The American Philosophical Society’s Library & Museum (APS) invites applications for a one year Mellon Foundation Postdoctoral Natural History Exhibition Fellowship. The APS seeks applications from recent humanities Ph.D.s interested in exploring career paths in libraries, museums, and cultural heritage institutions. The Fellowship, based in the APS’s Library & Museum, will be a year-long research fellowship for our forthcoming natural history exhibition opening in the spring of 2024. The fellow will also be provided the opportunity to pursue an independent research project, preferably one related to the collections or programs of the Society’s Library & Museum.

Primary responsibilities will include:

• Conducting research in the APS’s Library & Museum collections in preparation for an exhibition on natural history, that will highlight the five James Audubon elephant folios of Birds of America from the APS’s collection;
• Providing reports on thematic narratives that exist within our collections about natural history;
• Compiling a selection of objects drawn from the APS collections that will be considered for inclusion in the exhibition;
• Depending on the Fellow’s interests and the Library & Museum’s needs, they may also participate in public programming, museum education, collections management, and website development.

The Fellow will be fully integrated into the APS’s Library & Museum staff and 20 percent of the Fellow’s time will be reserved for their own independent research, ideally using resources at the APS or kindred regional institutions. The Fellow will also be expected to participate in the vibrant intellectual community at the Society, including biannual symposia for the elected Members of the APS, monthly lunches at the Library with visiting scholars, daytime workshops and programming with other residential fellows, and evening programs with specialists in a wide range of fields.

This one-year Fellowship begins by September 15, 2022 and ends one year after start date, 2023. Compensation will be $50,000 plus benefits.  The Fellowship may not be held concurrently with any other fellowship or grant.

Apply at https://apply.interfolio.com/110885.

Qualifications