The Program in American Culture Studies at Washington University in St. Louis invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellowship in American Studies.
We seek candidates with a research and teaching profile in critical ethnic studies and/or Indigenous Studies. We are especially interested in applicants whose teaching deploys multidisciplinary perspectives, methods, and approaches to knowledge formation and transfer. As a multidisciplinary program, we welcome candidates from all fields in the humanities and interpretive social sciences; candidates working in histories, popular culture and media studies, environmental studies, arts and activism, war and empire, and other fields are welcome to apply. We especially welcome scholars who implement frameworks of comparative or relational racialization and transnationalism.
The American Culture Studies (AMCS) program in Arts & Sciences at Washington University fosters the multidisciplinary study of the Americas. We promote a pluralistic and transnational view of American historical, social, political, material, and cultural contexts. We offer one major (American Culture Studies) and two minors (American Culture Studies and Asian American Studies) in our undergraduate program, and offer a certificate program for doctoral students from a variety of fields.
Postdoctoral Fellows teach two courses in the program per year and actively contribute to the intellectual life of AMCS through participation in the program’s interdisciplinary workshops and events. Accordingly, the Fellows are expected to be in residence during the fellowship period, apart from research-related travel. Fellows will receive a salary of $61,000 per year, plus benefits; a $3,000 annual research/travel stipend; and the possibility for a workshop to support the peer review of a polished book manuscript.
The position begins July 1, 2024, and has the possibility of renewal for a second academic year (2025-2026), contingent upon satisfactory performance. Applicants must defend the dissertation prior to the start date of July 1; please include in your cover letter information about the progress of your dissertation as well as the date of completion (completed or expected). To apply, please upload a cover letter, cv, a writing sample of no more than 30 pages, and contact information for three references to Interfolio by the application deadline of November 15, 2023. Additional materials, including letters of recommendation, may be requested at a later date.
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by those underrepresented in their academic fields. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or genetic information.
How to Apply
All applications will be processed via Interfolio. Click here for the relevant page.
Complete the online form and upload your supporting materials.
All Applications and supporting materials must be submitted/received by 11:59 PM Central Time on Thursday, November 30, 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Because we expect to receive a large volume of applications, please read through the following F.A.Q. before contacting us.
1) What is the deadline for application submission?
All applications must be submitted online through Interfolio by 11:59 PM Central Time on Thursday, November 30, 2023. This includes your Cover Letter and CV.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
2) What application materials are required in order to have my application be considered complete?
A completed application consists of the online application form and four (4) required supporting documents.
Cover Letter
CV
A writing sample of no more than 30 pages
Contact information for three references
All materials must be uploaded as .pdf files.
Please do not upload any other materials than those requested. They will not be reviewed.
Candidates who advance to our next round will be asked for supplemental materials at that time.
3) Can I submit my materials via email?
No. The Interfolio page is designed to allow you to upload these materials, and it also serves as the portal through which our Selection Committee reviews these materials.
4) What is the latest date by which I should have conferred my PhD in order to be eligible for this postdoctoral fellowship?
Candidates must be scheduled to defend before July 1, 2024.
5) Who can I contact to make sure all of my application materials are received?
You should receive a confirmation notification automatically through the Interfolio portal once you’ve submitted your application.
Should you have any issues or concerns about your application process or experience, you may email AMCS.
Given the anticipated volume of applicants, we appreciate your patience if our response time takes a couple days.
6) Should I submit additional documents such as letters of recommendation, course syllabi, and/or transcripts along with my other application materials?
No. Please do not submit any additional information or materials in your initial application as they will not be reviewed.
7) Is this position benefits-eligible?
Yes. Please go to Postdoctoral Appointees for further information on benefits offered to Postdoctoral Fellows through Washington University in St. Louis.
8) What is the teaching course load for this fellowship?
The Postdoctoral fellow will teach two courses in our undergraduate program each academic year, and actively contribute to the intellectual life of AMCS. Specific teaching assignments will be made in consultation with program directors and will be based on AMCS’s needs as well as the fellows’ teaching expertise.
9) Will I have opportunities to travel to conferences and to conduct research outside of the Washington University community?
Yes. Our Postdoctoral Fellows are encouraged to attend conferences critical to their particular research interests. The annual travel/research stipend of $3,000 is offered for this particular purpose.
Contact Information
Please direct all inquiries to AMCS.
Please visit American Culture Studies for more information about our program.
