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Fully Funded Postdoctoral Professional Fellowship the USA

Michigan Society of Fellows 2027 - $63K/yr

Deadline 14 September 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT (opens 1 August) Closed · Hosted by University of Michigan Society of Fellows · Published
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The Michigan Society of Fellows Three-Year Fellowships are among the most selective postdoctoral appointments in the United States. Each cycle, the Society invites recent Ph.D.s and holders of comparable terminal degrees in the humanities, arts, sciences, and professions to join the University of Michigan for a 2027-2030 term as a non-tenure-track Assistant Professor in a home department and a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Society. Fellows earn a $63,000 annual stipend with university benefits, teach the equivalent of one academic year of courses across the three-year appointment, and spend the rest of their time on independent research and creative work. For the 2027-2030 term, degrees must be completed between 1 June 2024 and 24 August 2027, with no exceptions. The portal opens 1 August 2026 and closes Monday, 14 September 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT. Fellowships begin 25 August 2027. A pilot Arts Initiative fellowship adds a dedicated arts slot with the same terms plus a $3,000 annual research stipend in select departments.

Stipend plus benefits
$63,000/yr
Ph.D. within date window
3-year postdoc
Application deadline
14 Sep 2026
UMich residential fellowship
Ann Arbor, MI
Open scholarships in the USA How it worked Official website

What is the Michigan Society of Fellows Three-Year Fellowship?

The Michigan Society of Fellows Three-Year Fellowships sit at the crossroads of postdoctoral research and early faculty life. Since 1970 the Society has brought newly minted scholars and artists to the University of Michigan with enough salary and status to work seriously on their own projects while learning to teach at a flagship research university. You are not a visitor passing through Ann Arbor for a semester. You hold a named appointment as both a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Society and a non-tenure-track Assistant Professor in a home department, which means your name shows up on course schedules and your office sits among faculty who have been there for decades.

The money is straightforward: $63,000 a year plus benefits for a three-year term that begins 25 August 2027 for the current cycle. Some departments can bump pay if postdoc norms in the field run higher. The Arts Initiative pilot adds one dedicated arts slot with an extra $3,000 annual research stipend in participating units such as Creative Writing and Film, Television, and Media. Teaching is real but bounded. Fellows cover the equivalent of one academic year of courses spread across three years, leaving most terms for research, writing, lab work, or studio time depending on the discipline.

Timing is strict. Your Ph.D., MFA, or other terminal degree must be completed between 1 June 2024 and 24 August 2027, and the Society will not waive those dates. That window keeps the fellowship aimed at people just leaving graduate school rather than mid-career professors. Applications unlock 1 August 2026, when the list of departments accepting fellows for 2027-2030 appears, and everything must be in by 14 September 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern. If you are comparing other postdoctoral paths, look at the Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship for a one-year institute model, the AGA Fellowship-to-Faculty Transition Award for clinical GI researchers, or undergraduate funding at University of Michigan-Dearborn, which is a separate campus with separate awards.

Who can apply

Eligibility

Your progress 0 / 5
  • ✓
    Ph.D. or comparable terminal degree in the window
    You must complete a Ph.D., or a comparable professional or artistic terminal degree, between 1 June 2024 and 24 August 2027. The Society enforces these dates without exception, so a degree conferred even one day outside the window disqualifies you.
  • ✓
    Arts Initiative MFA or equivalent (arts track only)
    Applicants for the pilot Arts Initiative fellowship need an MFA or comparable terminal arts degree completed in the same 1 June 2024 to 24 August 2027 window. Participating departments for the first pilot year include Creative Writing in English and Film, Television, and Media.
  • ✓
    Ready for a research university appointment
    Fellowships target scholars and artists who want research time at a major R1 university while gaining teaching experience. You apply to a participating department that matches your field; the full department list for the 2027-2030 term posts when applications open on 1 August.
  • ✓
    Willing to teach and remain in residence
    Fellows teach the equivalent of one academic year of courses spread across three years and are expected to live in the Ann Arbor area and take part in Society life. The appointment is non-tenure-track, and any later faculty hire at Michigan follows normal hiring rules.
  • ✓
    Independent research or creative agenda
    Your file should present a focused project you will pursue during the fellowship. The Society encourages applicants to explain how their research, teaching, service, or outreach connects to social, environmental, or technical challenges facing communities.
What you get

Benefits

  • Annual stipend $63,000
  • University benefits Eligible as appointed faculty/postdoc
  • Appointment length Three years (2027-2030 term)
  • Research time Majority of appointment after teaching load
  • Teaching expectation One academic year equivalent over three years
  • Department salary supplement Possible in some units
  • External grant stacking Encouraged when it advances your work
  • Tenure-track conversion Not automatic
  • Base stipend $63,000 per year
  • Research stipend $3,000 per year
  • Eligible departments (pilot) Creative Writing / English; Film, TV & Media
  • Same review and residency rules As other Society fellowships
What to prepare

