Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in History of Art and Visual Studies Grant

The Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in History of Art and Visual Studies at Cornell University invites applications for a two-year position starting August 1, 2026. The fellowship, sponsored by the Society for the Humanities, offers a stipend of $64,000 per year. Candidates will engage in comparative studies of art history and visual culture prior to 1000 AD while teaching two courses annually. International applicants are encouraged, contingent upon visa eligibility.

Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in History of Art and Visual Studies
With the sponsorship of the Society for the Humanities, the Department of History of Art and Visual Studies invites applications for a two-year Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship position beginning August 1, 2026. The fellowship carries a stipend of $64,000/year.
The Department of History of Art and Visual Studies at Cornell University seeks a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in comparative antiquity. The successful candidate will adopt a comparative approach to the study of art history and visual culture pre-1000 AD. Geographic specialization is open, and may include the Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean, and / or Eurasian Steppe / Silk Road. The Mellon Fellow will teach two courses per year: one introductory lecture, and one advanced seminar.
The lecture should be a broad introduction to ancient art; the Fellow will be free to configure this course as they see fit. The seminars may address more specialized topics relating to the Fellow’s research. Seminars in ancient art frequently include a mix of advanced undergraduate and graduate students, including those in Archaeology, Classics, Fiber Science and Apparel Design, Medieval Studies, and Near Eastern Studies.

Eligibility

Applicants eligible for the Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 academic years include those who have received the Ph.D. degree after August 1, 2022 and no later than June 30, 2026. Applicants who do not have the Ph.D. in hand at the time of application must include a letter from the committee chair or department stating that the Ph.D. degree will be conferred before the term of the fellowship begins. International applicants are welcome to apply, contingent upon visa eligibility.