Humanities and Social Science Postdocs 2009-2010

This page is for postdocs that begin in 2010.

Formatting
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 * 5) For substantive comments or updates about status, interaction, etc., please include the date at the beginning of your entry so that users can scan the info quickly for new entries.

AAUW American Fellowships
Info Deadline: November 15, 2009
 * Status goes here

American Academy of Arts & Sciences Visiting Scholars
Info Deadline: October 16, 2009
 * Status goes here

American Council of Learned Societies
Info Deadline: 11/24


 * 50 two-year postdocs for 2008-09 Ph.D.s, according to the story I linked from Inside Higher Education. My question would be if these fellowships are applied for through the degree-granting institution or a new hiring institution.
 * through the degree-granting institution, which has to nominate you. Schools are given a fixed number of nominations
 * Is it then portable, or do you actually serve the fellowship at the degree-granting institution?
 * That part's not entirely clear to me - the fellowship cannot be served at the degree-granting institution, but I don't know if you're randomly assigned a school or if the school makes the final decision as to which candidates they want. More information will probably be available once the invites to apply go out (which at my school is the end of this month)
 * Here's the process: Each participating school does internal nominations to the nationwide competition. Total nationwide nominees will then total around 1,000.  Out of this 1,000, they give out 50 or so 2-year fellowships.  If you're one of the 50, participating schools all get a chance to pick you from the entire pool.  If you get multiple offers, you get to choose which one you want to go to.
 * Informed by institution of nomination for fellowship. Application materials from ACLS to follow shortly. 10/29
 * ACLS request for materials by Nov 24 deadline (10/30)
 * Were you informed by email?
 * Yes. Received email from ACLS on 10/30.

British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship
Deadline: November 26, 2009 (outline stage)

Brown Political Theory Project Research Associates Program
[|Info] Deadline: November 1, 2009

Carleton College - Postdoctoral Fellowship, American Studies
Deadline: October 9, 2009


 * I heard from them late last night at 11:30 pm (10/23) I'm setting up an interview at ASA. (x2)
 * Anyone heard anything? (10/19). Not a peep--I usually leave at least 3 weeks or a month without an ack before I allow myself to indulge any freak out, tempting as they are.
 * emailed to make sure they got my app. they responded same day saying they did and due to the amount of apps. they got were unable to send ack. (10/19)
 * i'm wandering how people are handling this... it is likely they won't have results this week and the ASA, where the ad said they would hold interviews is about to be less than 2 weeks away.  are people buying tickets to DC just in case?  Or waiting until last minute and possibly paying out the nose to go to an interview?

Columbia Society of Fellows
Info Deadline: October 5, 2009
 * Anyone know if letters can be submitted by recommenders after Oct. 5? Guess that's really a general question about these applications.
 * There's no reason to wait - once you open the online account, they will send emails and your recommenders can submit their letters via email.
 * Wonder if anyone can help me with this: they're asking us to design a two-page syllabus for an undergraduate course.  Guess I'll just follow the instructions, but is it possible they'd actually prefer a *narrative* of what we'd assign and how we'd teach the material?  The latter feels more natural to me than the boilerplate that a syllabus would involve (two- or three-paragraph overview, week-by-week list of readings), though obviously I'll leave out stuff like "Please silence your cell phones when in class."  Thanks in advance, sorry for the newbie question.   - Since unlike the other postdocs, they don't ask for "course description" but specifically for a syllabus, I would do that. Based on the course descriptions' on their website, I would in fact not do more than one paragraph of description, and give a detailed week to week sessions. That's at least what I did in my app.
 * I did a brief course description followed by a weekly outline, including course readings. I thought this was best given only two pages.  Can we all bitch a little bit about the $30 "application fee."  What a joke.  They don't even attempt to explain what it is for and to top it off you have to make your own copies!  Is Columbia really this hard up for money? (x2)
 * 30$ on credit card charged today (10/20)
 * received postcard acknowledgment that my application was received; date stamp was 10/15. (10/21) (x2)

Columbia University Post-Doctoral Fellowships in Music
[http://music.columbia.edu/node/1013; November 9, 2009

Committee on Global Thought Fellowship
Info Deadline Nov 1, 2009 (priority), or Nov 15, 2009

Has anyone figured out what the deal is with the "fee" here. I just applied through their online system and as far as I can tell there's no information about a fee or how to pay. Then, when you've finished applying, the message you get (I've since navigated away from it--should have kept it around) makes mention of fee payment. What gives? Anyone figure this out?

