Princeton University, Postdoctoral Fellowship in Hellenic Studies and Religion: Eastern Christianity

The Seeger Center for Hellenic Studies and the Department of Religion at Princeton University invite applications for a postdoctoral fellowship on Eastern Christianity, to support a highly promising early-career scholar who is trained in the critical study of religion or a related academic discipline (such as anthropology, history, music, philosophy, politics, or sociology), with a focus on Eastern Christianity. While broadly construed and open to scholars of diverse disciplinary and methodological approaches, there is a particular interest in the modern period and Greek Orthodoxy. Scholars working on the pre-modern period will be considered, particularly if their research is comparative and/or crosses periods, areas, and cultures. Topics and fields of research may include: culture and society, gender, law, migration, nationalism, film, material and/or visual culture, American Studies, African-American Studies, politics, or theology.

Terms of the Fellowship

• Fellows will be appointed as Postdoctoral Research Associates for September 2022 through June 2023, conducting research on a full-time basis.
• There is also the possibility for renewal for a second full year (July 2023 through June 2024), based on funding and performance.
• Fellows who are renewed may be offered the opportunity to teach or co-teach a course during their second year.
• Teaching opportunities will be subject to sufficient course enrollments and must be approved by the Dean of the Faculty. When teaching, fellows will hold the additional rank of Lecturer.
• Fellows who are renewed for a second year have the possibility of spending up to two months at the Princeton Athens Center, conducting research during Wintersession 2024 and/or Summer 2024 (June–July 2024).

The monthly salary will be $5,200 (gross) for the first year. Fellows may apply for reimbursement (up to $3,000 per academic year) for research-related expenses (such as purchase of books or copyediting of scholarly work) or travel expenses when presenting a paper at an academic conference during the period of their appointment. Fellows are responsible for their own travel, moving arrangements, and expenses, as well as finding and paying for their housing at Princeton. A few weeks prior to departure, fellows are required to submit a report on their scholarly activities at Princeton.

Selected candidates will be required to be in residence in Princeton or the local vicinity, or demonstrate to the Seeger Center’s satisfaction the ability to be on campus on a daily basis and on short notice, in order to fulfill responsibilities relating to in-person participation, devoting their time to research and writing. During Wintersession 2023 they may spend time (up to three weeks) at the Princeton Athens Center, conducting research. They are expected to participate in Hellenic Studies activities and the intellectual life of the University, and are encouraged to meet colleagues in their respective academic disciplines. During the fall term, fellows offer a lecture organized by the Seeger Center. They enjoy full access to the University's libraries, archival, and computing resources. They are provided shared workspace at the Hellenic Studies office, as well as access to the Hellenic Studies Reading Room in the University Library. No secretarial services or office supplies are provided. Computing support is available through the University’s Office of Information Technology

Candidates must have completed all requirements for the doctoral degree by February 1, 2022 (including the defense, viva voce, or final public oral examination). Candidates must have less than 3 years post-PhD work experience. Fellows may not pursue another degree while on this fellowship, nor may they hold any other fellowships, employment positions, or visiting opportunities concurrently with their appointment at Princeton University. Priority will be given to candidates who have not received support from the Seeger Center in the past, as well as to candidates from around the world who bring unique, original ideas and perspectives, to enrich conversations and activities at the Seeger Center. Fellowship awards cannot be deferred to a later term.

The Executive Committee of the Seeger Center for Hellenic Studies and the Religion Department award postdoctoral fellowships on the basis of several criteria: (a) scholarly accomplishment in a discipline and overall academic excellence and promise; (b) potential contribution to an interdisciplinary community of scholars at Princeton; (c) significance and quality of the research proposal in definition, clarity, organization, and scope; (d) potential future impact on the field of Hellenic Studies through teaching and writing; (e) ability to benefit from and contribute to Hellenic Studies and Religion at Princeton. Applications are reviewed both by specialists in the candidate’s academic discipline and by an interdisciplinary group of senior scholars in Hellenic Studies and Religion. A phone or video interview may be requested. All Committee deliberations and decisions are confidential.

Candidates are required to apply online via AHIRE

and submit the following:

• cover letter with title and summary (200 words) of proposed research project;
• research proposal (five pages; 2,000 words), including a detailed description of project, timetable, explicit goals, selected bibliography, and the reason it is proposed to be pursued at Princeton;
• curriculum vitae with list of publications;
• sample chapter (in English) of dissertation or other recent work;
• names and contact information of three referees from individuals who are not current members of the Princeton University faculty;
• a scanned copy of their doctoral degree or a letter from a dean or registrar-level officer on department letterhead confirming the date of completion of all the requirements for the doctoral degree;
• all non-US citizens and non-US permanent residents are required to provide TOEFL results or equivalent, or a letter from their department head on department letterhead confirming certification of language proficiency in English. With the exception of official transcripts, all submitted documents must be in English.
  
  The online application has a designated area for email addresses of referees. After the online application has been submitted identifying referees and the required contact information, each referee will receive an automated email message from Princeton University with instructions for uploading their confidential letter of recommendation, no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on January 25, 2022. Recommendation letters not uploaded to applications should be submitted by email to the attention of Christine Twiname, Administrative Coordinator, at ctwiname@princeton.edu

Materials submitted with the application are the property of the Seeger Center and will not be returned. The Committee does not provide feedback to candidates about their applications.

DEADLINE: All materials submitted by applicants must be received by 11:59 pm EST on January 18, 2022. Awards will be announced in early March 2022. This position is subject to the University’s background check policy.

Non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. permanent residents must ensure that they will be able to enter or remain in the United States and accept employment at Princeton University.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.