The Academic Pathways Postdoctoral Fellowship at Vanderbilt is a research/mentorship program that is designed to bridge fellows between academic training and entry-level faculty positions. The program includes teaching and leadership training, grant and manuscript writing and preparation, a multi-level mentoring framework, as well as substantial “protected time” for the pursuit of each fellow’s academic and scholarly objectives.

The Academic Pathways program is open to all programs of study within the College of Arts & Science, Owen Graduate School of Management, Peabody College of Education and Human Development, School of Divinity, School of Engineering, School of Law, School of Medicine and School of Nursing.

Fellows receive an annual stipend of $60,000 for two years along with benefits, travel funding, and a research allowance. Renewal for a third year of the fellowship is possible.

The application window is October 1st - November 1st, with applications reviewed on a rolling basis during the month of October.

Qualifications
Academic Pathways welcomes proposals from all eligible individuals; no person shall be excluded from participation on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin or disability. External applicants (i.e., non-Vanderbilt) will be given priority consideration. 

This application is open to individuals pursuing or holding a doctorate degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., etc.) and/or a law degree (J.D.). Applicants will typically have received their graduate degree within the last 3 years. All applicants who are offered a fellowship must provide proof of degree completion before the start of the fellowship. International applicants must hold a graduate degree from an institution in the United States. 

Application Instructions
Required Application Components 

Each of the following components are required in order to be considered a complete application.

• Online Application Form - Please note that the application will not be made available until the open date. On Interfolio be sure to hit the “Submit” button, not just “Save”. Unsubmitted applications are not transmitted to the program and so cannot be reviewed.
• Cover Letter - Please submit a letter addressed to the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. In the letter please summarize your scholarly achievements. Because of the importance of a scholarly fit between applicants and faculty, identify specific faculty, laboratories and/or groups you would like to collaborate with, if selected. You are strongly encouraged to contact faculty via email to discuss common scholarly interests. See Eligibility Criteria for a list of participating Vanderbilt colleges and schools. Maximum length: 1 page
• Curriculum Vitae - A current curriculum vitae which must include publications. 
• Dissertation Summary and Other Recent Scholarly Endeavors - Summarize your dissertation and other recent scholarly endeavors. A statement of planned research is not requested at this time. If you are selected as a finalist, you will work with your prospective hosts to formulate a research concept. Maximum length: 3 pages (single spaced) excluding references.
• Personal Statement - Describe why you are interested in this opportunity; for example, career aspirations, relevant leadership experience, relevant experiences in diversity and inclusion efforts and other key points for the committee to consider. Maximum length: 3 pages (single spaced)
• Writing Sample (humanities applicants only) - An article- or chapter-length sample of written work representative of your scholarly research. Maximum length: 20 pages (or 40 pages double spaced) excluding references.
• Letters of Recommendation - A minimum of two letters of recommendation are required. You may submit up to four letters. Please use the Interfolio tools to send requests to your recommenders, or upload letters already saved to Interfolio. Your application can be submitted after the letters have been requested. Recommendation letters from your preferred mentor at Vanderbilt are allowed and encouraged. The deadline for submitted reference letters is November 4, 2019, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

If you are selected as a finalist, you will be required to visit Vanderbilt and meet with faculty and graduate students from prospective host departments to exchange ideas and develop a research concept. Your visit will include participation in the annual Academic Pathways Symposium, including research presentations by finalists and a brief summary of a collaborative research concept. After the symposium you will be asked to submit a brief research proposal that you developed during the visit with your mentor.

Please apply online at https://apply.interfolio.com/64821

Vanderbilt University has a strong institutional commitment to recruiting and retaining an academically and culturally diverse community of faculty. Minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and members of other underrepresented groups, in particular, are encouraged to apply. Vanderbilt is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.