Mellon Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship in Climate Humanities and Social Justice

The Mellon Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship in Climate Humanities and Social Justice at the Climate Museum

Are you a humanities scholar passionate about climate change and social justice? The Mellon Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship in Climate Humanities and Social Justice offers a unique, full-time, year-long opportunity at the pioneering Climate Museum in New York City. This fellowship runs from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026, and invites recent PhDs to engage public audiences on climate issues through cultural and scholarly lenses.

About the Climate Museum

The Climate Museum is the first museum in the United States solely focused on climate change. It aims to reshape public understanding and cultural engagement around climate justice, emphasizing the power of art and humanities to drive social transformation. By centering equity, clean energy, and community action, the Museum seeks to inspire people to become active participants in solving the climate crisis.

Since its inception in 2018, the Museum has:

Hosted 17 exhibitions, including collaborations with Parsons School of Design and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Delivered over 355 public events—from panels to performances.
Engaged more than 165,000 visitors through exhibitions and outreach.

With a permanent 25,000-square-foot facility planned to open in 2029, the Museum is evolving into a key cultural force for climate education and action.

Fellowship Overview

Funded by the Mellon Foundation, the Postdoctoral Fellowship in Climate Humanities and Social Justice is designed for early-career scholars who have earned a PhD in the humanities within the last five years. The fellowship focuses on:

Public-facing work: Assist in curating exhibitions, installations, and events that engage diverse audiences in climate and justice narratives.
Academic engagement: Design and teach a humanities seminar at The New School, exploring the intersections of climate, equity, and cultural thought.
Intellectual leadership: Contribute research and innovative ideas to deepen the Museum’s approach to climate humanities and social transformation.

The selected Fellow will work closely with the Museum’s team and will be based in New York City throughout the fellowship period.

Why This Fellowship Matters

This opportunity is ideal for scholars committed to creating real-world impact through public humanities, environmental justice, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Fellows will gain firsthand experience working in a cultural institution that places equity and climate action at its core.

Whether you're developing public programming, advising on museum content, or teaching the next generation of climate-conscious thinkers, this fellowship equips you to contribute meaningfully to the climate justice movement.

Responsibilities

The Fellow will play a significant role in advancing the Climate Museum's cultural activism through scholarly research and the development of programs and exhibitions. Their work will help shape the Museum's commitment to justice-centered climate initiatives, which are vital for understanding the current climate crisis and promoting effective solutions. This fellowship offers a valuable opportunity for the Fellow to enhance their public engagement skills while contributing to the Museum’s growth during an exciting and pivotal time.

Additionally, the Fellow will undergo orientation focused on climate communication best practices and the Museum’s unique approaches to curation, pedagogy, engagement, and outreach. The orientation will also be customized to align with the Fellow’s background and expertise.

Key Responsibilities:

Support the creation of public programming
Participate in the curatorial team responsible for developing exhibitions for 2026
Integrate climate and social justice themes into the Museum’s work, especially within public programs
Co-supervise the Mellon Foundation Undergraduate Fellow in Climate Humanities and Social Justice during their year-long fellowship
Research effective strategies for outreach on climate issues, particularly as they relate to inequality and justice
Design and teach a seminar for advanced students on the role of humanities in addressing climate and social justice

The Fellow will closely collaborate with the Museum’s public engagement team, including the Director, Curator, Senior Design and Curatorial Associate, Special Assistant to the Director, and Development Coordinator. They will also work alongside the Mellon Undergraduate Fellow on several projects.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Hold a PhD in humanities (graduated between August 2020 and August 2025)
Be available to work full-time at the Museum's New York City office, with occasional visits to exhibition and programming sites from August 2025 to July 2026
Have a passion for using the environmental and climate humanities to engage the public in climate justice efforts
Possess academic experience in a traditional humanities field with expertise in climate, social justice, or both
Exhibit strong teamwork and collaboration skills
Have a flexible, driven, and proactive approach to problem-solving
Demonstrate a positive, kind, and humorous attitude, even under pressure
Be willing to work additional hours, including some weekends if needed

Application Process

To apply, submit the following materials via the Climate Museum’s Submittable portal:

Resume or CV
Cover letter
Writing sample (up to 5 pages), such as an excerpt from a chapter or essay. Public-facing work is encouraged but not required.

The fellowship offers a stipend of $85,000 per year, plus health, dental, and vision insurance, a retirement savings account without matching, relocation assistance, and a modest research budget. The Museum does not sponsor work visas. Applications are due by April 30, 2025, at 11:59 pm Eastern time.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Climate Museum is committed to diversity and equal opportunity. It does not discriminate on any legally protected basis and is dedicated to providing access and reasonable accommodations to individuals as needed in its employment, services, programs, and activities.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Scholarship at Uniplus Global to apply