Humanities and Social Science Postdocs 2009-2010

This page is for postdocs that begin in 2010.

Formatting
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 * 3) Please include the deadline and a web link to the ad/website; PLEASE follow the format of other entries.
 * 4) For logging comments or updates, please begin your entry with a bullet point. Each entry should have a separate line.
 * 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 in Rome
[http://www.aarome.org/; November 01, 2009

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.
 * Question about this postdoc: on the online application, they ask you to list up to 8 other places you have or are currently applying to, listing the most recent first. Well, I'm sure applying to more than 8, and I wondered if anyone else had a sense of the subtext of this question: should I list the 8 fanciest places to which I'm applying, the 8 least fancy, a mix?  Should I list other postdocs, or only TTs?
 * I understood that question to mean: what were your experiences on the job market in previous years. Do you think they are looking for info from this year's ongoing searches, e.g., "interviewing at conference" or "invited to campus"? Curious to know what others think and how you are approaching this.
 * The page on the site says: "[The information] is for administrative purposes only and will not be distributed as part of the selection process." So I would just answer by listing the most recent eight applications that you have filed and the results of those applications, as that is what they ask for. No need to be strategic, as it will not (if I am reading correctly) be passed on to the reviewers.
 * Ah, I see you are correct. Many thanks!
 * Does the 25 page limit include the bibliography?
 * Yeah, I think so. I tried to upload a file of 25 pages + footnotes; it wouldn't let me even upload the file. Dagnabbit.--Thank you! Back to murdering that piece some more!
 * Do you think it is okay to put footnotes in 10 pt font rather than 11 pt? I've got four pages of figures (i.e. only 21 pages of text), so I can make some adjustments, but it just looks better with the notes slightly smaller than the main text. Thoughts?
 * What if you decrease the size of the figures? --Thanks - I'll try that.
 * Does it have to be 25 pages? mine is 17 and I am quite happy with it.
 * Mine is 15 pp. (published article) including notes.
 * 1000/50=20. A 1 in 20 chance is probably the best odds of anything on this page. Princeton (and one supposes Harvard, Columbia and Chicago) are 1 in 280, Michigan 1 in 172. Thank You ACLS for this glimmer of hope!
 * You know, I saw where they said 1000 or so applications. But then I also saw where they said each institution can nominate up to 10, and there are 60 nominating institutions. So I'm confused. But I'm happy to let myself believe that the chances are closer to 1 in 12!

Arnhold Faculty Fellowship in Cognitive Approaches to Literary Studies
UC Santa Barbara Deadline: November 11, 2009

Mellon/ACLS Recent Doctoral Recipients Fellowship
Deadline: December 9, 2009

Brandeis - Crown Center for Middle East Studies Junior Scholar Fellowship
Info Deadline: December 15

British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship
Deadline: November 26, 2009 (outline stage)
 * Just out of curiosity - how many of you in the UK are going (or have gone) through an internal selection process this year before applying?
 * A: I had to send them a CV and research proposal but I wouldn't exactly call it a selection process.
 * There doesn't appear to be any word limits on any of the proposal stuff -am I crazy? How much are people writing?
 * Yeah, I noticed that too - but I think how much you write will depend on your field and proposal. If it takes you 2000 characters to say something that could be said in 700, it could annoy the committee (esp. if they have 800 applications to look over). On the other hand, if you use 700 characters to say something that needs to be said with 2000 - and those in your field will know - then you're selling yourself short.
 * When you start typing in the proposal boxes, a message appears telling you how many characters you have left. Proposal abstract: 1100 characters; previous research: 3000 characters; programme: 8000 characters; research outputs: 1100 characters; plan of action: 3000 characters; plans for publication: 3000 characters. It would have been nice to have known this when I started working on the proposal rather than when i was pasting it onto the form! Garrr!!
 * Interesting. Obviously the high character limits were created to ensure that nobody complains about the lack of space this time around. Now everyone's getting hung up on the extra space they have. Alas, 'tis human nature!
 * Thats not what I am hung up about...Call me old fashioned, but I think it would have been nice for the character limits to be mentioned somewhere on the form or in the notes of guidance! Alas, 'tis bureaucracy's nature!
 * I've submitted and my application has been approved. Now waiting for one of my referees. Just in case this helps anyone, your referees (not you!) have until the 30th to submit their forms.(x2)

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


 * Does anyone know what the standard operating procedure is for identifying candidates? Are there interviews?  What is the expected time frame in which they're likely to make decisions?  Thanks.