Well, I looked over the website again and answered my own question. The form with which you can pay the 30 bucks is located here: http://cgt.columbia.edu/files/applications/CreditCardAuthorizationForm2.pdf WTF is up with a rich school like Columbia charging these fees for applications? That's $60 I've dropped on playing the Columbia lottery this year.

Dartmouth College - Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowships
Deadline: Oct 15, 2009

received rejection letter by snail mail on East Coast: 11/2

Here too. Wow, what a speedy rejection. A bit unnerving.

I'm sure mine's in the mail, but just wondering what the letter said, specifically in terms of # of applicants.

No mention of application numbers.

Has anyone been contacted "in the positive", or is this just a first round of rejections? I'm trying to wrap my head around this happening so quickly!

Judging from the language on their website, they might just be eliminating those whose teaching areas don't match their needs well. I can't imagine they've seriously read any apps yet.

Well, it would have been nice to know what areas they were excluding. --No kidding!

Duke University - Writing Program
Info Deadline Oct 30

I submitted my application online about a week before the deadline, but never got any confirmation email or otherwise, nor was my own email inquiry answered. I'm concerned the online submission didn't work. Does anyone know what's going on here?

I didn't any any confirmation either. (x2) I had a look at the wiki from last year and they got over 300 applications and it's very possibly more this year. That may explain the lack of response. --Thanks!

George Washington University - Mellon Pre-Doctoral Fellowship in Contemporary History
Info Deadline Jan 18, 2010

Harvard Academy Scholars Program
Info Deadline: Oct 1, 2009
 * Received email confirmation of receipt of application saying that further info on the status of application would be sent in late November (10.16). (x2)
 * "Not chosen to be interviewed... Pool of 351 applicants" email (10/30) (x3) - dito (11/2) -- same (11/2)
 * Received email saying I was among 30 semi-finalists of 351 applicants. More news to follow after their next meeting on Nov. 10. (11/3) (x2)

Harvard Society of Fellows
Info Deadline (nomination letter): September 4, 2009
 * Anyone receive request for materials yet? (9/14)
 * yup, check your snail mail (9/14) -- There it was! (9/15)
 * Anyone care to share how many writing samples you sent? (I sent one).
 * I sent three: short published paper, short unpublished paper, finished diss chapter (about 50 pages altogether). - I sent two: two published articles based on the dissertation (55 pages together). -- I sent 3: a pub'd article, a finished diss chapter, and the intro to my diss (close to 100 pgs; I'm sure it's WAY too much).
 * Does anyone know when they start arranging interviews?
 * 10/5 postcard acknowledgment that materials have been rec'd. -- Mine too (October 6).
 * 10/14 received phone call to set up interview for early November (sent in application right at 9/25 deadline) (x3, though my deadline was later)
 * Congrats, but what do you mean--your deadline was later? -- Thanks. I mean that they roll the deadline depending on when they receive your nomination letter. One of my colleagues was given a deadline three weeks earlier than mine.
 * Hmm...my phone is eerily silent... (x3)
 * Come onnn phone! I want to hear Nobel laureate Walter Gilbert's cheery voice on the other end!  Ringringring!
 * Give it a rest. We're too good for Harvard.
 * Does anyone know what the interviews are like?
 * A: I did one two years ago. All 12 or so of them in a semi circle around you peppering you with questions.  Then dinner, which is the real interview. --Thanks for the info!
 * on average how many applicants are there? (x2) and how many interviews would be scheduled?
 * In the past, interview invites have been rolling, and they did a few interviews a week through the end of November.
 * That's interesting. After I saw that some people had been called, I just wrote this off, and have been checking from time to time purely as spectator sport. But maybe the fact that we haven't been contacted yet doesn't necessarily mean anything? (x2) -- Possibly, though when I was called, there were only two dates available (with four candidates to be interviewed on each date), with the last date towards the end of November. That doesn't mean they aren't still calling, but it sounds like the availability is narrowing.  -- Thanks much for sharing your info.
 * Has anyone who's interviewing gotten a letter confirming the interview date after flights were booked?
 * 10/27 call to schedule interview.-- Congrats. Any updates on their scheduling (ie, how many dates were still available)? -- Thanks. Seems like there were still spaces in early November.
 * also 10/27 call for an interview, although my deadline was Sept. 24. does anyone know if these later call dates mean that we were some kind of back-up or is this random?
 * Why the need to delete my comment twice ("I can tell when I'm not wanted...") and insert an editing comment, ("really, this is just unhelpful negativity. take it to the venting page.")? It's self-deprecating humor. I'm making fun of myself and light of the wait to know something, anything. I would gladly share any information--if I had any. How is that "unhelpful negativity?"
 * Seriously, if you do not like what someone wrote, then do not read it. Delete only your own comments.
 * I agree with the self deprecator on this one. No, I didn't find the post useful or entertaining or interesting, but I respect the fact that this is an open forum, and that it's not my or anyone else's place to delete someone else's posts. --Thank you both for your comments.--the self-deprecator
 * Can't we just keep this about the job postings? There are other places on here for "self-deprecating humor." I can't "not read it" when it is posted in the place where I am looking for job information. That's why we have a venting page, so I (and others who aren't interested in such things) can ignore it. (And I apologize to others ahead of time for wasting more of their time on this non-issue.) Anyway, sorry, I did not mean to offend.

Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies Fellowships
Info Deadline: Sept 8, 2009

IAS Visiting Scholars
Info Deadline: Nov 1, 2009

Jean Monnet Fellowship
Info Deadline: Oct 25, 2009

John Hopkins University Mellon Postdocs

 * Deadline: Nov 12, 2009

[http://krieger.jhu.edu/research/mellon/index.html#deadline

Magdalen College Fellowship by Examination
Info Deadline: Oct 12, 2009


 * When they say that "candidates must have undertaken no more than four years' graduate study" they mean post-doctoral study, in Americanese, correct?If they require a PhD AND that you not have done more than 4 years graduate study, that would be a pretty tall order, wouldn't it?
 * No; remember that UK PhDs are research-only, with a theoretical duration of just 3 years (I suspect that this might be negotiable for US doctoral students, but I don't know anyone who has asked).
 * I asked! And I was told that I can apply as a US PhD provided I make it clear in my application that the research-only portion of my PhD studies was 4 years or under
 * What is the "examination" - is it a defense of the work you submit, or something else?
 * I think it refers to the fact that if you are shortlisted, you have to sit a "viva," or a defense of your proposal/research. Kind of like a dissertation defense, but live as in a UK viva.
 * I know it has been just 10 days since the deadline but has anyone heard anything? My referee received an acknowledgement email but that's all I know. Any news on when they ask for more material, interviews etc?
 * Request for more materials received by email Nov. 4. (x2)
 * General question for those submitting applications for positions/post-docs in the UK (or outside the US more generally) from the US: Will you go out of the way to submit things on A4 paper, or just use our normal US Letter size? In the case of Magdalen, they ask for a single copy, which suggests they'll make additional copies upon receipt, which will no doubt be in A4. Finding and printing on A4 in the US is not easy, however. Thoughts? -- I sent them PDF copies of Word Docs that I had reformatted into A4. I figured it was worth the effort if only to show some consideration; but then, I'm not one of the people above who got a request for more materials, so maybe A4 ingratiation isn't that helpful. (Oh, and if you need hard copies, I know a friend of mine bought some A4 paper online inexpensively, so it might be good to keep on hand just in case.)
 * For what it's worth, I'm applying to both American and European jobs from Europe, and using a mix - sometimes in the same app - of American and A4 paper. Unless you are writing extremely close to the margins, you can put either type of paper in the photocopier of the other and it comes out fine.
 * I gather they are requesting work from candidates one subject at a time, so all is not necessarily lost if you haven't yet heard anything.-- Thanks, that's very helpful to know.

