Postdoctoral Research Scholar

The Institute for Religion, Culture, and Public Life of Columbia University invites applications for a full-time appointment as a Postdoctoral Research Scholar. The Institute seeks a scholar whose research and teaching directly address the Institute's foundational terms: religion, culture, and public life. Preference will be given to projects that seriously engage with the theme of religion and at least one of the other two dimensions.

The incumbent will pursue their own research and contribute to Institute program planning; the Postdoctoral Research Scholar will also teach at least one course per year for additional compensation. The incumbent will participate in collaborative projects with IRCPL/Columbia faculty, staff and students, and will be an active participant in IRCPL programming and events. The initial appointment is for one year with the possibility of renewal for a second year based on satisfactory performance. (If appointed for a second year, the expectation would be to teach one course per semester.)

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer-Race/Gender/Disability/Veteran.

The search committee is especially interested in candidates who, through their research, teaching, or service, will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community.

About the Institute for Religion, Culture, and Public Life

The Institute for Religion, Culture and Public Life supports academic research, teaching, and scholarship on the study of religion, culture, and social difference at Columbia University. In addition, it convenes academic conferences, public forums, and collaborative programming to support and extend academic and scholarly understanding of these topics, and to disseminate and distribute such new understandings to broader publics and communities. The Institute actively supports scholarship, teaching and public programming across the Faculty of Arts and Sciences as well as in the University more broadly under the auspices and oversight of the Department of Religion. Each year the Institute curates event clusters that address specific themes. In recent years these clusters have addressed public religion in Africa and South Asia; religion and the rise of populisms; religion and climate; patriarchal violence; and ideas of monstrosity.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must have completed all Ph.D. degree requirements (defended and deposited the dissertation) between July 1^st, 2021 and July 1^st, 2025.

Preferred Qualifications

In addition to a Ph.D. the incumbent should have a substantial research background; teaching experience; a record of publications; and experience with programming and public outreach in and/or beyond academia (e.g., public humanities or related rubrics).

All applications, and accompanying materials, must be submitted through Columbia's academic hiring portal, ASR. The following list of materials is required for all applicants:

* Curriculum Vitae, including a list of classes taught (if any)

* A cover letter (maximum two pages) detailing the significance of your research and how it connects to a focus on religion and culture or public life.

* A statement (not exceeding 500 words) on teaching interests and potential public programming ideas

* An article or chapter-length writing sample

* The names and contact details of three referees

Application Deadline

Please submit your application through Columbia's academic hiring portal ASR/Interfolio. Applications received by December 1, 2024, will receive full consideration. Review of applications will commence immediately thereafter; we plan to hold Zoom interviews of finalists in February, 2025, and to make a determination soon thereafter.