Postdoctoral Fellow in Humanities

Postdoctoral Fellow in Humanities (Andrew W. Mellon Fellow)

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has announced a grant to the Asian University for Women (AUW) in Chittagong, Bangladesh, to create and support a new Humanities major that will combine Literature, History, Philosophy, and Religion. To fulfil this mission, AUW is seeking applications from early career scholars in the fields of History, Literature, Philosophy, or Religion for appointment as Andrew W. Mellon Fellow. The appointment, for one Fellow, based in Chittagong, will be for two years, and upon completion, the successful applicant may be considered for appointment as an Assistant Professor.

We seek a candidate who is equally comfortable teaching from within their disciplines and proposing interdisciplinary courses. The ideal applicant will be passionate about the opportunity to engage creatively with a highly diverse student population. The successful applicant will also be expected to continue their own research and publication.

The Andrew W. Mellon Fellow will work as a team with the Dean of the Humanities and permanent members of the faculty to develop a Humanities major relevant to Asian and global contexts. The Fellow may teach introductory surveys in their disciplines and will also be tasked with designing and teaching specialised courses. Previous courses have included Introduction to the Humanities: A User’s Guide,  Partition Literature, The Philosophy of Science, Women’s Studies and Literature,  How We Got Here: South Asia under British Colonialism, Literary Criticism, Creative Writing, and Existentialism. The Fellow will also be expected to take part in the vibrant extracurricular atmosphere at AUW, with opportunities to participate in student clubs and events like the Film Club, the Musical Theatre Club, the Book Club, and the Football Club, among many others.

Vacancy: One Postdoctoral Fellow

Areas of interest: Any within History, Literature, Philosophy, and Religion    

Employment Status: Full-time contractual

Job Location: Chittagong, Bangladesh

Job Context: Developing AUW’s capacity to teach the      Humanities from an Asian and a global perspective      

Core Responsibilities:

• Research and publication in the applicant’s area of specialisation, including presentation of such research to the Faculty towards the end of the period of engagement
• Teaching two courses per term (four per year)
• Programme development
• Other duties as assigned by the Dean of the Humanities 

Qualifications and Experience Required:

• Doctorate from a recognised university in any relevant field
• Demonstrated ability to think and work outside disciplinary boundaries
• Experience of working in a liberal arts environment
• Excellent command of spoken and written English
• Experience working in multicultural environments with excellent communication skills

Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship will come with funds for research and travel (including incoming and outgoing airfare). The Fellow will receive a salary of $30,000 per annum, tax-free in Bangladesh (except for Bangladeshi citizens), plus free housing.

Female candidates, candidates with spouses who have similar intellectual pedigrees and interests, and candidates with particular connections to, and interests in, the region are particularly encouraged to apply.

Start Date: 15^th August 2025.

Application Deadline: Rolling basis

To Apply:

Interested applicants should send the following to jobs@auw.edu.bd with the position title in the subject line:

• CV
• Cover Letter detailing how their qualifications, skills, abilities, and experience meet the specific requirements of the role
• Teaching and Research Statements (1 page each)
• Teaching Evaluations (if available)
• Sample Syllabi (up to three)
• Publications (up to three)
• Three references (names & contact information)