Max Weber Fellowship
Info Deadline: Oct 25, 2009


 * Is anyone else having trouble uploading their application materials on their electronic app page? I keep getting error messages that say they only accept uploads in pdf or rtf format. I've put my materials in both formats, but still the same error message for 2 days now...(10/25)
 * I think I had that problem until I replaced spaces in filenames with underscores. Sorry this info comes so late. (11/3)

National Humanities Center Fellowships
Info Deadline: October 15, 2009
 * (Q: does this fellowship only accept advanced faculty, people who already have a job? It says that "young scholars are encouraged to apply," but they must have a substantial record of publication, and almost everyone who got it last year was an Associate prof.)
 * It also says that young scholars should be aware that the center does not support the revision of dissertations. So unless you've already got the diss published, and are on to the next thing . ..
 * At one point in their materials they refer to a 1,000 word proposal; in another they refer to it as approximately 1,000 words which must fit on four pages. How strict do you think the 1,000 word maximum is?

Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture 2 Year NEH
Website Deadline November 1, 2009
 * This seems to have a serious bump up in pay this year

Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture 1 Year Mellon
Website Deadline November 1, 2009

Princeton Society of Fellows
Info Deadline: October 1, 2009
 * Question: Has anyone receive confirmation on their submission? I sent mine weeks before the deadline and still haven't heard from them.
 * Nope. (10/23) (x3)
 * last year they had almost 1000 applicants--probably takes them forever to move through all of the aps.
 * received postcard confirming they received my application yesterday (10/24) (x2)
 * received postcard confirming receipt 10/26 -- ditto, and, it says interview candidates will be contacted by the end of January
 * received postcard confirming receipt 11/04 (I'm in the Netherlands)

Rice University - Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowships
http://hrc.rice.edu/PDCall.aspx

SAR Resident Scholar Fellowships
Info Deadline: Nov 1, 2009


 * recieved letter confirming receipt 10/26; ditto (11/2)


 * Since the posted info says that the Weatherhead Fellowship is open to all Humanities and Social Sciences, I applied. But as I was putting together my ap I finally noticed that virtually every recipient is from an Anthro dept.  Does anyone have a sense of whether people from other disciplines actually have a prayer?  Thanks for any info/impressions.

SFI - Omidyar Fellowships
[|Info] Deadline: Nov 2, 2009

SSHRC
Info Deadline: October 6, 2009

Has anyone submitted?

Nope, but I did get that email that CCV is down. Hopefully it's not a problem.
 * Yes: yesterday (October 3). I was determined not to run into busy-server-at-the-last-minute problems. I instructed my referees to have their appraisals uploaded by October 5th at the latest so they wouldn't run into that problem, but they all came through by Oct. 2nd.
 * (Oct 5) No: my referees can't get into the EAMS system. I called sshrc and they said that there may be an extension due to technical problems. Even the person answering the phone couldn't get in! Argh.
 * Maybe it's already been resolved. I logged in twice today without any problems.
 * Oct 5 again: yes, things have sorted themselves out. Whew.
 * Oct. 6: but today the EAMS system seems, once again, to be down/in-and-out of operation.
 * Done!! A bumpy ride... but better than last year.
 * Congrats. It's nice to be done with that thing.

Tufts University
Info Deadline: February 1, 2010

University of California-President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
http://www.ucop.edu/acadadv/ppfp/; Deadline: Nov. 02, 2009

University of Cambridge - Emmanuel College Junior Research Fellowships
Info Deadline: October 8, 2009

University of Cambridge- Gonville & Caius College Junior Research Fellowships
Info Deadline: October 1, 2009
 * Note: Must be graduates/current students of a British institution, with no more than 4 years post-doctoral experience see below.
 * Actually I'm not sure if '4 years of post doctoral experience' is correct. I think its 4 years of post graduate study- which in the UK means 4 years after your undergraduate degree. The Caius website also says that "Candidates must be graduates of, or research students in, a University in the British Isles, and they must have completed not more than four years of full-time research (or part-time equivalent) by 1st October 2009." This would therefore disqualify the vast majority of 5th year PhD students from the US.
 * It is not post graduate study; it is "full-time research." A taught masters does not count. A research masters (MPhil) or a PhD program probably does.
 * Does anyone know if there's a shortlist for this one? Or do we not hear anything until certain applicants are called for interview in January?

