This month, York University is launching a new Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Black and Indigenous Scholars, as part of a wider commitment to promoting justice and embracing a variety of scholarly perspectives, backgrounds and lived experiences. The program will offer emerging scholars from a range of disciplines access to the financial support, mentorship and career development opportunities needed to build the foundation for a successful professional future.
The Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black and Indigenous Scholars will support up to 12 successful applicants over the next four years in any field of study. With a salary of $70,000 provided each year for a two-year term, scholars will be able to dedicate their time to pursuing a proposed project, working alongside a supervisor and other mentors, while also gaining access to guidance from faculty, students and alumni.
Carl E. James
Carl James, senior advisor of equity and representation in the Division of Equity, People and Culture, says that the fellowships “will help advance the career ambitions of Black and Indigenous scholars, by providing them with additional opportunities to build their scholarship with, among other things, mentor supports, research opportunities, and important publications. These are things that we know will expand their presence in or outside of the academy.”
Prospective applicants are required to have earned their PhD within the past five years. The program has been designed to address underrepresentation in many disciplines and fields, so candidates will be admitted based on plans to pursue a career in academia and beyond.
This commitment will contribute to priorities identified within the Indigenous Framework for York University and forthcoming Anti-Black Racism Framework, both of which highlight the need to support an inclusive research culture that values diverse voices and knowledges, as well as enabling and supporting the next generation of Indigenous and Black scholars.
Applications for the inaugural intake are due on April 1 and everyone is encouraged to share within their networks and among eligible graduates who may be interested in this opportunity.
For more information about the program itself, visit the Faculty of Graduate Studies website.