Assistant Professor in Korean Popular Culture (Fixed Term)

Applications are invited for a 5-year, fixed term, full-time position of Assistant Professor in Korean Popular Culture in the Department of East Asian Studies, which is part of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies in the University of Cambridge UK, starting on 1 September 2026.

We welcome applications from scholars of Korean Popular Culture, with research interests that include K-pop, K-dramas, popular literature, films, and/or games. There is also an expectation that the post-holder will be able to work with popular Korean culture across time.

The successful candidate will hold a PhD in the relevant field by the time of appointment in September of 2026, and will have a record of, or clear potential for, outstanding teaching and research. The post-holder will engage with all aspects of the academic life, including teaching, research, and administration.

They will deliver, to the highest standards, teaching in the MPhil by Advanced Studies (East Asian Popular Culture Across Time and Korean Studies) on a wide range of media and topics in popular culture across time, including sessions on theory. They are also expected to contribute to undergraduate teaching in the Tripos in East Asian Studies, for courses (i.e. content and language courses) related to Korean Studies. PhD supervisions might also be possible.

The post-holder will be expected to engage in innovative and integrative course development at the undergraduate and MPhil level, facilitating the offering of content courses to all students in the department and their borrowing by other faculties and departments. The post-holder is also expected to offer undergraduate supervisions (small-scale tutorials), supervise postgraduate students, and be an active participant in the administration of the East Asian Studies programme.

The successful candidate will be expected to be research active, producing high-level research and publishing in their specialist field. They will also contribute to our efforts to broaden and strengthen interest in Korean Studies, engaging with our fundraising efforts and collaborating with relevant scholars and institutions in the United Kingdom and beyond.

Whilst there is funding for 5 years, in the first instance, there is potential for the post to be extended subject to operational needs and funding.

Interested candidates should submit a Cover Letter, a writing sample in the form of an article or chapter with a word count of 12,000 words, and a CV. Please also provide the names and contact details of three referees who are familiar with your work. References will be requested at the next stage of the recruitment.

The closing date for applications is midnight (GMT) on 15 January 2026. We expect to hold in-person interviews with shortlisted candidates in March 2026.

For questions about this vacancy please contact Dr Nuri Kim (nk588@cam.ac.uk) and for questions about the application process, please contact the Deputy Faculty Manager Deputy@ames.cam.ac.uk

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click on the ‘Apply’ button above.

Please quote reference GX47923 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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