HOPE-OC Postdoctoral Scholar

The University of California, Irvine's Humanities Center and Center for Liberation, Anti-Racism, and Belonging (C-LAB) invites applications for a two-year postdoctoral scholar, starting September 2025, to conduct research and implement the James Irvine Foundation funded project, "The Historic Origins Project investigating Economic inequality in Orange County (HOPE-OC)."

The project seeks to fulfill these three goals:

To advance research on the history of land, race, and Indigeneity in Orange County and analyze how this history shapes contemporary forms of economic and racial inequality.

To research the origins and development of the Irvine Ranch and the establishment of The James Irvine Foundation as an important example of this history.

To promote public dissemination of this scholarship and community dialogue about the contemporary ramifications of this history.

These goals will be pursued through the achievement of these objectives:

Assist in coordinating a research team, which consists of the postdoctoral scholar working with the principal investigator, consultant, and summer graduate research fellows.

Convene and support 10-12 scholars and community-based researchers to serve as individual contributors to a collective scholarly project.

Conduct original research on Indigenous communities of Orange County

Publish a collective anthology with an academic press or journal.

Promote academic and public conversation about the research findings.

The HOPE-OC Postdoctoral Scholar will be appointed in the UCI Humanities Center and affiliated with the Center for Liberation, Anti-Racism, and Belonging. The successful candidate will have a PhD in a relevant field (with preference given to scholars with training in Indigenous Studies and specialization in Southern California), ideally with knowledge and experience that is directly suited to these project activities (such as experience with community-based research and community-centered collaborations). The postdoctoral fellow will be mentored throughout by Dr. Judy Tzu-Chun Wu (Principal Investigator) and with support from Dr. Priscilla Leiva (Research Collaborator).

Duties include:

Co-researching and co-authoring a 30-40 page chapter/essay on Indigenous History in Orange County/Southern California

Co-convening workshops and public events that include 10-12 scholars and relevant community stakeholders that explore the historical and contemporary significance of the relationship between land, power, race, Indigeneity, and economic inequality in Orange County

Co-editing a published academic work (special journal issue or anthology) with contributions from scholars and community-based researchers

Potentially co-producing a series of op-eds, podcasts, and other public facing content to foster community dialogue

This is a two year (24 month), 100% appointment with an annual salary of $66,737, plus UCI benefits. Postdoctoral positions at UCI comply with the University of California union-negotiated postdoctoral contract.

PhD in a relevant field (with preference given to scholars with training in Indigenous Studies and specialization in Southern California)

• 3 required (contact information only)

Please provide contact information for three (3) references. References will only be contacted if the applicant is selected for final consideration.

The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC anti-discrimination policy.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• 
  APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment.
  
  

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.