Department: Center for Presidential History (Dedman College)

Title of Position: Postdoctoral Fellow (Position Numbers 53521 and 53761)

Start Date: August 15, 2026

Position Numbers 53521 and 53761. The Center for Presidential History (CPH) at Southern Methodist University invites applications for its two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship program, to begin August 15, 2026. The CPH interprets its mission in "presidential history" in broad terms, and thus welcomes postdoctoral fellows from all fields, topics, and time periods in U.S. history, particularly those pertaining to politics, government, citizenship, the nation, or the presidency. To get a sense of the breadth of the postdoctoral research the CPH has supported, view the profiles of current and past postdoctoral fellows here.

The CPH supports ongoing public engagement through events, podcasts, and education partnerships, and produces the Collective Memory Project (CMP), a filmed oral history of the George W. Bush Presidency and its times. Postdoctoral fellows couple their own research and publishing agenda with their participation in the general academic and public life of the CPH. Fellows seeking teaching experience may have opportunity to offer courses in their field of expertise through the SMU History department or University Honors Program.

The CPH is especially interested in recruiting at least one candidate who will participate significantly in the Collective Memory Project’s primary ongoing initiative, A Global Oral History of PEPFAR. Engagement with the Collective Memory Project will require oral history experience (particularly with in-person, filmed interviews), a willingness and ability to travel for interviews, and familiarity with post-interview production (transcriptions, a/v editing, website). For this project, preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate experience or expertise in oral history, U.S. foreign relations in Africa (or other PEPFAR regions), global health, international development, and/or other topics related to PEPFAR.

Applications must be submitted electronically via Interfolio at https://apply.interfolio.com/176645. Applications must include:

• Cover letter, outlining applicant’s research agenda, experience, and proposal for engagement with the CPH’s work, including the Collective Memory Project, if applicable.
• Curriculum Vitae
• Three letters of reference

Review of applications will begin on November 17, 2025. To ensure full consideration for the position, all application materials must be received by COB November 16, 2025, but the committee will continue to accept applications until the position is filled. The committee will notify applicants of its employment decisions after the position is filled. The search committee will begin conducting interviews with finalists via video conference promptly after the review date. For more information on the SMU Center for Presidential History, visit www.smu.edu/CPH.

Fellows receive an annualized salary of $55,000; access to SMU health insurance and benefits; annual funds to support research & conference travel; and opportunity to host a workshop for their book manuscript. Fellows must be in residence at SMU during the term of the fellowship and must have successfully defended their doctoral dissertation before the appointment begins. Preference will be given to applicants for whom additional time and resources will culminate in the completion of a publishable book-length manuscript. Fellows are officially appointed for one year with full expectation of renewal for a second year.

SMU is a nationally-ranked, private, non-sectarian research institution located in one of the nation’s  fastest growing metropolitan areas.

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

Hiring is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background check.

Ph.D. in History (or related field), defended by time of appointment

In-residence

About Southern Methodist University, Center for Presidential History

The Center for Presidential History (CPH) at Southern Methodist University exists to research and advance understanding of the history of the American presidency.

Connections working at Southern Methodist University, Center for Presidential History