FYI

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*The Presidential Post-Doctoral Fellowship Process at UMSI, 2019-2020*

The U-M Presidential Post-doctoral Fellowship Program was established in 2011. The rationale behind the program is that “the University seeks applicants whose research, teaching, and service will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity in higher education. The program is particularly interested in scholars with the potential to bring to their research and undergraduate teaching the critical perspective that comes from their non-traditional educational background or understanding of the experiences of groups historically underrepresented in higher education”

(see http://presidentspostdoc.umich.edu/about.php).

This year, UMSI is once again coordinating a parallel process to the U-M Presidential Post-doctoral Fellowship Program (PPFP). Post-doctoral fellows selected through both the U-M and UMSI processes will be offered a Presidential Post-doctoral Fellowship with a path to transition to the UMSI faculty at the conclusion of the fellowship. Thus, we will again conduct formal candidate visits with job talks for PPFP candidates in the fall followed by a faculty vote on the candidates.

The mentor letter is not due until after the faculty vote.  We will select final candidates based on the evidence provided in the application package and the visit. The proposed mentor is encouraged to provide an assessment of the candidate based on the application package and visit during the faculty discussion. Also note that due to the timing of the Thanksgiving break, a draft of the mentor letter is due two days after the faculty meeting.

An outline of the UMSI PPFP process and timeline follows.  The important action item for faculty is to begin to talk to colleagues about the program, generate the names of potential candidates, and encourage those candidates to apply.  A full position description is being reviewed and will be posted on Interfolio and the U-M website by September 1.

This year's PPFP Search sub-committee is Lionel Robert (chair), Stephanie Teasley, Tawanna Dillahunt, and Paramverr Dhillon. Tiffany Veinot, Associate Dean for Faculty is overseeing the entire search process as of September 1, 2019.

*UMSI PPFP Process for 2019 – 2020*

*August – September*: Faculty disseminate information about the program in their academic fields, encourage candidates. Note that the U-M PPFP Office widely advertises this program in venues as wide ranging as: the *Chronicle of Higher Education*, *JOE*, and various ACM outlets, as well as in specific venues aimed at diverse scholars.

*September 1*: UM PPFP and UMSI Applications for Presidential Post-doctoral Fellows Open

*October 15:*    UMSI Deadline for all application materials from the

candidate and the references in electronic format through Interfolio

Materials due from the Candidate:

·         Cover letter which summarizes contributions to diversity, equity,

and inclusion in research, teaching and service

·        Thesis abstract - one page

·        Post-doctoral Research Proposal (700-1,000 words) (not including

references)

·        Education and Background Statement - 500-700 words describing your

personal background and contributions to diversity and equal opportunity through your academic career;

·        Curriculum vitae;

·        Statement of current and future research plans

·        Statement of teaching philosophy and experience

·        Three (3) writing samples

Materials due from References:

·         Three letters of reference (not including the letter from the

mentor)

*October 16 - 24:*

·         Search subcommittee conducts telephone interviews with selected

candidates

·         Search subcommittee reviews dossiers

*October 25:*

·         Reports due to the Associate Dean for Faculty with committee

selection of candidates to invite to campus

*November 1, 2018*

·         PPFP Candidate submits package to UM PPFP

<http://presidentspostdoc.umich.edu/ppfp-application.php> process

*November 2nd – 14th:*

·         Verification of application to the U-M PPFP process

·         Candidates invited to campus.

*November 16th:*

·         Revised reports from Search subcommittee due to the Faculty

*November  20th*

·         Faculty meets to discuss, vote, and make recommendation to the

Dean on candidates

*November 21st  *

·         DAC meets to discuss, vote, and make recommendation to the Dean

on candidates

*November 22nd*

·         Mentor letter <http://presidentspostdoc.umich.edu/mentors.php>(s) for

successful candidate(s) due to Dean

*December 1**st**:*

·         Dean’s letter(s) due to PPFP

·         Mentor(s) recommendation letter due to PPFP

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Devendra Potnis, PhD

Associate Professor

School of Information Sciences

University of Tennessee at Knoxville
https://sis.utk.edu/dp/