Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

The Clayman Institute offers a two-year postdoctoral fellowship. Recent PhDs in the humanities or social sciences whose research focuses on gender with an intersectional perspective are eligible. We encourage scholars with a strong interest in interdisciplinary methods to apply.

While in residence at the Institute, postdoctoral research fellows are expected to participate in Clayman Institute activities throughout the academic year in addition to pursuing their own research.  

Postdoctoral fellows participate in our community of Clayman Institute faculty research fellows, faculty affiliates, and graduate dissertation fellows through their own research and contributions to our goal of reinvigorating gender equality.

Postdoctoral research fellows' responsibilities include:

  • Contributing to the Clayman Institute’s Gender News
  • Teaching the Institute’s Gender 101 workshop in-person for one summer session and mentor a Susan Heck Intern the alternative summer
  • Organize the annual Graduate Dissertation Fellows Mentor Program
  • Participate in Graduate Dissertation Fellows and Postdoctoral Research Fellows application review process
  • Attend our regularly scheduled faculty research fellows seminars

The postdoctoral fellows play a critical role in Gender News, which is the public outreach component of the Clayman Institute and our affiliated scholars. To increase the impact of innovative work on gender equality, Gender News publishes articles on gender research for academic and general audiences. Postdoctoral research fellows write articles for Gender News that include summaries of the latest peer-reviewed gender research, interviews with Institute faculty research fellows and faculty affiliates, and reviews of relevant academic events. 

Meet our current postdoctoral fellows

Details

The appointment is for two years. Applicants must have their doctoral degree in hand no later than 30 days prior to the appointment start date (in September 2025), and the start date must be no more than three years after the awarding of their degree (2022 or later). 

Postdoctoral research fellows receive a stipend, annual research fund, relocation funds and standard benefits for their fellowship term.

As a fellow, you are expected to be in residence for the duration of the fellowship. 

Stanford PhDs are not eligible to apply for this fellowship.

Application Instructions

The Clayman Institute Postdoctoral Research Fellowship is an online application through Interfolio (no fee for applicants). Applications for 2025-27 fellowships are open on December 2, 2024 and close on January 6, 2025 at 8:59 pm PST/11:59 pm EST.

  1. Cover Letter
  2. Short Questions: In 150 words or less per question, please answer:
    1. If you are selected, what would your plans be in your first year as a Clayman Institute postdoctoral research fellow?
    2. If you are selected, what would your longer-term career plans be after finishing your Clayman Institute postdoctoral fellowship?
  3. Opinion Piece: In 300 words or less, select a gender-focused current event, and using research, formulate an opinion piece.
    1. Make an argument for the way the general public should think about the event or issue you selected. Applicants should be able to make their research-based point succinctly and without including supporting documentation. The successful candidate will adhere to the maximum 300 word limit.  This piece should be single space paragraphs only.  At the top of your opinion piece list only your initials and total number of words.
  4. Dissertation Research Summary: In 1,000 words or less, single-spaced and including all notes and bibliography, provide a summary of your dissertation.
  5. CV: Provide a curriculum vitae of no more than 5 pages.
  6. Letters of Recommendations (will be requested for semi-finalists only)
    1. Two letters of recommendation will be requested only from those candidates who move to semi-finalist status. Instructions for how to submit letters of recommendation will be provided directly to semi-finalists by early March 2025.

Please direct any questions regarding the Clayman Institute Postdoctoral Research Fellowship process to lgottlie [at] stanford.edu (Lea Gottlieb,) Fellowship Manager.