#DigBlk is committed to preserving Black organizing histories in the long nineteenth century and to building future generations of Black scholars who advocate for social justice in higher education, repositories, museums, and beyond. #DigBlk is a public-facing research center committed to bringing the histories of nineteenth-century Black organizing to digital life through collaborative scholarship and project-based research. The Center is home to the award-winning Colored Conventions Project, Douglass Day, and the newly-launched early Black Women’s Organizing Archive.
#DigBlk provides opportunities for students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty to join our research teams and work with an interdisciplinary, cross-institutional team of 30-35 members who meet regularly on collaborative research that includes digital archive-building, crowd-sourced transcription projects, community-arts partnerships, and scholarly and digital editions.
Current opportunities include:
Graduate Students
- #DigBlk Scholars Graduate Assistantship
- #DigBlk Mellon Graduate Assistantship
- #DigBlk Mellon Grant Big 10 Travelling Scholars (Pre-doctoral)
- Hourly Graduate Researchers
- Cooper Du-Bois Mentoring Program
Faculty and Postdocs
- #DigBlk Post-doc Fellows
- #DigBlk Mellon Post-doc Fellows
- #DigBlk Visiting Faculty
- #DigBlk Mellon Commonwealth Faculty Fellows
Undergraduates
- Hourly Undergraduate Researchers
In addition, we can arrange to provide space for visiting scholars who would like to intern with us.
#DigBlk Scholars Graduate Assistantships
This program provides a graduate research assistantship with the opportunities to work with an interdisciplinary cohort including graduate student leaders, undergraduate researchers, postdoctoral fellows, librarians, IT specialists, scholars, and community and university partners from within the institution and beyond. The Center for Black Digital Research (CBDR) houses the award-winning Colored Conventions Project, Douglass Day, and the Black Women’s Organizing Archive, projects committed to Black archive-building and that utilize digital methods and public engagement to introduce buried histories of Black organizing to scholarly and broader public audiences. #DigBlk Scholars receive:- Enhanced funding packages
- Summer support and digital training opportunities at institutions such as DreamLab: Digital Humanities Training Institute, Humanities Intensive Learning and Teaching (HILT) and Digital Humanities Summer Institute (DHSI)
- Professional development funds to advance your research and training opportunities
- Startup funds
- Intellectual community and cohort support
- Regular meetings with Center staff, students, postdoctoral fellows, and research assistant cohort
- Archival and digital research
- Communications and community and campus outreach
- Conference and symposium planning
- Support for public engagement and partnerships
- Building and editing digital exhibits
Application Process
The application process coincides with applying Penn State graduate programs. If you have any questions, please email Daphney Chancy, Admin Support Coordinator, at dfc21@psu.edu.
#DigBlk Mellon Graduate Assistantship (part-time hourly position)
Now hiring! Apply through April 15, rolling basis • Interviews begin on April 1
The Center for Black Digital Research (CBDR)/#DigBlk seeks two Graduate Assistants who will support the CBDR and the Mellon Just Transformations (JT) grant. This is an opportunity to work with a vibrant Administrative team that manages the day-to-day operations of innovative scholarly and public-facing work in a collective, collaborative community. One role will support events and activities and one role will support communications and social media. These are hourly positions with 10-15 hours per week, $20 an hour, for the 2022-2023 school year.
CBDR and JT Event Assistant
- Tech assistance/coordination
- Booking rooms
- Creating Zoom links for events
- Monitor registrations and send out info
- Ordering food
- Coordinating IT needs
- Additional tasks as needed to manage the CBDR offices
- Knowledge and interest in African American History
Communications and Social Media Assistant
- Create/coordinate CBDR promotional materials, online fliers, etc.