Canadian Commonwealth Scholarships Program - Post Doctoral Research Fellowships (PDRF)
info To obtain an application form and deadline information, please contact the designated agency of your country.


 * For citizens of New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

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?

The College at Brockport, State University of New York Presidential Fellows
Deadline: December 1, 2009

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) -- x2 (10/7)
 * received postcard acknowledgment that my application was received; date stamp was 10/15. (10/21) (x2)
 * I heard through the grapevine that they were swamped with applications...not surprising given the job market this year.

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

Has anyone received a confirmation notice yet for receipt of materials? No word yet; it's not just you.

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.

email acknowledgment that application was received; next word by second week of December (10/7)

did anyone else who applied get a friend request from the Committee on Global Thought on facebook? does anyone else think this is EXTREMELY strange???

of course it is strange... they are not your friends, as yet... hide your profile, check your facebook settings.

FACEBOOK!? wtf -- That's creepy. That's why I left facebook.

Yeah, I guess I'll accept--because I want a shot at the fellowship. But that's seriously messed up and creepy.

Kind of ironic for a "Committee on Global Thought." Ah Orwell ...

I think it is just the administrator that is setting up facebook stuff. It won't bear on your application in any way and (i'd hope) won't be seen by the Committee members themselves. They basically want people to know about what they are doing: events, updates, how great they are, etc.

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!

But it does say on their website: "This year, we shall not be accepting applications in, at least, the following areas/disciplines: Anthropology, Art History, Film & Media Studies, and Music." Were those who received early notice in one of those areas? Or perhaps there's simply more, now, to that vague "at least" as the process has evolved. In which case, it would have been nice to know indeed! Rejection by mail on West Coast: 11/12 - stated large number of applicants but nothing exact
 * Not here. History is my discipline.
 * have not heard anything... not even confirmation of receipt (x7)

Rejection by mail on East Coast; English: 11/12

Alphabetic order? My last name starts with Z... that's probably why my rejection mail hasn't arrived yet?


 * My last name is early-mid alphabet and I haven't received my rejection letter...yet. East Coast 11/16 (Rejected 11/18)

Judging from the Dartmouth postdoc thread during the last two years, it seems that they would have several rounds of elimination. Some people received their rejection letters in mid December.

Rejection by mail on East Coast; English: 11/16

Rejection by post on East Coast; History; 11/16 (ditto 11/18: curious as to how they made decisions so quickly; did they just eliminate all ABDs perhaps? (my case))
 * I'm ABD (East Coast) and still have yet to get my rejection. (Got the rejection 11/18)-- Ditto (West Coast), though I expect to file next month.
 * I'm ABD too and I haven't received any letter yet. (x4) (Me neither, and I'm in History)
 * I think one of the previous posts is correct: there are several rounds of elimination from not being in disciplines that they were looking for (the "at least" is important here), to a first look through and eliminating based on general strength of application (ABD-ness could be a factor, but certainly not the only one), to sending the "stronger" apps to departments, to the departments determining which apps they like, also coinciding with their teaching needs (judging by their website this is where they are now - the current rejections are most likely those that made it to this stage), and next departments will bid on candidates which the entire committee will judge, then these rejections and request for interviews will come along. The website explains this fairly well.
 * ABD, East Coast, rejection came today (11/19). Letter dated 11/16.
 * ABD, Midwest, rejection (11/20)
 * ABD, Midwest (History), rejection (11/23)
 * ABD East coast religious studies rejection (11/21)
 * Rejection. Letter dated 11/17. PhD dissertation completed. (11/24)
 * so far it seems the areas excluded are History and English...
 * or perhaps those areas are just the most over-subscribed for a fellowship that seems more humanistic and less rigorously interdisciplinary than many others... the very unscientific sample of daily rejections on this wiki are difficult to sparse in any case...
 * Yes, of course. The wiki sample is only representative of those that use the wiki (which may only be those from History and English).  I suspect, though, that History and English will not get postdocs at Dartmouth this cycle. If that is the case, it would have been nice to know that there were additional departmental restrictions beyond those stated on the web.
 * it may just be that those departments moved faster.
 * I'm in English and haven't heard a word...

Duke University-Provost's Postdoctoral Fellowship
[http://www.postdoc.duke.edu/provost.html; Deadline Jan. 15, 2010

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!

I didn't get a confirmation at first, so I emailed them. Received email confirmation 11/5. I think they are not sending confirmations or it's slow. I wouldn't worry. I thought the online application didn't work too, but my application did go through.

