Working/Functional Title

Dean's Postdoctoral Fellow

Position Summary

The College of Communication Arts and Sciences invites applications for two Dean's Postdoctoral Research Associates. The Dean's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is designed to promote an inclusive scholarly environment and nurture outstanding scholars in communication and related fields whose work advances diversity, equity, and inclusion. Fellows are appointed for a one-year fellowship, renewable for a second year. The Dean's Postdoctoral research associate is a research-focused position. Selected candidates will pursue their research program with formal mentorship and support of faculty. Postdoctoral Fellows will have the opportunity to teach one course or complete one outreach-focused project per academic year, as appropriate for the candidate's career goals. The appointment includes a competitive salary, benefits package, and funds for research and travel.

Dean's Research Associates will conduct research with the mentorship of faculty across any of the five departments/schools in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences. Researchers will be assigned a faculty mentorship committee. We encourage applicants to

review faculty biographies

before applying. Salary range begins at $60,000.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Communication and related fields

Minimum Requirements

• We invite applicants who have attained a PhD in the past five years. The PhD should be attained by the start of the fellowship appointment.  

• Applicants should demonstrate alignment of their research interests with faculty in one or more of ComArtSci's five academic units: Advertising and Public Relations, Communication, Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Journalism, and Media and Information.   

• Applicants will be selected based on their academic achievement, promise in research and teaching, as well as their demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the academy.  

• Any remote work permitted with respect to this position must be performed in the state of Michigan. The employee must be able to come to work at the East Lansing campus location as needed.

Required Application Materials

•   CV  
• A 1-2 page cover letter that states your interest in the program and that responds to each of the following prompts:
  • What are your research interests and how might they be advanced through mentorship from specific ComArtSci faculty and/or research labs and centers? List up to three potential faculty mentors with whom you share research interests.
  • What are your career goals and how do you envision that your career might advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in your field?  
  • You may also describe any experiences that have shaped your trajectory as an academic.   

Names and contact information for three references. Referenc