Postdoctoral Scholar

Department: WCAS Gender&Sexuality Studies
Salary/Grade: RES/

Job Description

The Sexualities Project at Northwestern (SPAN) invites applications for one two-year postdoctoral fellowships in Sexuality Studies, to run from September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2028. Applications are welcome from scholars who study sexuality from a social science perspective (broadly construed). The Fellow's appointment will be a joint one: in the Gender & Sexuality Studies Program and in another department relevant to the Fellow's research interests. We are particularly interested in candidates who could affiliate with one of the following participating departments: Anthropology, Black Studies, Communication Studies, History, Human Development and Social Policy, Linguistics, Performance Studies, Political Science, Religious Studies, or Sociology. That is, the Fellow must have relevant expertise in both Sexuality Studies and one of these other disciplines, and must be prepared to teach courses that reflect that combined expertise.

The Fellow will pursue a program of independent scholarship under the guidance of a faculty mentor and will teach two undergraduate courses (typically one seminar and one lecture course) over the course of each year. Northwestern is on the quarter system by which the Fellows' two courses will be distributed across three academic quarters. Fellows will also be expected to be active participants in SPAN's community of faculty and graduate students and, as applicable, in their affiliated department by attending talks and events, and by giving a public talk once each year. Finally, they will assist in the organization of on-campus educational activities such as the annual SPAN workshop.

Fellows will be expected to be in residence for each of the academic years of their appointment, and all teaching will be conducted in person.

*Note: Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Post-doctoral research
• Teaching two undergraduate courses each academic year
• Participate in SPAN activities throughout the year

*Will perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Applicants with a PhD (or equivalent doctoral degree) must have completed it after September 1, 2021. Applicants without a PhD (or equivalent doctoral degree) must complete all the requirements for the degree before September 1, 2026.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• WORK IN BOTH SEXUALITIES STUDIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

1. Applications will only be accepted through the online portal. Please make sure all documents are prepared in advance, as partial applications will not be accepted. Also, please be sure all information is entered completely and accurately (especially names and email addresses), as there will be no opportunity for online revision after your application has been accepted.
2. All files should be in Adobe PDF format, all files should be sent (preferably in a Zip File) to sexualities@northwestern.edu. Files in another electronic format (e.g., MS Word) should be saved or "printed to" PDF format before sending. If you only have a paper version of a particular document, you may scan it and save it as a PDF. However, the first method is preferred, because it retains text recognition capabilities.
3. The names and email addresses of three external references are required and should be submitted as a document. The system will NOT initially request a letter from the first reference, who ideally is your dissertation chair. PLEASE ASK YOUR REFERENCE TO SEND YOUR LETTER OF REC NO LATER THAN MARCH 23, 2026. Please ask your reference to comment not only on your scholarly work but also on your teaching experience and abilities. If you are selected to be a finalist, we will request the two additional letters.
4. The following materials are all required:
   • Cover Letter: In addition to briefly situating your work in relation to the field and SPAN's emphasis on sexuality studies from a social science perspective (broadly construed), please be sure to do all of the following:
     • Identify your proposed departmental affiliation.
     • Briefly describe your research trajectory to date. (As you will be submitting a separate dissertation summary, the description of the dissertation in the cover letter can be limited to a paragraph.)
     • Describe how you would make use of your appointment at Northwestern to further your research and writing. This plan may include, but should extend beyond, revisions to the dissertation.
     • Discuss your teaching qualifications and provide titles and short descriptions of two or three undergraduate courses that you could teach under the auspices of the Gender & Sexuality Studies Program and/or another relevant program or department within the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences-a list of NU's current Departments and Programs can be found here: http://www.weinberg.northwestern.edu/departments/.
   • Curriculum Vitae.
   • Research Statement. This should be a two-page summary of your dissertation.
   • Writing Sample. The size of the writing sample should be equivalent to a single journal article, book chapter, or dissertation chapter; it may be published or unpublished. Only one sample may be submitted and it must be in English. The maximum length is 50 pages.
   • Graduate Transcript. A transcript from your doctoral-degree-granting institution. (An unofficial transcript is acceptable.) The transcript may be omitted if your doctoral program did not include formal graded classes; if that is the case, please instead submit a statement to that effect.
5. Very soon after you submit your complete online application, your reference should email SPAN (sexualities@northwestern.edu) a letter of recommendation.
6. Some things to remember when sending your application documents:

• All documents should be in PDF Format (preferably in a Zip File) and emailed to sexualities@northwestern.edu.
• File names should not contain parentheses, quotation marks, or other such characters; the system will likely not accept such documents.

1. When you have assembled all your PDF files and are ready with your list of references, you may proceed to the Online Application. All required fields must be filled in before you click on the "Submit Application" button. The system will not accept incomplete applications. Completed applications that are received by March 16, 2026 will be ensured full consideration. (Letters of Reference will be allowed to arrive up to one week after the deadline.) You will receive an email confirmation shortly after your application has been received.

*PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES*

ALL APPLICATION FILES AND LETTER OF REC SHOULD BE EMAILED TO sexualities@northwestern.edu

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.