University of Cambridge - King's College Junior Research Fellowships
[|Info] Deadline: November 13, 2009

University of Cambridge - St Chatharines College Junior Reserach Fellowships
Info Deadline: October 31, 2009

University of Cambridge - Sidney Sussex College JRF
Deadline: October 20 2009

University of Chicago Society of Fellows
Info Deadline: Nov 2, 2009


 * Q: App asks for 2-pp teaching statement writing about a text of their own choosing, then provides examples: I assume that the examples not a list of texts from which one *must* choose? (p.s. wish the apps for these postdocs were as standardized as those for TT-jobs; super tired of tweaking and rewriting the same materials over and over again)
 * A: If selected as a fellow, you will be asked to teach the books that they list as examples, so it is generally a good idea to pick from what they give you or pick a similar "Great Books" text.
 * It does say that the text should be of your own choosing. I interpreted this to mean that it should indeed be a text of your choice and not one of the few they provide.  I have an example 2 page teaching statement from someone who won this two years ago and she chose her own text which is not one of the 'great books' or canonical texts listed as an example.
 * I certainly hope the texts aren't limited just to the books they provided; if all they want is what's listed, their "humanities-wide" fellowship definitely seems to skew heavily towards people in just a smattering of disciplines.

University of Michigan Society of Fellows
Info Deadline: September 30, 2009
 * what is the deal with the writing samples? is it between 1 and 3, or are 3 required? (9/25)
 * It says between 1 and 3 and total pages can't be more than 25 or something. But then online form won't let you submit w/o three.  So i submitted the same article (circa 25 pages) three times.  (9/25)
 * No, Each sample should be around 20 pages: you can submit longer work, either in installations, or as one sample and then in the others just write a note saying that is what you did. I know this for a fact because I asked, and that was the reply I got from the administrator.
 * I wrote and asked if I could submit one sample of 60 pp or two that equal 60 in length. They wrote back and said they require three 20-page samples. I guess that doesn't preclude cutting up one large sample into three parts.
 * Does anyone know if you are allowed to submit the same research proposal two years in a row? Thanks.
 * I asked the same question (about submitting a lengthy writing sample) and was told that it's fine to split a longer text into multiple documents. Seems like the total page count is what they're really worried about.
 * Am I the only person who is getting an error message when they try to go to the online ap? (9/30, 3 PM EST):  "Error: Could not connect to the database. Please try again later."
 * sigh. there goes another $30. at least harvard and princeton aren't so crass as to milk us for our pennies....
 * does anyone know when they usually notify people about making the short list or the interview process? - Around February, and there are no interviews.
 * I wonder why they extended the deadline on this one.


 * Does anyone know if they conduct interviews for this one? - they don't.

University of South Florida
Postdoctoral Scholars Social Sciences and Humanities, 2010-11 Sustainable Societies Deadline: Nov 30, 2009

