The Program in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies
The Center for Research in Feminist, Queer, and Transgender Studies and Program in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Program invite applications for an
Oral History Postdoctoral Fellow in Trans Studies
Job Description
The Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Program (GSWS) along with the Center for Research in Feminist, Queer, and Transgender Studies (FQT) invite applicants for a two-year Oral History Postdoctoral Fellowship in Trans Studies, August 1st 2022-May 30th 2024. We seek an interdisciplinary scholar and teacher with a demonstrated commitment to inclusive pedagogy and feminist, queer, and trans studies, with particular expertise in feminist, queer, and trans of color critique or transnational/global feminist, queer, and trans studies; experience in ethnography and oral history methods is desirable but not required The successful candidate’s scholarly work and teaching must engage with some portion of the broad academic mission of FQT/GSWS. Our intellectual community includes visiting scholars and artists in residence, graduate student associates, and faculty affiliates from across the university. The successful applicant will be expected to contribute to this community through attendance at/participation in our events, including invited lectures, pedagogy seminars, teach-ins, and works-in-progress.
As the Center’s Oral History Fellow, the successful candidate will work in partnership with the Kislak Center at Penn Libraries, the William Way LGBT Community Center in Philadelphia, and the FQT Center to develop a Transgender and Nonbinary Oral History Archive. As part of ongoing efforts to facilitate community-engaged research, this archival project prioritizes community partnerships and public outreach to foster strong relationships with local trans, genderqueer, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming communities in Philadelphia. The fellow will work closely with Center staff, project manager, and graduate associate.
During 2022-2024, the postdoctoral fellow will have significant opportunities to develop skills as a teacher, scholar, and collaborator in FQT/GSWS public programming and to be mentored by staff and faculty:
● Teaching 1 course the first year and two courses the second, beginning in the spring semester of the first fellowship year, in an identified area of need for GSWS. Possible courses include Black and Women of Color Feminisms, Trans Methods, Queer and/or Trans of Color Critique, and Transnational/Global Feminist, Queer, and/or Trans Studies.
● Scholarly engagement through a Work-in-Progress presentation and possible support (contingent on budget constraints) to plan their own symposium event
Applications should include a cover letter, CV, research statement, writing sample of up to 40 pages, description of two proposed undergraduate courses (approx. 300 words each), and 3 letters of reference. Consideration of applications will begin on April 15th, 2022 and continue until the position is filled. The postdoc will receive an annual salary of $55,000 plus benefits, and up to $3,000 for research expenses.
Please email all application materials in a single pdf to gsws-fqt@sas.upenn.edu. Letters of reference can be sent separately to gsws-fqt@sas.upenn.edu with the subject line: FQT/GSWS Postdoc letter of reference for Name of Applicant.
The Center for Research in Feminist, Queer, and Transgender Studies and the Program in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies are strongly committed to Penn’s Action Plan for Faculty Diversity and Excellence, and to creating a more diverse and inclusive faculty (for more information: https://almanac.upenn.edu/archive/volumes/v58/n02/diversityplan.html). The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Minorities/Women/Individuals with disabilities/Protected Veterans are encouraged to apply.