Email asking to re-send cover letter, as there was a problem with the online submission. (11/10). Though I'm troubled about this undefined "problem" I am happy to receive at least some kind of confirmation that they have me in the system, since I had not yet received any confirmation. They are working on it!

I submitted mid October and emailed last night to ask if they ever received it. Got email confirmation of receipt today (11/17)

Durham University (UK) Postdoc Research Associate
Info Deadline: Dec. 2, 2009

5 positions available on the history of the 'Tipping Point', two on climate change, two on financial crises (historical and recent), and one on the 'tipping point' as metaphor.

ECLA Berlin Postdoc Fellowships
Info Deadline: Dec 14, 2009

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

Gothenburg - Fellowship in Globalization and Development
[|Info] Deadline: December 1, 2009

Government of Canada Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships
Info Deadline "To obtain an application form and deadline information, please contact the Embassy of Canada or the designated agency of your country"

Applicants must:
 * be citizens of one of the following countries: Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Norway, Russia, Switzerland. Applicants who have obtained Canadian citizenship or applied for permanent residency in Canada are not eligible for an award.
 * Does anyone know whether research needs to focus on Canada (or whether such researchers will be at a distinct advantage)?
 * It definitely doesn't have to be on Canada. I am not sure if it would be an advantage, but I was selected for a related scheme (Commonwealth scholarships) working on something totally unrelated to Canada, but justified by the research area of the members of faculty in the university I would be working at.

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)
 * Received email saying I wasn't selected for an interview, so they were right on schedule. Why can't other postdocs/searches be this conscientious? (11/10) (x2)

Harvard College Writing Program
Info Deadline: Nov 5, 2009
 * Received e-mail confirmation of receipt (10/28)
 * Request for more documents (10-page sample; letters; course materials; commenting task); 11/19; e-mail  (x9)

C: a bit of advice for those sending more materials: harvard expos site has downloadable guides describing strategies for commenting on student writing and other such guides; this might help especially if you haven't taught in a similar writing program before. (Thank you for this note - very helpful!)
 * Has anyone received a rejection notice? Or received a request for more documents after 11/19? In other words, can I wipe this one off the list and focus my fretting on other hopeless causes? (11/23)
 * They asked that the additional materials be sent by December 1st, so if you haven't received a request by that time it may not be good news. Best of luck, though!  :-)
 * I just got a request for materials (11/25) to be received by Dec. 4th, so they may still be sifting through what must be a massive pile o' apps.

Harvard Humanities Center Fellowship
[|Info] Deadline: Dec 1, 2009


 * Just a brief note of complaint that their $35 fee is only payable by check and cannot be sent separately, meaning there's no way to use a dossier service for the application. Thanks, Harvard, for making an application fee even more obnoxious than it needs to be!
 * Surely they will accept a separately mailed check? I am in Europe, using Interfolio for applications in US and Canada . . . or am I being too idealistic in assuming they will understand?
 * I have emailed them to ask this very question, and so far, no reply. EDIT: No, I take that back--they just emailed me and said it would be OK to mail a separate check, though they were surprised one might need to.

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
 * Has anyone received a notification of rejection yet? I have not heard anything and it's 11/07.
 * I haven't. Doesn't surprise me, though.  I think they tend to keep people on the hook until all offers are made and accepted.  (11/8).
 * Curious about application strategies. How many here consulted past short-listed candidates (x2) or past/current junior fellows (x3) on how to put together a competitive application? Or no one at all? (x2).
 * Has anyone received a call to set up an interview this week? Based on these comments, it seems like they're contacting a new batch of people every two weeks...  or maybe this is it and we have only rejection to anticipate?
 * I wonder how the Senior Fellows make their decisions. The interviews go by so quickly, and the week I was there, very few of them even attended dinner. Guess there's no way to tell until they call-- or don't.
 * Does anyone have an interview 11/30 or after? Wondering if 11/23 is the last day because of the holidays. I need to know when to start staring fixedly at the phone and willing it to ring.
 * I have an interview on 11/30. Not sure if that's the last day or not. Does anyone know how many people they fly out for interviews each year?
 * I'd like to know that too. I think between 40-50 based on how many people were there my week and some guesswork and multiplication. A lot of people come from Harvard, though, so I don't know how many of those are actually flown out.
 * I'd like to know that too. I think between 40-50 based on how many people were there my week and some guesswork and multiplication. A lot of people come from Harvard, though, so I don't know how many of those are actually flown out.