General Discussion and Comments

 * Question: I'm wondering how people feel about sending a proposal to revise your diss vs. proposing a new project. Is the former considered to be not original enough and/or is the latter considered to be not very believable (because everyone assumes you will indeed turn your diss into a book? Any advice from people who have been successful with postdocs? (9/26)
 * Answer: I was interviewed last year for one of the fancy-schmancy postdocs (I'm not bragging, by the way; I completely blew it), and I sent a proposal for a brand-new project. Whether this helped or hurt is hard to say. I know people who have gotten the very best postdocs by proposing to revise. If you do get an interview, it's a hell of a lot easier to talk about your dissertation. Sorry I don't have a more decisive answer.
 * ANSWER: I got a postdoc this year and a few interviews etc for others. I sent a proposal for an additional chapter/ new research that I tried to fit into the larger scheme of the revised dissertation. But that made sense for my work, so I think if you can show how your work is grounded in doctoral research (either dissertation or otherwise) but takes it in new directions, that is the best. What this looks like for everyone is different, though. Hope this helps and good luck!
 * ANSWER: I defended my diss early in the summer, spent the summer writing and revising a project proposal for a new project. It was funded absurdly well. (Three full-year grant offers.) But it had also been on the back burner conceptually for a couple of years, so it was pretty well-developed AND it was on a maddeningly hot topic that had nothing published on it and was becomingly increasingly of interest. It was also a lot easier to talk about than my very abstract theoretical dissertation. So I think the funding I landed was due to a combination of factors. I agree with previous poster: what works best for each person varies. Good luck!!


