Program Overview

The University of Colorado Boulder’s (CU Boulder) Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowship for Faculty Diversity seeks to enhance the diversity* of CU Boulder’s academic community by attracting researchers and scholars from a variety of backgrounds, races, ethnicities and historically excluded populations. Accordingly, the program is open to all persons who meet the eligibility criteria without regard to race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or identity, religion, irreligion, age, marital or family status. Questions may be directed to cpfellows@colorado.edu.

Eligibility

Applicants must have a completed doctorate or other terminal degree before July 1, 2024. Applicants who have completed their doctoral or other terminal degree within the last three years (2021 or after) are eligible if they are preparing for an academic career in research, scholarship or creative work. Faculty mentors should be tenured or tenure-track faculty at CU Boulder.

A successful international applicant may be sponsored for a visa depending on the hiring department’s available funding and the applicant's eligibility under university policies and applicable law. Visa sponsorship would be managed by the International Students and Scholar Services office with the support of the faculty mentor and hiring department

Fellowships

The one-year fellowship provides a salary of $60,000. The fellowship offers an additional, one-time $5,000 in professional development funding. The fellowship includes medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance benefits. Campus units may supplement the salary if they deem it appropriate.

Two to three fellowships are anticipated annually.

In rare circumstances, one-year renewals may be offered, subject to funding availability and fellowship progression. To underscore the unit’s commitment to a tenure-track position for the fellow, the fellow’s unit must contribute 50% of the salary costs during the one-year renewal; the program will cover the remaining 50%. Email cpfellows@colorado.edu for more details on renewal requirements.

Application Process and Requirements

The below materials must be uploaded in the online portal.

  1. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  2. Personal Statement (4-page, 2,000-word maximum, single-spaced) including:
    • Research, scholarly and creative work accomplishments to date;
    • Research, scholarly and creative work plan for the fellowship period;
    • Future academic career goals;
    • Academic and personal experience that will offer different perspectives to the CU Boulder community and your discipline; and
    • Contributions to diversity, equity and inclusive practices (DEI) in educational or community settings and/or ways in which you plan to contribute to DEI in your future academic career. CU Boulder’s DEI contributions are the responsibility of everyone (not just historically excluded groups) and outlined in the IDEA Plan.
  3. Reference Letters (3 in total) – it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure letters are submitted via the online portal by the deadlines.
    • Thesis Advisor: describe the applicant’s potential for an academic career. Thesis advisors will receive an email from the online system once the applicant submits materials and will have until November 8 to enter their recommendation.
    • Faculty Mentor at CU Boulder: describe the applicant’s planned research, facilities and resources available to the applicant and commitment to complete an Individual Development Plan in conjunction with the applicant. Mentors will receive an email from the online system once the applicant submits materials and will have until November 8 to enter their recommendation.
    • Department Chair at CU Boulder: describe the department’s commitment to hire the applicant into a tenure-track position and the mentor’s capacity and ability to support the applicant’s career trajectory. A department chair who is also serving as mentor can submit one letter, but the letter should be uploaded in both the department chair and faculty mentor fields. Chairs will receive an email from the online system once the applicant submits materials and will have until November 15 to enter their recommendation.

Application Portal

Deadlines and Key Dates

  • Online Portal Opens: August 1, 2023
  • Deadline for Curriculum Vitae and Personal Statement: November 1, 2023
  • Deadline for Thesis Advisor Letter and Faculty Mentor Letter: November 8, 2023
  • Deadline for Department Chair Letter: November 15, 2023
  • College/School Committee Submits Rank-Ordered Applicants to cpfellows@colorado.edu: December 15, 2023
  • Final Selection Committee Decisions: February 2024

Evaluation and Selection

Applications are reviewed in three stages and candidates are assessed according to academic accomplishments, personal statement, letters of recommendation, prospective scholarly contributions and potential for faculty careers that will contribute to diversity at CU Boulder. At the first evaluation stage, faculty in the proposed home department (i.e., chairs, mentors) discuss and rank order candidates, followed by the appropriate school or college’s review (i.e., the dean or their designee). The school or college also takes into consideration the faculty mentor and department’s commitment to the candidate(s). These rankings are submitted to a final, campus-level selection committee comprised of representatives from the Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Office of Faculty Affairs and the Research & Innovation Office, who assess applicants based on feedback from the school(s) or college(s), strategic areas of growth/need and priorities outlined in the IDEA Plan. The reviewer guidance shared with units may be referenced here.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowship for Faculty Diversity Recipients
    • Participate in campus life during the appointment;
    • Focus full-time on research/scholarship without teaching and additional employment;
    • Meet regularly with mentor(s); and
    • Attend Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and Postdoctoral Association of Colorado Boulder (PAC Boulder) events
  • Tenured or Tenure-Track Faculty Mentors
    • Identify common research, scholarly or creative work interests with the applicant and agree to serve as a mentor;
    • Assist the fellow to establish a visible, active presence in the unit;
    • Be available and regularly meet with the fellow one-on-one;
    • Create an Individual Development Plan (IDP) with the fellow to track career progress;
    • Encourage the fellow to attend orientations, training and professional development activities offered by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, Career Services, PAC Boulder and other campus units;
    • Encourage the fellow to present at conferences and/or symposia;
    • Help the fellow network with other mentors, particularly those of various backgrounds and disciplines to help foster a well-rounded experience; and
    • Provide support and guidance in the fellow’s work while allowing a degree of autonomy; and
    • Advise the fellow about the academic job market and help facilitate connections
  • Department
    • Commit to hiring the applicant into a tenure-track position using department or college/school resources. It is incumbent upon the department/unit to fund the faculty position. Departmental lines or Critical Needs Hiring Program funds from the college/school may be potential avenues of support.
    • Welcome the fellow into the department and ensure the fellow is included in department colloquia, seminars, social events and faculty meetings;
    • Onboard fellows like any new hire and provide space, technology, supplies and other necessary resources; and
    • Hire the fellow under the Postdoctoral Associate (1312) job code and coordinate offer letters with the HR Research Service Center (resfachr@colorado.edu).

Questions? Email cpfellows@colorado.edu

*Note the Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s definition: “*Diversity refers to the numerical representation of faculty, staff and students who hold individual differences (e.g., personality, learning styles and life experiences) and group/social differences (e.g., race/ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, country of origin, ability, and cultural, political, religious or other affiliations) with special focus on historically minoritized identities (adapted from AAC&U). For additional guidance around diversity, equity and inclusion, please see the campus definitions and citations and common goals websites.