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

IAS Visiting Scholars
Info Deadline: Nov 1, 2009

Jackman Humanities Institute University of Toronto
Anyone else having problems submitting the application? I keep getting error messages

- A: I submitted on 11/25 and it was fine.

Jean Monnet Fellowship
Info Deadline: Oct 25, 2009

Johns Hopkins University Mellon Postdocs
[http://krieger.jhu.edu/research/mellon/index.html#deadline; Deadline: Nov 12, 2009

E-mail confirming receipt of application (11/11)

Heard 400+ applications. (11/19) make that 450+ applications! (11/23)

Anyone know the process for this one--will they request writing samples? will there be interviews?

They will make the first round of cuts in December, then select 10 people, offer the positions to three of those, and then move down the list (of 10) if the first three already have jobs. The first round of offers should go out around February 1st. (11/23)

Q/observation: There are 450+ people who work on "concepts of diaspora"!? Wow!

Well... for $48K plus health insurance plus research and moving stipends, diaspora might suddenly become a lot more central to one's research! That said, it is a very hot topic these days.

Lilly Fellows Program
[http://www.lillyfellows.org/index.htm; Deadline Dec. 15, 2009

Madison-Wisconsin - postdoctoral fellowship in human rights
Info Deadline: Dec 15, 2009

Magdalen College, Oxford 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.
 * And sure enough - my work was requested today (11/12) - Anthropology
 * Anyone feel like revealing what subjects have been dealt with? Put your colleagues out of their misery! (x2) History, requested 11/4. Geography requested 11/4.
 * Anyone heard anything about Modern Languages?

Manchester U - Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute postdoc fellowship
Info Deadline: Dec 1, 2009

Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology Fellowship
Info Deadline: Nov 30, 2009

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)
 * email confirmation of completed application (23 Oct.)

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?
 * Has anyone had any kind of acknowledgment of their application materials? I've heard nothing, and it's officially been a month.
 * I have applied for this fellowship in the past and think they do not send anything other than the rejection notice. 11/17

Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study Residential Fellowships
Info Deadline: Dec 1, 2009

Notre Dame, Kellogg Institute for International Studies Visiting Fellowships
Website Deadline: November 2, 2009
 * Anyone get a receipt notification yet? (11/6)
 * No.

Nottingham Advance Research Fellowship
Info Deadline: Dec 14, 2009

NHC Wellesley Fellowships
Info Deadline: December 1, 2009 Does anyone know what Departments are they are looking for postdocs this year?
 * No. I contacted the NHC and they said to contact the individual departments.

NYU - Liberal Studies Program
Info Deadline: December 1, 2009
 * mmm, I guess these days teaching 3/3 qualifies as a postdoc?
 * I don't think this belongs here, since it advertises for faculty positions, with renewable (term) contracts.
 * why not just leave it here? it's not hurting anyone...(11/16)
 * I agree with the third poster. It's clearly not a postdoc, but it really doesn't fit any category.  So, let's just leave it here for those of us who applied. (x3)

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
 * Received letter acknowledging receipt of my application (11/7). "By the end of January all applicants will have been advised of their status in the competition."

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

Oxford - St. John's, Christ Church & Merton Colleges Joint JRFs
Info Deadline: December 11

Does anyone have an email address for these fellowships where questions can be sent? I can't find anything on any of the forms, though they reference email several times in the application materials!

I second that request: They say letters can be emailed, but no email address! Quite a hassle to request letter writers to mail things to Oxford from US.

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)
 * received more than 1400 apps this year. yikes.
 * yeah yikes. wow. that's nuts.  --1395 rejections and wasted effort will make princeton narcissistic
 * I'm less concerned about the institution's ego. what is worse is that it will leave a lot of very smart and qualified people unemployed. And that's a shame. And no one (narcissistic institution or not) is addressing that issue.
 * Yes, the numbers are astounding and deeply disturbing. It is a very sad situation in the humanities right now.
 * One issue always left out of this discussion: at least a thousand of those applicants had no shot whatsoever. Time for many to take a more realistic approach.
 * I don't mean to get snarky, but are you, previous poster, part of the illustrious 400? (11/28)

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

Rice University - Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Postdoctoral Fellowships
Info Deadline: January 15, 2010

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.
 * snail mail ack, 11/9. anyone know how many applicants they get for this?

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.
 * Just thought I'd ask - does anyone know anything about this year's budget? I wonder how many postdocs they'll have this year.

