2027-2028 Postdoctoral Fellowships at Princeton University--Call for Applications

  The Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS) at Princeton University is pleased to announce the call for applications for the 2027-28 Postdoctoral Fellows Program supporting social science research on international issues. We would appreciate it if you could share this announcement with colleagues and encourage promising candidates to apply.

As a leading global institution, PIIRS is dedicated to advancing innovative scholarship that seeks to understand and address the world's most pressing challenges, and the postdoctoral program is integral to that mission. We invite applications for the 2027-28 cohort. Up to four fellowships will be awarded to recent PhDs in the social sciences who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship, congruent with the Institute's intellectual focus, that simultaneously advances theoretical debates in their disciplinary field; creatively speaks to and engages with a multidisciplinary audience; and deepens substantive knowledge of different regions around the world. 

The program will bring together an exceptional group of scholars whose work combines significant knowledge of a given region/place, usually through sustained fieldwork; disciplinary expertise, including theory and methods that advance disciplinary knowledge; and a multidisciplinary curiosity that enhances their research. Leveraging Princeton's scholarly resources, fellows will focus on research, expand their intellectual horizons, and prepare work for publication. They will have biweekly meetings with the faculty director to share their work, and monthly meetings with faculty fellows from various social sciences to present their work and learn from others. Fellows are also encouraged to engage with colleagues and attend departmental seminars. 

Appointments are anticipated for two years, with the possibility of renewal pending satisfactory performance and continued funding. Fellows will hold the rank of postdoctoral research associate and, in addition to a competitive salary and benefits, the program will provide fellows with the opportunity to host a small, pre-publication, book workshop; and a research fund of $4,000 per year. The work location for this position is in-person on campus at Princeton University. 

Applicants must demonstrate outstanding scholarly achievement and promise. To be eligible, applicants generally cannot have more than two years of postdoctoral experience prior to the start of the appointment, at the beginning of the academic year on September 1, 2027. PhDs must be granted from a university other than Princeton.

Applicants must apply online at: https://apply.interfolio.com/189215

Applications are due by September 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. EST). The following application items should be uploaded by the applicant in English:

·        Cover letter

·        Curriculum vitae

·        Transcripts

·        Research Proposal indicating plans for two-year postdoc (maximum 5 pages double-spaced)

·        Dissertation abstract (including Table of Contents)

·        Writing sample: one chapter of the dissertation or one published article related to dissertation topic.

·       Document confirming either that you have completed all requirements for the PhD degree or a letter signed by your dissertation advisor indicating that you will complete the PhD by the start date of the fellowship

·       The names and email addresses of three referees, who will be contacted automatically by the online application system with an invitation to upload their letter of recommendation to the system by the application deadline. (**Please note: all letters of reference should be submitted by your referees before the September 15, 2026 deadline. **)   

Further information can be found at https://piirs.princeton.edu/funding-fellowships/piirs-postdoctoral-fellows. 

Questions about the program or application process may be directed to the Program Coordinator, Nicole Bergman at piirspdocs@princeton.edu. 

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic, and Princeton does not provide special benefits or preferential treatment on the basis of a protected characteristic. 

Arts Council of African Studies Association (ACASA) call for Webinar proposals

 The Arts Council of the African Studies Association (ACASA) invites proposals from ACASA members for its upcoming (Spring / Fall) webinar series. This initiative aims to foster timely, engaging, and innovative conversations in the field of African art history and related disciplines.

We welcome proposals that address emerging topics, revisit critical questions, or bring new perspectives to ongoing scholarly, curatorial, and artistic conversations. Webinars may take the form of panels, roundtables, interviews, or other creative formats. Faculty members may also sponsor graduate student panels through their ACASA membership and serve as mentors throughout the proposal and presentation process.

