University of Michigan - Inclusive History Project Research Fellow

University of Michigan - Inclusive History Project Research Fellow

The Inclusive History Project (IHP) is seeking a Research Fellow to join our team on the Ann Arbor campus to work with research projects on the history of the University of Michigan, with a desired start date in August 2026.

The IHP is a multi-year presidential initiative studying and documenting a comprehensive history of the University of Michigan that stretches across its three campuses and Michigan Medicine. The IHP is working to engage the entire university and neighboring communities to better understand the institution's full history, including its record of inclusion and exclusion, and to consider what actions this history demands in the present.

The Inclusive History Project has multiple large-scale, collaborative research project sites on the history of U-M underway, many of which will be completing their research in the coming year and producing public-facing outputs. These outputs may include publications, exhibitions, podcasts, digital platforms, teaching resources, public engagements of various scales and formats, and more.

As a project manager, the research fellow will collaborate with project PIs and help to develop and oversee plans for completing research agendas and producing engaging, public-facing outputs. As a researcher, they will be responsible for conducting historical research, preparing research findings to share with internal and external audiences, and leading and mentoring undergraduate and graduate student researchers.

The Research Fellow will join a dedicated and dynamic IHP central team that includes professional staff, other research fellows, and more. They will participate in additional IHP activities as needed.

The initial appointment will be for one year, with the potential for renewal for a second year based on satisfactory performance and funding availability.

This position is based in Ann Arbor, MI. Work will be hybrid, with regular in-person work required.

Research and professional development funds in the amount of $3,000 will be made available for research and scholarly travel expenses.

Project management (50%)

• Coordinate and run regular meetings with project site PIs, including setting agendas, facilitating meetings, designating action items, and following up as needed
• Develop plans, timelines, and structures for pursuing research agendas and creating public-facing deliverables for IHP research project sites, and monitor progress over time
• Perform administrative tasks to ensure the smooth operation of the project sites, including scheduling meetings, taking minutes, coordinating logistical details, and more
• Meet regularly with the Ann Arbor IHP Research Director to track and ensure progress on project site research agendas
• Work in collaboration with IHP staff, U-M colleagues in a range of units and programs, and community partners to coordinate and support the development, execution, review, and launch of research deliverables
• Identify and access campus resources to support research and the building of research deliverables, including campus libraries, IT services, and more
• Act as a liaison between research teams, the Ann Arbor IHP Research Director, and IHP central staff, ensuring regular communication and coordination as research proceeds
• Regularly collaborate with IHP staff on IHP-wide projects, including public programs and other initiatives

Research (50%)

• In consultation with PIs, help to shape research priorities and questions and oversee their implementation
• Conduct archival, primary, and secondary research that contributes to current project sites
• Provide training, coordination, and hands on mentoring for undergraduate and graduate student RAs, including assigning and supervising research tasks and conducting regular check-ins individually and in groups
• Coordinate the creation and maintenance of research records by the project sites collaborative research teams, including overseeing the centralized collection and data management of research by undergraduate and graduate student RAs
• Serve as an author/contributor for transforming project site research into published findings, which may include writing new articles on specific findings, producing digital exhibits and other online materials, generating content for the IHP website, and authoring papers for future IHP symposia or conferences
• Organize, prepare, and participate in public presentations that summarize, analyze, and synthesize findings for IHP leadership as well as campus and external audience

• PhD in History or a related humanities or social sciences field
• Experience working as part of a collaborative research project or team, ideally with some prior experience coordinating a research team, and/or in designing or contributing to public-facing research deliverables

• Experience with administration or project management, preferably in an academic setting
• Experience with digital humanities, such as…