Apply to Be a Research Associate

Each year Harvard Divinity School selects five candidates for full-time Research Associate and Visiting Faculty positions in its Women's Studies in Religion Program. Proposals for book-length research projects using both religion and gender as central categories of analysis are welcomed. They may address women and religion in any time, place, or religious tradition, and may utilize disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches from across the fields of theology, the humanities, and the social sciences.

Responsibilities

Health and safety guidelines permitting, Research Associates are required to be in full-time residence at Harvard Divinity School while carrying out their proposed research projects during the academic year. Associates meet together regularly for collective discussion of research in progress. Each associate teaches a one-semester course related to the research project, and the associates present their research in a public lecture series and at an annual conference.

Eligibility

Positions are open to candidates with doctorates in the fields of religion and to those with primary competence in other humanities, social science, and public policy fields who demonstrate a serious interest in religion and hold appropriate degrees in those fields. Selection criteria emphasize the quality of the applicant's research prospectus, outlining objectives and methods; its fit with the Program’s research priorities; the significance of the contribution of the proposed research to the study of religion, gender, and to its field; and an agreement to produce a publishable piece of work. Applicants for the 2024–25 academic year must have received the PhD by October 1, 2023. Applications from those whose degrees have not yet been awarded will not be considered.

Compensation

The salary for 2024–25 is $65,000. The appointment is full-time, lasting ten months, and includes health benefits and reimbursement of some expenses.

Application procedure

Applicants will need to complete an online form and provide the following documents in PDF, Microsoft Word, or another acceptable format:

  1. A description of your proposed research project, not to exceed 1,250 words.
  2. The title and description of a women's studies course related to your project, not to exceed one page.
  3. A description of your background in women's studies, not to exceed 750 words.
  4. Curriculum vitae, not to exceed 10 pages.
  5. Writing sample, either a chapter or article, in electronic format.

Two letters of recommendation are also required. All materials are due by October 15, 2023.

Reasonable accommodation

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please contact the WSRP office at wsrp@hds.harvard.edu or 617.495.5705 if you require accommodation to apply for this position. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.