Assistant Professor, Francophone Literature and Culture or French Renaissance Literature and Culture

Description

The Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at the University of Chicago seeks candidates for a position of Assistant Professor in the field EITHER of Francophone Literature and Culture of sub-Saharan Africa and/or the African diaspora (including the Caribbean and the Americas), of the 19th, 20th and/or 21st centuries OR of French Renaissance Literature and Culture to begin on July 1, 2022 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Qualifications

The successful candidate must have native or near-native French and have completed all requirements for the receipt of the PhD by the start of the appointment. The successful candidate also will have excellent writing skills, demonstrated ability to carry out original research, evidence of professional activity, and successful teaching experience. The ability to work in languages besides French is highly desirable, as we expect the successful candidate to collaborate with faculty within and beyond our department.

Candidates working in Francophone literature and culture are expected to have knowledge of canonical figures and other writers, an excellent theoretical background, and familiarity with topical questions such as multilingualism in Africa. Expertise in subfields, such as Francophone literature or cultural production from the Indian Ocean, is desirable. Additional desiderata include (but are not limited to): research in film, theater and performance studies, gender studies, digital humanities, Atlantic and/or Caribbean studies.

Candidates working in Renaissance literature and culture are expected to have knowledge of canonical figures and other writers of the long 16th century, an excellent theoretical background, and familiarity with topical questions such as France in its global context. We welcome approaches in areas that may include (but are not limited to): research in visual culture, multilingualism, theater and performance studies, gender studies, digital humanities, Mediterranean or Atlantic studies.

Application Instructions

Applications must include:

• a CV,
• a cover letter (which includes a dissertation completion timeline, for those who are ABD),
• a research statement that situates the candidate’s work within what they understand to be the state and direction(s) of the field (not to exceed two pages),
• and a sample of scholarship in French or in English (not to exceed 25 pages)

Please add these materials to the University of Chicago's Academic Recruitment website at http://apply.interfolio.com/91605. The material listed above must be received by 11pm Central Time on October 15, 2021.

Candidates are also required to have three letters of recommendation submitted on their behalf by October 22, 2021. Applicants are encouraged to request their letters of recommendation early.

Following the initial review, candidates who advance may be asked to supply one undergraduate and one graduate syllabus, sample teaching evaluations, a teaching statement (not to exceed one page), and an additional writing sample (not to exceed twelve pages) in the language not provided previously.

Position contingent on final budgetary approval. For more information on the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, please visit rll.uchicago.edu. For questions about the position, please contact Jennifer Hurtarte at jhurtart@uchicago.edu.

EEO Statement

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages diverse perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange. The University’s Statements on Diversity are at https://provost.uchicago.edu/statements-diversity.

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-1032 or email equalopportunity@uchicago.edu with their request.