Position opening: Assistant Professor in Classical Islam, Brandeis University, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies

Assistant Professor in Classical Islam

Brandeis University

The Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis University invites applications for a tenure-track position as an Assistant Professor in Classical Islam (e.g., Qur’an and tafsir, history, philosophy, Sufism, literature, material culture, etc.). Candidates must demonstrate expertise in classical Islamic texts in context, excellent command of Classical Arabic, and the ability to teach courses using original sources and English translation at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The successful candidate will teach a range of courses on the development of Islam in its premodern contexts and be able to speak to the relevance of Islam and Islamic Studies to other scholarly discourses. Knowledge of other relevant Islamicate languages as well as related fields and disciplines in the Humanities is also desirable (Near Eastern Studies, Late Antique/Medieval Studies, Mediterranean Studies, Religious Studies, etc.).

The appointment is in the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, which offers a variety of courses in the religion, literature, history, and culture of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and also houses a Ph.D. program in Arabic and Islamic Civilizations. The successful candidate will also participate in university interdepartmental undergraduate programs such as Religious Studies and Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies. The full-time teaching load is 4 courses per year (2 courses per semester). Only applicants with the Ph.D., or who expect to have the Ph.D. by August 2022, will be considered. Pending final budgetary approval, employment will begin Fall 2022.

First consideration will be given to applications received by October 15, 2021. Questions about the position can be directed to the chair of the search committee, Darlene Brooks Hedstrom (brookshedstrom@brandeis.edu).

Applications, submitted online through AcademicJobsOnline at https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/19548, should include:

a cover letter describing scholarship, areas of publication, teaching experience, and indicators of commitment to advancing equity and inclusion;

an up-to-date CV;

a teaching statement;

a published chapter- or article-length writing sample;

sample course syllabi (one for an undergraduate course and one for a graduate course);

three letters of recommendation.

We plan to conduct the first round of virtual interviews in November 2021 via Zoom.

At Brandeis, we believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential components of academic excellence. Brandeis University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer that is committed to creating equitable access and opportunities for applicants to all employment positions. Because diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of Brandeis’s history and mission, we value and are seeking candidates that represent a variety of social identities, including those that have been underrepresented in higher education, who possess skills that spark innovation, and who, through their scholarly pursuits, teaching, and/or service experiences, bring expertise in building, engaging, and sustaining a pluralistic, just, and inclusive campus community.

For more information, see here.