Stanford University Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship of Scholars in the Humanities
Info Deadline: November 20, 2009

- Note that this fellowship, unlike the other Mellon fellowships, is not open to all fields. This year goes only to Asian Languages, Comparative Literature, French and Italian, German studies, Iberian and Latin American Cultures, Linguistics, Slavic Languages and Literatures.

-Question: what are the 'other Mellon fellowships' to which you refer? Through the Stanford Humanities Center? Just curious...

--Other big Mellon pdocs that are open to all disciplines are Princeton, Michigan, Penn (teaching), among others. -Ah, gotcha, thanks for the clarification.

Swarthmore Mellon Post-Doc Fellowship in Gender & Sexuality Studies
Info Deadline: November 30, 2009

- very nice ack. of receipt of application (11/23) x 2

Temple University Center for the Humanities
Info Deadline: January 25, 2010

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 - Clare College JRF
[|Info] Deadline: December 14, 2009

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

Rejection e-mail on November 18...

Request for written materials received, Nov. 17: they asked for both hard and soft copies: hard copies have to arrive by Nov. 23rd, so a very fast turnaround (x2)

This "very fast turnaround" of hard copies is unfair and discouraging to persons who must post their materials from other countries, which is already expensive and made much more so by having to use some sort of express/rush courier service (whoever deleted my comment last time, please do not delete this).

I agree about the unreasonableness of this fast turnaround. It seems like all the Cambridge JRFs are this way. I think they set themselves very tight deadlines, but in doing so presume that candidates are UK-based. I'd expect a more "global" outlook from a top international university, but Cambridge does things its own way. One of the Cambridge colleges, I think Sydney Sussex, sent an email recommending that applicants keep their written materials "lodged" with a contact in the UK in case they are requested. There's a presumption of being tied to the UK too, but at least they give you a heads up about the process.

That is crazy about keeping written materials "lodged"! To their credit, when I asked if they would be flexible regarding hard copies arriving a bit after the deadline (which for me meant a huge difference in shipping costs--like US $40...), they said that was fine, since they get electronic copies this year...

Magdalene College, Cambridge, is even worse. They state on the application form that they'll request written materials by telephone on the afternoon of Jan 11, and expect to receive two hard copies by Jan 13. Do they imagine that candidates have nothing else to do except apply for their fellowship? It seems they have not updated their systems since the days when these things were intended for their own graduate students, who would just have to pop across the quad to hand their essays in. I don't want to allege that they still favour insiders - Cambridge colleges draw fellows from all over the place. But if they want seriously to recruit internationally, or even just nationally, they need to make their application processes practical for people based elsewhere.

University of Cambridge - Five College Joint JRFs
[|Info] Deadline: November 22, 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 - Peterhouse JRF
Deadline: November 15 2009

University of Cambridge - Peterhouse College Fellowship & College Lectureship in History
5-year fellowship in "either ancient, extra-European, modern British, or modern European History" (details)

Deadlin: December 31 2009

This should be moved to the History Job page, I think. It's not a post-doc.

University of Cambridge - Randall Dillard Fellowship, Pembroke College
Info Deadline: December 1, 2009

"Applications should reach The Senior Tutor's Assistant by 1 December 2009 and should include the following information: 2. A brief statement of your next research project, in about 1000 words of non-technical language."
 * Q: I am just finalizing my application for this fellowship, and I realise that I am not sure about the details of the request for details of current research and proposed research. Can anyone guess: should I send a 1000 word account of my current research and a seperate account of my proposed research, in addition to these 1000 words? Alternatively, is the intention for me to send 1000 words which contain a description of both my current and proposed research? In another alternative, am I supposed to send a 1000 word account of proposed research and a separate account of current research? These are the bits of the application that confuse me:
 * From the website:
 * 1) the usual particulars, and a short account of the applicant's academic record and career so far, including a note of any other appointments for which applications are being made
 * 2) an explanation of the nature of the applicant's current research in about 1,000 words of non-technical language, a brief statement of any future research project, together with a statement of published and unpublished work; the work itself should be available to the Electors shortly after the closing date but should not be sent until requested"
 * From the form itself:
 * "1. An explanation of your current research,   and

University of Cambridge - St Catharines College Junior Reserach Fellowships
Info Deadline: October 31, 2009
 * 11/19- Received email of making the long short list and requesting that written work be sent by email by November 30th.

University of Cambridge - Sidney Sussex College JRF
Deadline: October 20 2009 13 November: received email warning they are in the process of shortlisting and work will be required only 3 days after shortlisting. (x5) Rejection by email 23 November (x3)

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.