Proposal Guidelines

Applicants are invited to submit the following materials:

• A brief proposal (500 words) outlining the theme, central questions, and relevance of the webinar
• A proposed title
• A list of (no more than 4) participants (including organizers, speakers, moderators, or respondents) with brief bios
• A description of the format (e.g., panel, roundtable, conversation)
• Preferred timing within the season (if applicable)

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Relevance to current conversations in the field
• Clarity and strength of the central theme
• Feasibility of the proposed format
• Submitter must be an active ACASA Member (panelists are encoraged to join ACASA, but it is not required) 

What ACASA Provides

Selected proposals will receive:

• Logistical and technical support for hosting the webinar
• Promotion through ACASA’s communication channels
• An honorarium for the organizer and each participant (no more than 4 recipients total)

Timeline

• Proposal Deadline: September 1st, 2026
• Notification of Acceptance: September 15th, 2026
• Webinar Window: October 15th - December 15th, 2026

Selected applications will also be required to submit project updates to ACASA at key stages leading up to the webinar to ensure continued engagement, accountability, and the overall quality of the program. 

Submission Instructions

Please submit proposals, no later than September 1, as a single PDF to bastian@acasaonline.org with the subject line: ACASA Webinar Proposal – Fall 2026. 

 

For any questions or issues, please email Caroline Bastian at bastian@acasaonline.org

Conversation with Yinka Shonibare CBE at the 2018 Art X Lagos

MOWAA Drum Fellowship 2026-27

 

MOWAA DRUM Fellowship  We are delighted to announce the launch of MOWAA’s inaugural DRUM Fellowship, a new interdisciplinary programme exploring the histories, legacies and contemporary resonances of DRUM through archival research, creative practice and public engagement.  Developed as an extension of MOWAA's Social History Archives practice, the fellowship reflects our commitment to expanding access to archives and collections as sites of inquiry, cultural memory and creative production. It foregrounds the archive not as a static repository, but as a living space for reinterpreting Africa's social and visual histories and generating new forms of knowledge. The fellowship is made possible through MOWAA's collaboration with Bailey’s African History Archive(BAHA)and the generous support of the Ford Foundation. Running from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, fellows will engage directly with archival materials through a programme of research, mentorship and public engagement, developing projects that critically examine DRUM's enduring influence on media, identity, politics and culture across Africa and its diasporas. Learn more about the DRUM Fellowship and apply here. Applications close at 12:00 AM on 16 August 2026.   Application Guidelines

Instagram > Contact Us > Media Inquiries & press information > General inquiries > Unsubscribe > Museum of West African Art 1 Benin Sapele Rd, Benin, Nigeria

 

Webinar: Topic: Africa’s Innovation Paradox: From Strategy to Systems (July 28, 2026)

Description: The Africa Innovation Council, in partnership with Princeton University’s Africa World Initiative (AWI), launches its flagship webinar series with a timely discussion on one of the continent’s most consequential questions: Why has Africa, despite decades of innovation policies, scientific advancement, and entrepreneurial growth, not yet transformed knowledge into industry at scale?

Speakers
H.E. Prof. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni
Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in Charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, Kingdom of Morocco 

H.E. Prof. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni is Morocco’s Minister Delegate for Digital Transition and Administrative Reform and an internationally recognized expert in artificial intelligence. A former Distinguished Professor at Sorbonne University and former Executive President of Morocco’s International Center for Artificial Intelligence (AI Movement), she is a leading authority in distributed AI and multi-agent systems. Prof. El Fallah Seghrouchni has published more than 200 scientific works and has played a prominent role in advancing AI research, digital transformation, and innovation policy across Africa and globally.

Jean-Philbert Nsengimana
Chairman, Africa Digital Health Networks

Jean-Philbert Nsengimana is Chief Digital Health Advisor at Africa CDC, where he leads efforts to advance digital transformation and innovation across African health systems. Previously Rwanda's Minister of Youth and ICT, he spearheaded the Smart Africa Alliance and YouthConnekt Africa, two influential pan-African initiatives focused on digital transformation and youth empowerment. A recognized leader in technology, public policy, and digital inclusion, he has devoted his career to harnessing digital innovation to improve health outcomes and economic opportunity across the continent.

