Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION TITLE: History Fellow

WHO WE ARE:

The American Institute of Physics (AIP) is a federation of 10 Member Societies which together have nearly 120,000 members across the globe. Founded in 1931, AIP is a federation that advances the success of our Member Societies and an institute that engages in research and analysis to empower positive change in the physical sciences. Our overarching strategy is to advance the physical sciences with a unifying voice of strength from diversity. We want you to become a part of our mission and join our dynamic team!

SUMMARY:

The American Institute of Physics is accepting applications for the role of AIP History Fellow, a postdoctoral position that may begin at any point between June 1, 2026, and September 30, 2026. This position has a three-year term and an initial annual salary of $77,500, and it is eligible for annual merit increases and employee benefits.

The fellow will conduct history research and develop research publications and will be expected to devote approximately half their time to their own research projects and half to AIP projects. AIP projects are undertaken by our permanent staff of historians, librarians, and archivists, often in collaboration with external collaborators, and typically involve producing articles and web-based informational resources, adding to our renowned oral history collection, and arranging several public lectures each year. The fellow is encouraged to work actively with these teams, as well as with AIP’s statistical research and policy research & news teams. They may also seek out teaching opportunities at nearby universities with a guarantee of maintaining their AIP salary.

AIP is an excellent place to do work in the history of science. It has supported research in the history of the physical sciences since 1961, and it is home to the AIP Niels Bohr Library and Archives, which has world-renowned collections in the history of the physical sciences. Past postdoctoral historians have gone on to highly successful careers in academic history and the museum and archives professions. AIP’s College Park offices are located close to the University of Maryland, and all AIP employees have affiliate status and access the university’s library resources. AIP is also near a number of other major universities as well as world-leading research institutions, including the Library of Congress, US National Archives, and Smithsonian Institution. The fellow will find a supportive environment if they wish to use their position at AIP and in the Washington, DC, region to explore career opportunities in areas such as science policy.

What You’ll Bring

• By the time they take up their position, eligible applicants must have earned a doctoral degree in a relevant field within the past five years and completed a dissertation or subsequent research projects on a topic connected to the history of the physical sciences in the period since 1850.
  • The fellow is expected to have demonstrated strong skills in historical research and writing and to have general knowledge of the history of the modern physical sciences.

TO APPLY:

Include a CV and a cover letter discussing their research, career aims, and interest in working at AIP. They should also include two scholarly writing samples, which may be published or unpublished. Letters of recommendation are not required. The deadline for applications is November 15, 2025.

We encourage you to apply even if your experience does not fully match the position description. At AIP, we embrace considering people from a diversity of backgrounds and career experiences.

COMPENSATION: $77,500

WORKING AT AIP:

AIP embraces a flexible hybrid work environment to balance in-person collaborative work with remote work. The team works in a flexible, hybrid schedule and reports to our offices in College Park, Maryland and Washington, DC, as needed. Employees are required to reside in the DC Metro regions of Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC. This position requires the ability to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship.

Your colleagues at AIP are welcoming, gracious, and eager to help each other succeed. With our commitment to community service, institute-wide social opportunities, and ongoing learning and development, AIP is a rewarding place to work.

ABOUT AIP:

Join Us and Make a Difference!

At the American Institute of Physics (AIP), we're dedicated to advancing, promoting, and serving the physical sciences for the benefit of humanity. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, AIP is a federation that advances the success of our Member Societies and an institute that engages in research and analysis to empower positive change in the physical sciences.

Our mission is to advance, promote, and serve the physical sciences for the benefit of humanity. We are passionate about our work and committed to fostering an inclusive and dynamic environment where creativity, collaboration, and enthusiasm thrive.

Join our team and become part of an energized, forward-thinking community. Together, we'll explore the frontiers of science, support groundbreaking research, and contribute to the betterment of humanity.

Be a part of AIP—where science meets passion and purpose.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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