Slavery North Artist-In-Residence / Research Fellow

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued-and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.

About Slavery North

Founded in 2022, Slavery North is a one-of-a kind academic and cultural destination where scholars, thinkers, artists, and cultural producers build community and produce research and cultural outcomes that transform our understanding of the neglected histories of Transatlantic Slavery in Canada and the US North. Slavery North seeks to advance social justice by recuperating and interrogating the complex histories of Transatlantic Slavery and European colonization of the Americas, thereby recovering and centering the cultures, experiences, lives, and resistance of enslaved peoples in Canada and the US North. At the heart of Slavery North is a fellowship program that welcomes national and international students, artists, and scholars, providing them with the space, funding, time, and community to produce transformative research outcomes.

Job Summary

The Artist-In-Residence (Research Fellow) for Slavery North will actively participate in both the scholarly and social environment of the center. Artists-in-Residence, with support of Slavery North leadership, will conduct independent research and create original works in one or more of the five mandate areas of Slavery North which include 1) Canadian Slavery, (2) slavery in the US North, (3) the comparative study of slavery in Canada, the US North, and other northern or temperate regions, (4) the study of the inter-connectedness of slavery in Canada and the US North with Caribbean Slavery, and (5) Black-Indigenous relations in Canadian Slavery or US North Slavery. Furthermore, the research must center on the enslaved and / or adopt an anti-colonial, de-colonial, post-colonial, and / or anti-racist methodology / approach which challenges the nature of European and Euro-American imperialism and colonialism and interrogates the racist logic of the institution of Transatlantic Slavery.

Artistic Categories

Applicants can be active in any of the following fields or areas of creative production : cinema and film making, ceramics, mixed media, painting, printmaking, sculpture, textiles, and fiction writing (including novels, plays, screenplays, poetry etc.).

Essential Functions

• Self-directed research and production of original works with the support of Slavery North leadership in one or more of the five core mandate areas of Slavery North as described above.
• Actively participate in the life of Slavery North including working in our shared office space, attending and contributing to Slavery North and relevant UMass Amherst and regional activities.
• Contribute to a culture of conversation, support, and the sharing of ideas, resources, and knowledge.
• Mentoring and supporting undergraduate UMass Amherst students.
• Present at least one public paper, and participate in exhibitions, workshops, and / or podcast related to your research project, where appropriate, while in residence.
• Write social media content about your research outcomes and provide suitable biographical information for use on Slavery North website and in promotional and outreach materials.

Other Functions

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

Additional Details

Fellows must credit Slavery North Initiative-UMass Amherst in all outcomes derived from their appointment.

Work Schedule

Flexible schedule. Graduate Student fellows are expected to work in the shared office and actively contribute to the Slavery North community.

Salary Information

Fall Semester : 9 / 1 / 26-12 / 18 / 26 (Biweekly Gross Salary= $2,326.92 per 8 pay periods)

Spring Semester : 1 / 25 / 27-5 / 14 / 27 (Biweekly Gross Salary=$2,326.92 per 8 pay periods)

Full One Year Appointment : 9 / 1 / 26-8 / 31 / 27 (Biweekly Gross Salary=$2,326.92 per 26 pay periods)

Special Instructions to Applicants

In addition to a completed employment application, please submit the following materials for consideration. Application will not be considered complete until all materials are received.

Questions can be directed to : Emily Davidson emilydavidso@umass.edu

To guarantee full consideration, all application materials must be received the deadline of September 21, 2025 .

The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.