Document checklist

Documents gathered 0 / 7
  • ✓
    Electronic application through the Society portal
    Submit the full application online once the system opens 1 August 2026. The Society publishes participating departments at the same time; choose the unit that best fits your discipline.
  • ✓
    Curriculum vitae
    A current CV listing education, publications, exhibitions, performances, grants, and teaching experience. The committee uses it to judge whether you are at the right career stage for a postdoctoral fellowship.
  • ✓
    Research or creative project proposal
    A detailed plan for the work you would carry out during the three-year term, including aims, methods, and expected outcomes. Tie the project to your chosen department where possible.
  • ✓
    Writing or work sample
    A representative sample of scholarly writing, artistic work, or professional output appropriate to your field. Follow any length or format limits stated in the live application instructions.
  • ✓
    Dissertation or terminal-degree summary
    An abstract or summary of your completed or nearly completed dissertation or terminal project, including completion date, so reviewers can verify you fall inside the degree window.
  • ✓
    Letters of recommendation
    Reference letters from mentors who can speak to your research promise and readiness to teach at the university level. Request them early because the September deadline arrives quickly after the August opening.
  • ✓
    Optional statement on public impact
    The Society invites commentary on how your work addresses societal challenges. This is not a separate form but should appear in your proposal or cover materials where the portal allows.
Step by step

How to apply

Check that your Ph.D., MFA, or other terminal degree will be conferred between 1 June 2024 and 24 August 2027. If your defense slips past 24 August 2027, you cannot apply for the 2027-2030 term.
Participating departments for 2027-2030 publish when applications open. Read the list carefully and target the unit closest to your research profile, including the Arts Initiative slot if you hold an MFA in an eligible arts field.
Write a clear project plan and choose a writing or creative sample that shows your best work. Mention teaching interests and, if relevant, how your scholarship connects to public challenges the Society highlights.
Ask dissertation advisors or senior collaborators for letters that address both research independence and classroom readiness. Give them the exact deadline of 14 September 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT.
Enter CV, proposal, sample, and contact information for references in the Society application system. Upload materials in the formats requested on the live form.
The portal closes Monday, 14 September 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT. Late submissions are not accepted. Email [email protected] with process questions only, not application materials.
Selected fellows begin 25 August 2027. Plan relocation to Ann Arbor, visa paperwork if you are an international appointee, and a teaching schedule spread across the three-year term.
When

Deadline and timeline

Application deadline
14 September 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT (opens 1 August)
Closed
1 August 2026
Application portal opens; participating departments for 2027-2030 are published.
Aug - Sep 2026
Applicants finalize proposals, samples, and recommendation requests.
14 September 2026
Application deadline at 11:59 PM EDT.
Fall 2026 - Spring 2027
Society and departmental review of fellowship files.
Spring - Summer 2027
Offers extended to selected fellows.
25 August 2027
Fellowship term begins in Ann Arbor.
Questions

FAQ

What is the Michigan Society of Fellows Three-Year Fellowship?

It is a postdoctoral program at the University of Michigan that appoints recent Ph.D.s and terminal-degree holders as non-tenure-track Assistant Professors in a department and Postdoctoral Scholars in the Society of Fellows. The 2027-2030 term lasts three years, pays a $63,000 annual stipend with benefits, and expects teaching equal to one academic year spread across the appointment while you pursue independent research.

How much does the Michigan Society of Fellows pay?

The annual stipend is $63,000, plus eligibility for University of Michigan benefits. Some departments may add salary support to align pay with disciplinary norms. Arts Initiative fellows in the pilot track receive an additional $3,000 per year for research expenses.

When is the Michigan Society of Fellows application deadline?

For the 2027-2030 term, applications open 1 August 2026 and must be submitted by Monday, 14 September 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT. Fellowships start 25 August 2027.

Who is eligible for the Michigan Society of Fellows?

You need a Ph.D. or comparable terminal degree completed between 1 June 2024 and 24 August 2027, with no exceptions to those dates. Arts Initiative applicants need an MFA or equivalent in the same window. You should be ready to teach, live in Ann Arbor, and pursue a defined research or creative project at a participating department.

Is the Michigan Society of Fellows a Michigan state scholarship?

No. It is a University of Michigan postdoctoral fellowship based in Ann Arbor. Eligibility follows degree timing and academic fit, not Michigan residency. Out-of-state and international scholars routinely compete when their credentials match a participating department.

How much teaching do Michigan Society of Fellows fellows do?

Fellows teach the equivalent of one academic year of courses over the three-year appointment, so the load is spread out rather than concentrated in a single year. Exact courses depend on the host department.

Can I apply to the Michigan Society of Fellows from outside the United States?

The fellowship is open to scholars who meet the degree window and departmental fit requirements. International appointees typically need appropriate work authorization; contact the Society at [email protected] for appointment-specific visa questions after you review the official guidelines.

What is the Michigan Society of Fellows Arts Initiative fellowship?

For the 2027-2030 and 2028-2031 terms, the Society is piloting one additional arts-focused fellowship with the same application deadline, stipend, benefits, teaching expectation, and review process as other slots, plus a $3,000 annual research stipend. The first pilot year lists Creative Writing in English and Film, Television, and Media as participating departments.

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