- Work in conjunction with Event Assistant to circulate event information
- Update CBDR website
- Assist with Social Media Management (post events, etc.) with an emphasis on Twitter
- Additional tasks as needed to manage the CBDR offices
- Preferred knowledge of 19th century history and/or African American Studies
Application Process
Both a cover letter and resume must be submitted to digblk@psu.edu to be considered for the position. Please include a one page cover letter with a 250-350 word statement describing your interest in working with the Center and how your experience aligns with the position. In your cover letter please specify which position you are applying for.
Review of applications will begin on March 18 with interviews beginning April 1.
#DigBlk Mellon Big 10 Pre-Doctoral Fellowship
The Penn State College of the Liberal Arts and the Center for Black Digital Research/#DigBlk seek applications from Big Ten Alliance graduate students for a pre-doctoral fellowship focusing on digitalresearch and Black organizing in the long nineteenth century. Up to two positions will be available for the 2022-2023 Academic Year. Applicants should hail from historically underrepresented racial minority (URM) groups or be engaged in deep and demonstrated social justice and diversity work and be involved in research that directly overlaps with the Center’s central projects. Review of applications will begin on February 15. We expect to notify applicants by April 1, 2022. All application materials must be submitted through http://bit.ly/digblk_predocfellow_apply.
#DigBlk is a public-facing research center committed to bringing the histories of nineteenth-century Black organizing to digital life through
collaborative scholarship and project-based research. The Center is home to the award-winning Colored Conventions Project (CCP), Douglass Day,and the newly-launched early Black Women’s Organizing Archive. The chosen candidate will work with an interdisciplinary, cross-institutional team of 30-35 members who meet regularly on collaborative research that includes digital archive-building, crowd-sourced transcription projects, community-arts partnerships, and scholarly and digital editions.
Application Process
Applicants should have passed their comprehensive exams no later than Aug 1, 2022 and will be working with the Center 20 hours a week with no teaching responsibilities. Students who are early in the dissertation process are encouraged to apply. Applications should include: 1) a cover letter describing the following:i. how your research addresses movements for Black citizenship and dignity in the long nineteenth-century
ii. your interest in working with the Center for Black Digital Research
iii. your interests or experiences in working on team-based, archive-building projects including any that use
digital methods to introduce new audiences to the history of early Black organizing
iv. how you/your work diversify academic and related fields
v. how your participation would further your professional goals and development
2) a CV; (3) contact information (email and phone) for 2 to 3 references (one from your advisor) who can provide letters of support upon
request. The selected fellow must be residence at Penn State for the full academic year. They will be able to attend symposia and events, and
contribute to Just Transformations or affiliated Center/Department events and programs.
The Big Ten Traveling Scholar Program ensures that the applicant’s home institution will continue to cover the fellow’s base stipend — and the successful applicant will enroll through this program. The DigBlk/Mellon position includes:
- $10,000 stipend top off
- $4,500 summer extension possible for continued work following a successful program year
- $10,000 (total) to cover relocation costs to and from Penn State, digital training programs, and professional development opportunities.
Application Date: Review begins February 15, 2022
Review Period: February 15 – March 28, 2022
Notification: April 1, 2022
If you have any questions, please email Daphney Chancy, Admin Support Coordinator, at dfc21@psu.edu.
The Big 10 Traveling Scholars Alliance includes:
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Indiana University
Michigan State University
Northwestern University
Ohio State University
Pennsylvania State University
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Purdue University
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
University of Chicago
University of Illinois
University of Iowa
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University of Maryland
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of Wisconsin-Madison
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CBDR Postdoctoral Scholar Program
The Center for Black Digital Research hosts postdoctoral scholars whose research aligns with a focus on Black organizing in the long nineteenth century and have experience or interests in learning about Black archive-building and digital methods. Application information for 2022-2023 will be available in spring 2022.#DigBlk Mellon Post-Doctoral Fellowship
Application information for 2022-2023 will be available in spring 2022.
#DigBlk Mellon Commonwealth Faculty Fellowship
Information for 2022-2023 will be available in spring 2022.