 * Their core courses pages give I think a better idea of what they would want you to teach and the types of text they use in the program. I imagine what distinguishes different disciplinary approaches is not just the choice of the texts (which are a fairly broad list of major Western thinkers), but the manner of using them.
 * why oh why did they make the hard copy receipt deadline on a holiday??? All of that work for nothing, will miss the deadline...
 * 11/10 just saw this on their website "NOTE: Due to the fact that the post office will be closed on the 11th for Veteran's Day, all mailed materials will be accepted through November 12." --THANK YOU for your insight, you made my day

University of Chicago Provost's Career Enhancement Postdoctoral Scholarships
info Deadline: November 1, 2009


 * Email acknowledgment of completed application (29 Oct.)
 * Email acknowledgment of application (11/2)

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.

-Q: For those of you who received rejection notices, how did they come? Email? Snail mail? -A: Snail mail.
 * Does anyone know if they conduct interviews for this one? - they don't.
 * rejection received 11/12 (dated 11/6): "your file is no longer being considered." Letter says there were 860 applications and they've narrowed it down to "about 400" semi-finalists. (x5) - 860x$30=$25,800 - maybe they'll offer an extra fellowship...Michigan dollar scheme!
 * Wow, last year's search had 498 applications received with 100 semi-finalists identified. Good to know how to gauge the heightened competition this for year's postdoc fellowships.
 * So if I haven't received a rejection, then does that mean I'm still in the group of "about 400" semi-finalists?
 * If they do it like last year, yes, that means that you're a "semi-finalist." I didn't get my rejection for last year's cycle until Jan or Feb of this year.  No news is (provisional) good news.

University of Pennsylvania Mellon Teaching Postdoctoral Scholarships
Deadline: November 30, 2009


 * Q: Am I right in thinking that they don't want a separate cv other than the cover sheet form that they provide? Thanks in advance.
 * A: That's how I interpret the instructions.

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

Some sites (or distributed pdf-notices) have the deadline listed as Nov. 15th. Has anyone confirmed with them, by chance?

I sent my application today (11/18) and got their confirmation of receipt. So I think Nov 30 is the deadline. A: Yes, the deadline is November 30.

yes, and they're serious about the cover letter addressing their strategic plan - they asked me to correct and resend it when I failed to do so adequately (11/19)

Wow, does that mean they already read your cover letter and allowed you to edit it? That's great for you.

Yes, this happened to someone else who submitted an application -- they got a lengthy response about what to include and what to address. Unreal - I've never heard of a Selection Committee guiding you through the process and providing recommendations along the way. That's much more helpful than my advisor.

Did you all get confirmation of your application the day you emailed it? I sent mine two days ago and have not received confirmation, I just wonder if I should follow up on this. Thanks! [I also sent mine in a few days ago, and did not receive confirmation until tonight. . . when I was notified that I should more explicitly address the strategic plan. It seems they really want you to copy and paste the goals from the website into the letter. My sense is that we don't have to worry about lost or incomplete apps - nothing is going to get past this guy].

Did you have your recommendation letters sent to their email address the same day with your application? If not, perhaps they want to see your complete application before notifying you. I had everything sent in at the same day and then got their confirmation that my application was complete.

University of Texas at Austin, Institute for Historical Studies
Info  Deadline: January 15, 2010. Applications materials, including letters of reference, should be submitted electronically to the Director, Julie Hardwick, at [mailto:historyinstitute@austin.utexas.edu historyinstitute@austin.utexas.edu]

University of Texas at Austin, English Department
Deadline: November 15, 2009.

University of Texas at Dallas, Arts & Humanities
Info Review of applications first week of December.

Submit materials electronically through online application. Humanist List Posting (more specific)

Washington University Mellon Postdoc
Info Deadline: December 1, 2009.
 * Received e-mail saying all materials have been received / application is complete (11/9). No other info on number of applications, etc.

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.
 * (new poster) Last year I was offered a 1 year postdoc and they asked me to sign an acceptance thing by a certain date, but I had an interview for a 3 year postdoc so I asked if I could wait on the decision before signing (about a week after the acceptance thing was originally due). They said yes. I didn't get the 3 year one. However, I would also note that whilst they wanted me to accept the offer at this point, I didn't receive a confirmation of award until I had submitted my PhD. It seems a bit one-sided, really. I suppose that just reflects the fact that it is one-sided, in that they have all the power.