Princeton Society of Fellows in the Liberal Arts 2027-2030

Overview

The Princeton Society of Fellows in the Liberal Arts awards three-year postdoctoral fellowships to three to five early-career humanists and social scientists each year. Fellows divide their time between independent research and teaching: one course per semester in years one and two, and one course in year three. Disciplines represented include history, philosophy, literature, political theory, art history, sociology, anthropology, religious studies, and adjacent fields. The 2027-2030 competition closes 4 August 2026.

Benefits

• Annual salary of $88,800, paid as a Princeton University employee with full benefits including health insurance.
• $5,000 personal research account per year, renewable each year of the fellowship.
• Office space and computer on the Princeton campus.
• Access to Princeton’s library system and research computing resources.
• Eligibility to apply for additional university grants for conference travel and fieldwork.
• Membership in an interdisciplinary community spanning the humanities and social sciences.

Eligibility

• Doctoral degree in any discipline represented in the Society, including but not limited to history, literature, philosophy, political theory, sociology, anthropology, art history, and religious studies.
• The dissertation must be submitted for examination by 15 June 2026. Candidates still completing the degree at the time of application may apply but must have filed before the fellowship begins in September 2027.
• Open to scholars of all nationalities.
• Preference for candidates no more than five years beyond PhD completion at the time of application.

How to apply

1. Review the three fellowship types at sf.princeton.edu/application/fellowships: Open Fellowships (any discipline in the Society), the Humanistic Studies Fellowship, and the Political Theory and Human Values Fellowship. One application covers all three; indicate your preferences.
2. Prepare the following documents: CV, research statement of up to 1,000 words describing your current project and its significance, writing sample of 25 to 40 pages (published or unpublished), and a teaching statement of up to 500 words.
3. Arrange three reference letters from scholars familiar with your work. Referees submit directly through the portal.
4. Submit the full application and ensure references are received by 4 August 2026 through the online system at sf.princeton.edu/application.
5. Shortlisting takes place in August and September 2026. Interviews are held in October 2026 in Princeton. Offers go out in November 2026 for fellowships starting September 2027.