Prof. Brando Okolo
Head of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), African Union Development Agency–NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) 

Prof. Brando Okolo is Head of Science, Technology and Innovation at AUDA-NEPAD, where he oversees the implementation of continental science, technology, and innovation policies and programs. With more than two decades of experience spanning academia, research, and industry, he has worked extensively in advanced manufacturing, materials science, and industrial innovation. A leading advocate for innovation-driven development, Prof. Okolo works with governments, universities, and industry partners to strengthen Africa’s capacity for technological advancement and industrial transformation.

Prof. Chika Okeke-Agulu
Director, Africa World Initiative; Robert Schirmer Professor of Art and Archaeology and African American Studies, Princeton University; Chair, Africa Innovation Council 

Prof. Chika Okeke-Agulu is a distinguished Nigerian art historian, curator, critic, and scholar specializing in African and African diaspora art history. He serves as Director of Princeton University’s Africa World Initiative and is the Robert Schirmer Professor of Art and Archaeology and African American Studies. A Fellow of the British Academy and an internationally recognized intellectual leader, he has authored numerous influential books and curated major exhibitions around the world. As Chair of the Africa Innovation Council, he champions interdisciplinary collaboration connecting research, culture, innovation, entrepreneurship, and public policy across Africa and its global partners

Moderator
Sheena Raikundalia
Chief Growth Officer, Kuza One
Board Member, Kenya National Innovation Agency 

Sheena Raikundalia is a recognized leader in African innovation ecosystems, entrepreneurship, and impact investing. Formerly head of the UK–Kenya Tech Hub, she works to connect capital, policy, and markets to support entrepreneurship, technology adoption, and inclusive economic growth across Africa.

Additional Information on the Africa Innovation Council: 

Should museums return artifacts? The debates.

Two weeks ago, I took the stage again, along with my powerful co-debater Leila Amineddoleh to argue that Museums should repatriate cultural artifacts, while our opponents were Mario Trabucco della Torretta and Dominic Selwood. The  debate was moderated by John Donvan for Open to Debate. Watch the Debate:

Meanwhile, four years ago, I debated Dominic at the legendary Oxford Union (the world's oldest, and arguably most distinguished debate platform). As the report below notes, my side (which included Stephen Fry,  and Steph Sholten) roundly beat Dominic and his team, which included Gary Vikram and Nadia-Angela Bekhti). Though, unlike unlike at Oxford, no votes were taken following the recent debate, I think we won!

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"Stephen Fry convinces: Oxford Union votes to repatriate contested artefacts"

By Meg Lintern

13th May 2022

The Oxford Union voted in favour of the motion “This House Would repatriate contested artefacts”, with 250 ayes to just 52 noes. The debate took place amid a packed chamber, with members being turned away at the door due to high demand.

Speakers in favour of the motion included Chika Okeke-Agulu, Director of African Studies at Princeton University, Steph Scholten, director of the Hunterian Museum and previous Director of Heritage Collections at the University of Amsterdam, and Sandhya Das Thuraisingham, a PPE student at Queen’s College. The proposition speaker that had attracted the crowds, however, was Stephen Fry, who was described by a member of the opposition as “nothing short of a national artefact – I mean treasure”.

The motion was opposed by Gary Vikan, Former Director of Walters Art Museum, Dominic Selwood, a historian, author, journalist, and barrister, Nadia-Angela Bekhti, a biologist at Hertford College, and Matthew Dick, a history student at Magdalen.

Union President Michael-Akolade Ayodeji opened, after which Sandhya Das Thuraisingham took the floor, introducing the speakers and reminding the audience of a very similar debate that took place nearly forty years ago when Boris Johnson (then President of the Oxford Union) argued that the British government should see the Parthenon marbles returned to Greece. 

In response, Nadia-Angela Bekhti argued that “repatriation causes a revisionist history”. To truly redress the wounds of the past, she contended, we need to move past questions of acquisition and address the issue of education. With owners of artefacts like the British Museum offering free entry, outreach and educational programmes, she claimed that it is “not a case of where these artefacts belong but where they can be of benefit to most people”.

