Call for Applications

University of Chicago Mellon European Visiting Scholar Program

The University of Chicago is now accepting applications for year one of its European Visiting Scholar program.  As part of this initiative, three promising postdoctoral scholars from Europe will be invited to spend the winter and spring quarters of the 2009-10 academic year in residency at the University of Chicago.  Scholars will also attend an orientation workshop at Chicago’s Center in Paris in October 2009.

Program Summary: The University of Chicago Visiting European Scholar program—made possible through the generous support of The Andrew Mellon Foundation—was created to help foster innovative research and to support interdisciplinary exploration of the complex relationship between the regional, the national, and the supranational in contemporary Europe. More specifically, this program establishes a network linking young scholars from the best institutions of higher education and research in Paris, Vienna, and St. Petersburg with Chicago’s traditionally strong programs in European history, society, and culture in order to promote a rethinking of the conceptual outlines and analytic categories customarily used to organize our understanding of Europe.
During the four-year life of this program, twelve promising young scholars—four from each of three geographically distinct cities and regions in Europe—will be integrated into the University of Chicago’s intellectual community. In each of four successive academic years, three visiting scholars will spend the Winter and Fall quarters in residence in Chicago: conducting research, teaching, participating in workshops, and interacting with faculty colleagues and graduate and undergraduate students. A two-day orientation session in Paris will be organized during the fall quarter preceding Chicago residency. A Capstone Conference held at the University of Chicago Center in Paris at the conclusion of the program will reunite all twelve Mellon European Visiting Scholars along with their faculty mentors and will feature the presentation of research conducted during their tenure, with resulting papers to be published in a single volume.

Eligibility: Applicants should be promising postdoctoral scholars from Paris, Vienna, or St. Petersburg, or from their larger metropolitan areas. They should have a keen intellectual interest in issues related to contemporary Europe, as well as a demonstrated academic excellence in one or more of the following disciplines: Art History, History, Music, Literary Studies, Philosophy, Anthropology, Political Science, and the History of Ideas. Teaching experience is preferred but not required; however, candidates should be prepared to teach in English.

Salary & Benefits: In addition to a salary of $20,000, visiting scholars will receive a housing allowance of $1300/month during their six-month residency in Chicago and a $3000 travel and research allowance. All expenses related to mandatory travel to Paris for the orientation session and the Capstone Conference will be assumed by the University of Chicago. Visiting Scholars will be expected to secure their own health insurance.

Application Deadline: Those who wish to be considered for residency in Chicago during the winter and spring of 2011 (year 2) should submit completed applications and supporting materials described below by February 22, 2010. Materials may be sent electronically (MSWord or pdf formats only) as attachments to an email addressed to ddb1@uchicago.edu. Alternatively, hard copy applications may be mailed to: Mellon European Visiting Scholars Program / Office of International Education / Harper Memorial Library, 203 / 1116 E. 59th St. / Chicago, IL  60637 / USA.

Letters of Recommendation: Letters of recommendation should be posted no later than February 22, 2010.  Candidates should request that recommenders send letters directly via airmail or private courier to: Mellon European Visiting Scholars Program / Office of International Education / Harper Memorial Library, 203 / 1116 E. 59th St. / Chicago, IL  60637 / USA.

A completed application consists of:

  • a completed application form (attached).
  • a curriculum vitae.
  • a description of the most recent major research project, not to exceed 2500 words.
  • a two-page statement describing broader research interests and perspectives, and what they might contribute to an interdisciplinary collaborative research program focused of contemporary Europe. The statement should also include titles of courses the candidate might teach in the context of this program.
  • two letters of recommendation, submitted to Chicago directly by the recommenders.