Society for the Humanities Fellowships

The Society for the Humanities at Cornell University invites applications for residential fellowships from scholars and artists whose projects reflect on the 2027-28 theme of PLAY. Up to six fellows will be appointed. The fellowship is one year (August through July) and each Society Fellow will receive $68,000. Fellows include scholars and practitioners from other universities and members of the Cornell faculty released from regular duties. Fellows are residential, will collaborate with one another and the Taylor Family Director of the Society for the Humanities, Durba Ghosh, Professor of History. Fellows spend their time researching and writing during the residential fellowship, and are required to participate in a weekly Fellows Seminar to workshop each other’s projects and discuss readings based on the yearly theme. The fellowship year is social and communal—fellows forge connections outside the classroom and the lecture hall by sharing meals following the weekly seminar and attending post‑lecture receptions and other casual events throughout the year. Fellows live and work in Ithaca, NY, and are expected to be in their offices on campus frequently. All applicants for Society Fellowships should share this commitment to creating a supportive and intellectually stimulating community. Fellows teach one small seminar during their fellowship year, appropriate for graduate students and advanced undergraduates. Though courses are designed to fit the focal theme, there are no additional restrictions on content or method. Fellows are encouraged to experiment with both the content and method of their seminar, especially as it relates to their current research. Focal Theme Description: PLAY The Society for the Humanities at Cornell University seeks faculty fellows for year‑long residential fellowships who are conducting interdisciplinary research projects exploring play. Play is a core human activity with a rich tradition of scholarship in the humanities. We invite applications that approach ideas and concepts that address play in a critical spirit. Critical studies of play can be found in anthropology, literature, history, performance studies, music, theater, media studies, gender and sexuality studies, cultural studies, and game studies. Theories about play explore the ludic, spontaneous, or rule‑bound aspects. Studies of improvisation that focus on imagination, creativity, and futurity are welcomed. Play may also address forms that affirm expertise or competence, containing play with culturally accepted rules (e.g., grammar). Play can involve mastery and proficiency, risk‑taking such as gambling or speculation, and can be rewarding, perilous, spectacular, or ordinary. Play can generate pleasure; it can also cause harm. It may be radically conscious opposition to reality, generating joy, desire, or fantasy, or it may be a respite from reality. In its dystopic forms, play can be disruptive, calling reality into question. Whenever we think of phrases such as “play on words” or “child’s play,” we see that play is a feature of everyday life, binding communities together. Play is central to how we live; without play, we lack contingency and futurity. Qualifications Fellows should be working on topics related to the 2027-28 focal theme of “PLAY.” Their approach to the humanities should be broad enough to appeal to students and scholars in several humanistic disciplines. Applicants must have received their Ph.D. degree before January 1, 2026. The Society for the Humanities will not consider applications from scholars who received the Ph.D. after this date. Applicants must also have one or more years of teaching experience, which may include teaching as a graduate student. International scholars are welcome to apply, contingent upon visa eligibility. Application Procedures The following application materials must be submitted via AJO fellowship #32054 on or before the deadline of September 1, 2026. Any other method of applying will not be accepted. A curriculum vitae A one‑page abstract describing the research project to be pursued during the term of the fellowship (up to 300 words) A detailed statement of the research project (1,000–2,000 words). Applicants may also include a one‑page bibliography of the most essential materials to the project. A course proposal for a seminar related to the applicant’s research. The proposal should include: A brief course description suitable for the university course catalog (50‑125 words) A detailed course proposal (up to 300 words) A list of the essential texts for the course A draft syllabus One scholarly paper (no more than 35 pages in length) Two letters of recommendation from senior colleagues in your field. Letters should evaluate the candidate’s proposed research and teaching statements. Referees should submit their letters directly through the application link. Letters must be submitted on or before September 1, 2026. The deadline to apply is September 1, 2026. Awards will be announced by the end of December 2026. Pay Range The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria: Prior relevant work or industry experience Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position Academic discipline Unique applicable skills Employment Assistance For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the recruiter listed in the job posting or email View email address on click.appcast.io. If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact the Cornell Office of Civil Rights at voice View phone number on click.appcast.io, or email View email address on click.appcast.io. Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing View email address on click.appcast.io. Notice to Applicants Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant. 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