Postdoctoral Associate in Public History - Rice University

The Humanities Research Center (HRC) at Rice University seeks to appoint one Postdoctoral Associate in Public History.

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 emerging interdisciplinary scholars and public humanities practitioners who have demonstrated expertise in public history, particularly at the intersection of higher education, democracy, and the U.S. South. Applicants must have proven experience working collaboratively with community partners and developing public-facing work. This could include community-based research projects, exhibitions, museum collaborations, public writing, podcasts, or other accessible formats. Cover letter and CV should include specific examples. We encourage applications from candidates working across disciplines that might use public history methods, including but not limited to Art History, English, History, Latin American & Latinx Studies, Literary Studies, Media Studies, Religious Studies, and Transnational Asian Studies.

The successful applicant will conduct research related to the Sawyer Seminar “Writing History, Righting Democracy.” This Seminar will bring together Rice University faculty and students as well as Houston-based scholars, artists, curators, activists, public librarians, and community members to examine the legacies of higher education that continue to affect our present, particularly within the context of Texas. Through complementary approaches grounded in humanistic research methods and critical creative practices, this seminar strives to not only imagine but also advance a more just institutional future at Rice University and beyond.

During the Sawyer Seminar year (2026–27), the Postdoctoral Associate will attend Seminar meetings, conduct research related to the Seminar, provide mentorship to graduate and undergraduate students in the research group, meet with internal and external collaborators, present their research at public events, and develop publications, podcasts, reports, and / or other materials related to the seminar activities.

The Postdoctoral Associate will have an office within the HRC, and will have interdisciplinary faculty mentors. They will be selected based on the relevance of their work to the Seminar’s theme, potential for outreach and collaboration with local partners, publication and presentation record, and history of or interest in collaborative research, particularly in vertically integrated projects.

This position is for the period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with the possibility of renewal for a second year (subject to performance review and funding). This is a full-time, benefits-eligible, residential position with a 0 / 0 teaching load in year 1, and a 1 / 1 teaching load in year 2. The Postdoctoral Associate will receive an annual salary of $70,000, and will be expected to be in residence in Houston no later than August 1, 2026.

Work-related duties may include :

• Participating in meetings and activities related to the Sawyer Seminar, including planning meetings, lectures, and other events
• Conducting research related to the Sawyer Seminar, including leading research groups
• Mentoring, overseeing, and / or training junior research team members (graduate and undergraduate students)
• Supporting project management
• Developing research projects related to the Seminar
• Participating and presenting own research in the HRC’s “Fellows Fridays,” and interdisciplinary working groups with other emerging and established scholars
• Participating in HRC programming
• 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, 2026. Applicants must have received their PhD no earlier than January 1, 2021. Applicants must have a proven track record in Public History. Applicants should have experience and enthusiasm regarding collaborative research and teaching at the undergraduate level. Applicants must have excellent communication and time-management skills.

Required application materials :

Application instructions :

Deadline :  Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 11 : 59 PM CST

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Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment 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.

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