CfA: Assistant Professor in Hinduism and South Asian Religions
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The UNC Department of Religious Studies is dedicated to the study of religions as historical and cultural phenomena. We take an interdisciplinary approach to understanding religious traditions from around the world: their history, sacred texts, beliefs, rituals, and institutions. At present, the faculty conduct research and teach courses in a number of religious traditions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism. They analyze religious life from the ancient and modern world, from ancient Sumer to present-day Senegal, from early modern Europe to 21st-century Nepal, and from medieval Japan to contemporary America. Because religious pluralism plays an important role in teaching the value of diversity, the Department is committed to bringing a broad range of perspectives into the study of religion. UNC offers B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. programs in Religious Studies; undergraduate minors in Religious Studies, Christianity and Culture, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, and Jewish Studies; an honors program for undergraduate majors; as well as frequent public lectures and continuing education seminars that advance the academic study of religion.
The Department of Religious Studies is recruiting for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Hinduism and South Asian Religions. Candidates should demonstrate clear evidence of their commitment to research and teaching, as well as their interest in mentoring students and participating in departmental life and service. The successful candidate will be expected to teach various undergraduate and graduate courses (including introductory and upper-level courses in Hinduism and/or religions of South Asia) and contribute to the Religions of Asia concentration. Candidates should complement the existing expertise of our current faculty, and their work should align with our departmental mission as outlined on our website (https://religion.unc.edu/about/mission-and-values/).
The successful candidate is required to have a Ph.D. in religious studies or a related field by July 1, 2025. Related disciplines include but are not limited to Asian studies, anthropology, and history. Candidates should have broad training in their field of expertise, relevant linguistic competencies, a commitment to interdisciplinary work, and a strong interest in engaging with broad theoretical issues in the study of religion, including critical scholarship on religion in South Asia. Preference will be given to scholars whose work centers on popular, vernacular, or subaltern traditions and/or engages the contemporary or historical practices of socially or ritually marginalized communities or movements.
Your application should include: a curriculum vitae/resume, cover letter, writing/research sample, and research statement. Three signed reference letters must be uploaded into the UNC system OR Interfolio (tcave[at]unc.edu). A fourth signed letter will be requested of shortlisted candidates. Teaching Evaluations and a list of references are both optional.
More information at https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/289006.