The Humanities Research Center (HRC) at Rice University seeks to appoint one Postdoctoral Associate in Environmental Humanities, with an affiliation with the Center for Environmental Studies (CES).

The Humanities Research Center is an internationally recognized hub that fosters innovative humanities and arts research at Rice University and builds collaborations with local, national, and global partners.

We seek emergent interdisciplinary scholars pursuing research in Environmental Humanities and who have demonstrated expertise in oral history, interviews, or other related methodologies. We encourage applications from candidates working across disciplines that might use oral history methods, including but not limited to Art History, English, History, Latin American & Latinx Studies, Media Studies, Religious Studies, and Transnational Asian Studies.

Supporting the invaluable work of local nonprofits, NGOs, and environmental advocates is central to the mission of the Center for Environmental Studies. We especially encourage applicants with an interest in community-engaged research, and who would benefit from and contribute to the CES’s community partnerships.

The Postdoctoral Associate will have interdisciplinary homes and faculty mentors at Rice. The Associate will have an office within the HRC and will be affiliated with the Center for Environmental Studies.

The successful applicant will teach the course “ENST 301: Environmental Justice” during their first semester at Rice. In other semesters, the postdoctoral associate will work with the Center for Environmental Studies director on their teaching assignment, with the possibility of teaching pre-existing core courses or new elective courses in the Environmental Studies program.

This position is for the period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, with the possibility of renewal for a second year (subject to performance review and funding). It is a full-time position with a 1/1 teaching load and is benefits-eligible. The Postdoctoral Associate will receive an annual salary of $70,000 and a $3,000 one-time stipend for research and/or relocation to Houston. Postdoctoral Associates are expected to be in residence in Houston no later than August 1, 2025.

Work-related duties may include:

Teaching courses in Environmental Humanities in consultation with the Center for Environmental Studies Participating and presenting own research in interdisciplinary working groups (through both the HRC and the CES) with other scholars Active participation in HRC and CES programming Providing training workshops on oral interview methods Facilitating a reading group, workshop, etc. Other duties as assigned

Eligibility and Minimum Requirements:

Applicants from any humanistic discipline or the interpretive social sciences are eligible to apply and must have the Ph.D. in hand by June 30, 2025. Applicants must have received their PhD no earlier than January 1, 2020. Applicants must have a demonstrated research interest in Environmental Humanities as well as demonstrated expertise in oral history, interview, or related methodologies. Applicants should have experience and enthusiasm regarding teaching at the undergraduate level. Applicants must have excellent communication and time-management skills.

Required application materials:

Cover letter Three-page CV 1000-word research project proposal Writing sample (chapter length, approximately 25 pages) One-page course proposal for a one-semester undergraduate course: “ENST 301: Environmental Justice” Contact information for three references (we will solicit letters of recommendation for shortlisted candidates only)

Application instructions:

Combine all the required application materials into a single PDF.

All applications must be submitted via the Rice Jobs portal. Fill out the required identification information on the portal, and then submit the PDF with all the application materials as an attachment.

You do not need to fill out the application portal with information about education and previous work experience. Applications will be reviewed on the basis of the PDF with all the required application materials as outlined above.

If you have difficulty attaching the PDF, please email them to jobs@rice.edu and they will be attached to your application.

Deadline: February 24, 2025, 11:59 PM CST

For more information, please contact Dr. Gabriela Garcia, associate director of the Humanities Research Center, at gabriela.garcia@rice.edu.

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Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity at all levels and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and the full inclusion of all qualified persons in the workplace. This commitment includes providing reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities. For applicants with disabilities who require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University’s Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.

If you have any questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.