 * Question: can anyone shed light on why a user or users is/are repeatedly deleting entries from the 2007-8 Hum/Soc Sci post-doc page?
 * Answer: No, but my guess is it's someone who tried to edit the page, deleted entries by mistake, and then didn't know how to find the edit log to restore the previous page. And is too embarrassed to ask for help or own up. (Happened to me...I deleted an entire, well-used wiki...but I eventually found the log, and restored!)
 * Question: Because I am looking for more things to be obsessive about, here's a question: do people tend to staple, paperclip, or neither the individual components of an app (cv, writing sample, etc...) since i imagine they photocopy these, stapling seems obnoxious but paperclipping seems messy.
 * Answer: If the application requires multiple sets of materials (e.g., Columbia SOF) then I staple each set. -- Another Answer: since Harvard specifically asks not to use paperclipping, but to staple, I assume that this is the preferable way to go.
 * Questions: These may seem like a vague questions, but are Oxbridge JRFs worth applying for, especially if one's main discipline is English literature? If they are, what's the competitive standard (i.e. about how many publications, etc.)? The reason why I ask is because I suspect - and would like to be corrected if wrong - that English would be at a disadvantage. It seems to me that it's more difficult to produce 10+ articles in English than in, say, Psychology or Sociology, where co-authoring is common.
 * Similar Question: Are these worth applying to if your discipline is social anthropology?
 * Answer: JRFs are not done (generally) by 'tick boxes'; applications will be assessed by people who have some awareness of the disciplinary fields involved, so if there's a comparative difference in publication speed and style which is discipline-specific rather than candidate-specific they'll be well aware of it.
 * Question: anyone have any info on the Minnesota postdoc? The info was out by this time last year. I tried emailing the contact info on their webpage, but have not received a response. I also asked a faculty member, who just said that he has yet to hear anything.
 * Answer: I wrote them a while back to ask about the postdoc and just got an email today saying that UMN is not holding a competition at this time (10/29)
 * Question: Is there anything to be lost by turning in things early?
 * Answer: yes. If, say, a response from a journal about your submission can make your cv look better; or encourage you to rewrite and improve your paper/writing-sample (I lived to regret applying early more times than I care to remember).
 * Question: Has anyone ever accepted a postdoc fellowship, and then backed out when they won another (better) one down the road? Is it legal?
 * Answer: I don't know about legality, but it is very poor form. Postdocs, even fancy postdocs, accept that you may renege on an offer if you get a tenure-track job. But to do so for another postdoc? Very dicey. That being said, I'm sure it has happened.
 * Answer: A different PoV from someone with significant non-academic work experience (private & public sector): All's fair when you're on the market and you receive another offer that you like better. In my opinion, the academic market is no different; people just act like it is. I get frustrated with academics hamstringing themselves into feeling obliged to accept offers they aren't happy with. You are talent. You're marketable. As long as you haven't signed a contract, you are free to bid adieu to the first employer and accept another offer. It's how you do it that makes all the difference. Ring up the person who made you the first offer. Explain that you've received a second offer that is much more aligned with your priorities (career, personal, you don't need to specify more than that because it's none of their business). Thank the person and institution profusely, and be incredibly gracious about the whole thing. Then post a thank-you card to them, for making the offer in the first place. In other words, act professionally, so they are left only with regret that they couldn't retain you. Also, look at a second postdoc offer as a bargaining chip: you might be surprised, but if the employer really wants you, when you make that call, they might tell you they're willing to make a better offer.
 * Answer (same person as first answer above): There are other factors involved here that should be addressed. Postdocs typically give you a period of time to make a decision before accepting, particularly if you are one of the first choice candidates. Take that time if you have another potential offer from a better postdoc that you are waiting on. Also, you will probably get the contract VERY soon (days) after you make the oral commitment, so we really are talking about breaking a contract. The postdoc folks will probably not issue official rejections to the other finalists before they get your contract. If you have signed the contract and they have sent out the rejections, they will be very unhappy with you if you renege. And the idea about "bargaining" with humanities postdocs is not, IMHO, a good idea. Humanities postdocs are, with very few exceptions, not negotiable. And postdoc committees do not get "attached" to particular candidates like faculty search committees. They are happy to go to one of the other finalists if you try to pull any nonsense. (All of this, IMHO, of course...though I do currently hold a very competitive Mellon postdoc, so I am not just making things up.)
 * PoV here. These are good distinctions to point out. I'm coming from the medical social sciences, so I suspect our experiences and advice reflect the different norms in our fields. I had two postdoc offers this year from departments in med schools, and there were no postdoc committees, only the employer. In both cases, they made it very clear they were attached to me and I could negotiate.
 * First answer person again: I think most prestigious postdocs inform successful candidates well before less prestigious ones, so it is probably unlikely that someone would face this scenario. But in this job market, it would be a nice problem to have! In general, I think good advice is to be upfront and honest with people. (Or perhaps I'm just naive.)
 * Yes! (PoV again). You have no idea how much employers appreciate candidates being candid with them. (Former vocational counsellor here). It show respect, class, and courage, which no one forgets. It dignifies them, and you. And: most employers can usually detect when someone is fudging or withholding information. You can do a lot of damage to your integrity if Employer A (who you turned down) talks to Employer B (who you finalized with) (since they turn out to be colleagues), and A finds out you gave different reasons to B for turning down the initial offer. Honesty is respected.
 * But what happens if you're required to let institution #1 know in, say, 3 weeks (by contract), but you won't know what the results for institution #2 (which is a better fit) are until 3 months later? In these times, you can't really gamble. I would imagine you need to sign the contract for #1 in case #2 falls through. And if #2 is successful, you must renege on #1 - which shouldn't be a problem if both postdocs don't actually start until months later. Right?
 * Yes, (getting back to the earlier question), people do renege after they've signed contracts, before a position starts. I would not want to do it, unless I was completely miserable with the first offer, or if the employer revealed some new conditions that had not been made clear at offer. You're better off negotiating a verbal offer than reneging on a signed offer. (And no one in any other non-academic industry has a crystal ball, either, so no, you don't gamble if there's only one solid offer. You take it. But you negotiate, meanwhile, if you're not satisfied). What I'm trying to emphasize is that you can, contrary to belief, negotiate (unless you are one of thousands of postdocs in a humanities field where if you decline there's someone else to take your place, as person above points out). You can negotiate salary, benefits, start date, your duties. You just need to do it with diplomacy. Finalizing a position can take quite a while, especially if you're negotiating, so there may be a long window of opportunity. If another offer rolls along while you're still negotiating, you're free to decline the first offer and accept the second, or use the second to negotiate a better offer with the first. It's how the job market works. Postdoc employers, particularly those running centers of research with multiple sources of funding, can sometimes top up your salary by drawing from another funding source. They will be honest with you if they can't. All you can do is ask. As I said, if you're going to renege on the first offer before you sign, do it professionally and graciously in conversation, and always send a thank-you card for the offer. If it's a small universe you work in, you will probably have the opportunity to work or collaborate with the first employer down the road, so you want to be thinking of this as relationship-building. You can address this during the conversation by saying that you're looking forward to working with that person at some point. Again, you're showing appreciation both that the person considered you and long-term interest in their work. A comment like says you're not just seeing them as a place that's offering you a salary.