Postdoctoral Fellow on Race and Sports

About the role

The Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies (AAADS) at Indiana University Bloomington invites applications for one of two Mellon Foundation–funded Postdoctoral Fellowships linked to the newly established Black Humanities in the Midwest (BHIM) Africana Studies Research Center. The focus of this fellowship is on Race and Sports, exploring the social, political, and cultural dimensions of athletics within Black communities and across the African diaspora.

Appointment and Responsibilities

• Teach two courses per academic year in AAADS;
• Contribute actively to one of BHIM’s three interdisciplinary labs: the Research Development Lab, Applied Humanities Lab, or Humanities in Community Lab;
• Participate in departmental workshops, symposia, and community-engaged events.

Fellows are expected to be in residence during the fellowship period, apart from research-related travel. Indiana University is fully committed to transferring each postdoctoral fellow to the rank of assistant professor within the university and will provide the necessary mentoring, resources, and structures for a successful transition.

About the BHIM Africana Studies Research Center

The Black Humanities in the Midwest (BHIM) Africana Studies Research Center is supported by the Mellon Foundation and fosters humanities-oriented scholarship, artistic expression, and civic engagement rooted in the experiences and legacies of Black and Africana Diasporic communities in Indiana and across the Midwest. BHIM merges critical humanities scholarship with Applied Africana Studies, producing research and public projects that interpret and shape the cultural and civic landscape of the region. Its three interdisciplinary Labs serve as hubs for faculty-led research, course development, public programming, and community partnerships.

About the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies (AAADS)

Established in 1970, AAADS at Indiana University Bloomington celebrates its 55th anniversary as one of the oldest Black Studies departments in the nation. AAADS is a national leader in Black Studies, offering a B.A., four dual BAs (with English, History, Religious Studies, and Sociology), an M.A., three dual MAs (with Library and Information Science, Public and Environmental Affairs, and the nation's only MA/MFA in Creative Writing and African American Studies), and the Ph.D. degree—one of only 19 Ph.D. programs in African American Studies nationwide and the only one in Indiana. AAADS houses signature programs including its performing arts ensembles, the African American Dance Company, IU Soul Revue, and the African American Choral Ensemble. We house the Atkins Living Learning Center, a residential community for incoming freshmen promoting academic excellence through African American history and culture. AAADS also co-founded two landmark archives, the Archives of African American Music and Culture (AAAMC) and the Black Film Center/Archive (BFC/A), and leads the innovative Blackness and Jewishness Project, a first-of-its-kind partnership with IU's Borns Jewish Studies Program.

Salary and Rank

• 10-month academic salary of $60,000 plus full university benefits

Special Instructions

Applicants should submit:

• A Cover Letter (detailing research, teaching interests, and fit with BHIM and AAADS);
• A Curriculum Vitae;
• A Writing Sample (no more than 30 pages);
• Three Letters of Reference.

Applications must be submitted by March 31, 2026. Additional materials, such as letters of recommendation or sample syllabi, may be requested at a later stage of review.