The Center for Black Digital Research, #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.
In 2021, the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts and the Center for Black Digital Research/#DigBlk received a $3.1 million Mellon Foundation grant to expand on existing programs and new initiatives focused on Black studies, racial justice, and diversifying academic communities and pipelines. This allowed CBDR to multiply positions within the center and all scholars receive similiar packages.
Current Opportunities
Graduate Students
- #DigBlk and Mellon Graduate Assistantship (5-8 per year)
- Mellon Visiting Scholars (Pre-doctoral) (2 per year)
- #DigBlk and Mellon Hourly Graduate Researchers (2-4 per year)
- Cooper Du-Bois Mentoring Program
Faculty and Postdocs
- #DigBlk Post-doc Fellows (2 per year)
- Mellon Post-doc Fellows (2 per year)
- #DigBlk Commonwealth Faculty Fellows (2 per year)
- Mellon Commonwealth Faculty Fellows (2-4 per year)
Undergraduates
- Hourly Undergraduate Researchers (2-4 per year)
In addition, we can arrange to provide space for visiting scholars who would like to intern with us.
Updated 1/23/23
#DigBlk and Mellon Graduate Assistantships
Overview
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 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.
Packages:
- Enhanced funding
- 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
Activities may include:
- 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
At-A-Glance
OPEN TO
Incoming and current masters and PhD students
APPLICATION DATES
Recruitment: October–April
Notification: February–April
APPLICATION PROCESS
Coincides with applying to Penn State graduate programs
POSITIONS AVAILABLE PER YEAR
5-8
#DigBlk and Mellon Graduate and Undergraduate Researchers
Overview
Part-time hourly positions
Researcher positions support the scholarly and community activities of CBDR and the Mellon Just Transformations (JT) grant and/or 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. These are hourly positions with 10-20 hours per week with a pay scale of $15/hour for undergraduates, $20/hour for graduate students, and $25/hour for committee chairs.
Committee member activities may include:
- Conduct research related to the Colored Conventions Project, Douglass Day, and/or the Black Women’s Organizing Project as negotiated with project directors and current project needs.
- Work on special projects and events for a project for center-wide.
Event Assistant activities may include:
- 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 activities may include:
- 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
Submit both a cover letter and CV/resume 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, specify which position/area you are applying for.
At-A-Glance
OPEN TO
Current undergraduate, masters and PhD students
APPLICATION DATES
Fall semester: May 1
Spring semester: November 1
APPLICATION MATERIALS
- Cover letter
- CV/resume
POSITIONS AVAILABLE PER YEAR
2-6
Mellon Visiting Scholars
Overview
The Penn State College of the Liberal Arts and the Center for Black Digital Research/#DigBlk seek applications from graduate students for a pre-doctoral fellowship focusing on digital research and Black organizing in the long nineteenth century. 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.
#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 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. Applicants will work with the Center 20 hours a week with no teaching responsibilities.
In addition to the applicant’s home institution financial support, the Mellon Visiting Scholar 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/travel costs to and from Penn State, digital training programs, and professional development opportunities.
Application Process
Applicants should have passed their comprehensive exams no later than Aug. 1. Students who are early in the dissertation process are encouraged to apply. Submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and references Gabrielle Sutherland, Administrative Support Assistant at digblk@psu.edu to be considered for the position.
Application Materials
Applications should include:
(1) Cover letter describing the following:
- how your research addresses movements for Black citizenship and dignity in the long nineteenth-century
- your interest in working with the Center for Black Digital Research
- 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
- how you/your work diversify academic and related fields
- how your participation would further your professional goals and development
(2) Curriculum vitae;
(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 may be remote but expected to visit State College several times a year to attend symposia and events, and contribute to Just Transformations or affiliated Center/Department events and programs.
If you have any questions, please email Gabrielle Sutherland, Administrative Support Assistant, at digblk@psu.edu.
At-A-Glance
OPEN TO
Graduate students and Pre-doctoral candidates from institutions outside of Penn State
APPLICATION DATES
Fall Review Period
February 15 – March 30
Fall Notification
April 1
Applicants should have passed their comprehensive exams no later than Aug. 1
APPLICATION MATERIALS
- Cover letter
- Curriculum vitae
- 2-3 References
POSITIONS AVAILABLE PER YEAR
2
#DigBlk Postdoctoral Scholar Program
Overview
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.
Positions are filled through 2024. Please email Gabrielle Sutherland, Administrative Support Assistant, at digblk@psu.edu to express interest in future positions and receiving updates.
At-A-Glance
Currently filled
Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship
Overview
The Just Transformations Initiative, supported by a $3.1 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, aims to expand on existing programs and new initiatives focused on Black studies, racial justice, and diversifying academic communities and pipelines. We seek fellows who hail from historically underrepresented racial minority groups – including African Americans, Latinxs, and Native Americans as well as those with a deep and demonstrated commitment to diversity and whose research and work also focuses on the consequences of racial inequities, barriers to racial equality, and democratic social change and transformation.
Positions are filled through 2024. Please email Gabrielle Sutherland, Administrative Support Assistant, at digblk@psu.edu to express interest in future positions and receiving updates.At-A-Glance
Currently filled through 2024-2025
Mellon Commonwealth Faculty Fellowship
Overview
The Just Transformations Initiative, supported by a $3.1 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, aims to expand on existing programs and new initiatives focused on Black studies, racial justice, and diversifying academic communities and pipelines. We seek fellows who hail from historically underrepresented racial minority groups – including African Americans, Latinxs, and Native Americans as well as those with a deep and demonstrated commitment to diversity and whose research and work also focuses on the consequences of racial inequities, barriers to racial equality, and democratic social change and transformation.
Just Transformations Commonwealth fellowships are open to faculty, librarians, and related positions from all of the Penn State University Commonwealth campuses.
CBDR will partner with your home departments by funding Commonwealth Fellows:
- Up two course releases at a rate of $5,000 per course, or equivalent
- $2,000 research fund for research expenses and/or materials.
Commonwealth Fellows are expected contribute to the Just Transformations initiative by participating in the intellectual life of the campus, working with faculty and students, attending symposia and events, and contributing to Just Transformations or affiliated Center/Department meetings and discussions.
Application Process
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and can be requested for one or two semesters. Please submit the following materials to Gabrielle Sutherland, Administrative Support Assistant, at digblk@psu.edu.
Applications should include:
(1) a cover letter (please indicate your interest in working with the Center for Black Digital Research) describing your work, how you would contribute to the goals of the Just Transformations initiative, and how your participation in this project would further your professional development.
(2) a curriculum vitae
(3) a short letter of support from your unit head or supervisor
If you have any questions, please email Gabrielle Sutherland, Administrative Support Assistant, at digblk@psu.edu.
At-A-Glance
OPEN TO
Faculty, librarians, and related positions from all of the Penn State University Commonwealth campuses
APPLICATION DATES
Rolling basis. Indicate which semester(s) you are planning
APPLICATION MATERIALS
- Cover letter
- Curriculum vitae
- Short letter of support from your unit head or supervisor
POSITIONS AVAILABLE PER YEAR
2-4