learning and working environments, the University of Minnesota is committed to advancing the intellectual agenda and enhancing the cultural diversity of the University community.  The University of Minnesota Postdoctoral Fellowship is a university-wide initiative to attract promising scholars with potential to pursue future faculty positions at the University of Minnesota and at other top research universities.  We are particularly interested in appointing postdoctoral fellows whose teaching and research agendas are closely aligned with the University’s areas of strength and strategic initiatives in fields where we anticipate future faculty growth. We invite applications from scholars whose research and scholarly interests reflect one or a combination of the following priorities: (1) scholarship that contributes to the understanding of diversity in its multiple forms; (2) strong interest in interdisciplinary research and scholarship or creative work; (3) engagement in partnerships with communities outside of the academy; and (4) integration of teaching and research. We particularly encourage applications from women and individuals from communities that historically have been underrepresented in higher education. The most competitive candidates in last year’s competition combined the fellowship’s three priorities and contributed to increasing the representation of underrepresented groups in their academic field of study. Please go to http://www.grad.umn.edu/postdocfellowship/recipients/ for information on the research interests of the past fellowship recipients.

Fellows have a unique opportunity to work directly with the University’s most prominent faculty, including our Regents and Distinguished McKnight Professors.  Recognized for exceptional research and teaching, University of Minnesota senior faculty will mentor postdoctoral fellows to establish an independent research agenda and become acclimated to the institutional culture.  The purpose of the mentoring relationship is to nurture the fellows’ intellectual development and professional growth to ensure future success in tenure-track academic positions.

Supporting Future Faculty
In addition to the mentoring relationship, fellows benefit from participating in a series of seminars focused on securing grants, building a successful publication record, developing effective networking skills, fostering multiculturalism in higher education, and sustaining best research and teaching practices. To build intellectual community, fellows and other members of the University participate in formal and informal events scheduled throughout the year, including a welcome reception and the spring interdisciplinary research symposium, where fellows showcase their work to the University community.  Fellows also join the University’s Postdoctoral Association, an organization that identifiesand addresses issues pertinent to the postdoctoral experience.   The mentoring relationship, professional development seminars and intellectual community are intended to prepare fellows for tenure-track faculty positions.

Prospect for Dual Appointments 
The University of Minnesota offers an enormous breadth of academic disciplines through leading departments, strong interdisciplinary programs, and thriving research institutes and centers.  Fellows have the advantage of affiliating with one or more units across the University where a strong match can be established between the fellows’ research interests and those of the academic units.  Dual appointments are possible for fellows demonstrating productive interdisciplinary research and teaching interests.  In addition to conducting research, fellows teach at least one course per year.

University of Minnesota's Strong Tradition of Excellence in Research and Service
The University of Minnesota is one of the most comprehensive public universities in the nation and ranks among the most prestigious. It is both the state land-grant university, with a strong tradition of education and public service, and the state's primary research university, with faculty of national and international reputation. Its faculty and graduates have developed innovations that have helped revolutionize medicine, agriculture, engineering and the arts and improved lives around the world. The University forges strong linkages between research and service, creating programs and partnerships in Minnesota and world-wide. These community connections bring University resources directly into communities to address current needs and emerging issues.

For more information about the fellowship program, contact Dr. Noro Andriamanalina at 612-626-4546 or send an e-mail to postdoc@umn.edu.