In an argument that raised commotion from the audience, Bekhti suggested that individuals have no inalienable right to possess items that they do not own directly. Comparing the claim of the Nigerians to the Benin Bronzes to the claims of Statford-upon-Avon residents to Shakespeare’s manuscripts, she suggested that the repatriation of artefacts may not even be in the interests of those to whom they are repatriated. She said of the brutal seizure of colonial artefacts, “these wrongs cannot be made right, there are no owners when it comes to our shared history”.

Steph Scholten began his argument by rephrasing the title of the debate, suggesting that we should not be asking if artefacts should be repatriated but when. Claiming that the process of repatriation has been going on for decades, Scholten argued that the UK’s involvement in multiple international conventions, declarations, and agreements means that they are already part of this movement. Describing the injustice of holding non-western objects, particularly sacred and ritualistic ones, in western museums, he said: “museums are full of items that are valued in our western terms as objects but have deep spiritual value – we are trained only to understand their material culture.”

Above all, Scholten argued that repatriating artefacts is not a question of history, but of current geopolitical relationships: “there is an assumption that the meaning of repatriation is transactional, one off, and that it frees the nation of further obligations [but] it is a process that allows for building stronger relations.”

Dominic Selwood opened his response by stating: “Henry VIII wrote 17 letters to Anne Boleyn, some of which were pretty racy… most of them are now in the Vatican”. He claimed that the value of artefacts does not lie in their origins, but in their journey, suggesting that to repatriate artefacts would be to erase an important part of their history. He said: “the movement of cultural treasures abroad is constant… world’s highways have always run with objects in transit.”

His most divisive argument was that “the vast majority [of British-owned artefacts] were donated or purchased legitimately; Lord Elgin had permission to take the Parthenon marbles.”

Chika Okeke-Agulu’s speech was the most personal of the evening. Having been brought up in Nigeria during the civil war, he said that for his mother, “the lingering pain of that war was waking up and finding that the shrines had been systematically looted”.

Okeke-Agulu further claimed that the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property was introduced suspiciously soon after most African countries won their independence. He said, “Africans have been asking for these treasures, for these incredibly valuable artefacts, since my lifetime”, suggesting that the Convention was passed to bar newly-independent nations from requesting the return of their artefacts from European museums.

Above all, Okeke-Agulu urged the audience to pay attention to the reception of Benin artefacts that were recently returned by the French, claiming that the immensely positive response from the Nigerian people indicated “the beginnings of the revival of the people who were for so long damaged by colonialism”.

Stephen Fry took to the floor later, greeting the various members of the audience as well as the “assorted media scum” [thanks, Stephen]. He was keen to express the function of the Union itself within the repatriation debate: “You can send a message to the world, as this chamber has often done in history. It has shown where the current of thought is trending.”

Primarily, he discussed the Parthenon marbles, which he claimed were “sawn and hacked away from the frieze of that extraordinary building… These were looted and stolen and exported without licence and they need to go back.”

In response to the argument that the artefacts are being used for educational purposes in museums, he retorted: “only 1% of what the British Museum holds is on display. 99% is simply not available…What should be written on the entablature is that star phrase of Frankie Boyle, ‘Gun Beats Spear’.”

Fry told the audience that if the Parthenon marbles are finally returned, “Britain will have done something which it hasn’t done almost in my lifetime: it will have done something classy.

“There is a future in repatriation which is more than tearing it out of one museum and putting it into another… send a signal that you here in the Oxford Union are ready to embark on an exciting adventure that will only enrich everyone.”

The debate was drawn to a close by Gary Vikan, who lamented his bad luck in following Fry. He argued that there are three possible options for the repatriation of artefacts: that this debate “blows over”, that the artefacts are unilaterally given back, and that a 50/50 partnership is drawn up between the museums holding artefacts and the nations that have a national claim to them.

Forty years after Boris Johnson argued in a Union debate that the Parthenon marbles should be returned to “where they belong”, the audience of that same chamber reached the same conclusion. The only remaining question is whether the debate will need to return in another forty years’ time.