Job Opening: Assistant Professor of English Languages & Literatures
University of Virginia
Expected Start Date: August 25, 2024
The University of Virginia’s Department of English invites applications for a full-time tenure-track, assistant professorship in nineteenth-century British literature and culture, expected to begin August 25, 2024. The department is receptive to many approaches within the long period and orbit of the British empire. Thus, candidates with specializations in Romanticism, Victorian studies, postcolonial and diasporic studies, formal or affect studies, critiques of gender, race, and class, cultural histories of media, exhibitions, or performances, nineteenth-century natural or social science, archival or data-driven studies are welcomed. The department hopes to extend its longstanding strengths in literary history as well as theory, studies in poetry, bibliography, and book history as well as digital humanities.
The successful candidate will help to shape the next phase of a vibrant and collegial department that has been influential in nineteenth-century British studies among other areas. UVA is a flagship public institution committed to equitable access and an increasingly diverse student body. Its research support includes a first-rate library–founded some 200 years ago, renovated and reopened in 2024–with deep holdings in nineteenth century materials. Unlike some peer research institutions, UVA retains a liberal arts core, its tenured and tenure-track faculty engaging in all levels of instruction and advising. Members of UVA have taken the lead among U.S. educational institutions in researching the history of their involvement in slavery, notably creating the Monument to Enslaved Laborers (dedicated 2021) with descendants’ participation. Colleagues in the English department enjoy a range of affiliations with other high-ranking programs in humanities and related fields, including Women Gender and Sexuality; Media Studies; American Studies; the Carter G. Woodson Institute of African American and African Studies; the Institute for Humanities and Global Cultures; Jewish Studies; the Karsh Institute of Democracy; and the University Library’s Digital Humanities Center with renowned research labs for faculty and students; the School of Data Science and its university-wide graduate certificate in digital humanities. Recent interdisciplinary initiatives offering faculty and graduate fellowships have included Environmental Humanities and Caribbean Studies. Journals based in the department include New Literary History and Studies in Bibliography.
The teaching load is two courses per semester, usually a rotation of undergraduate 2000-4000-level courses (prospective majors, majors) with one graduate course in alternate years. In general, track professors determine the subject and scope of their offerings in discussion with colleagues in an area committee. Tenure track or tenured faculty direct Distinguished Major and/or MA theses and serve as director or reader (committee member) of dissertations at the doctoral level.
Qualifications
Applicants should expect to complete a PhD (required) in a relevant mode of literary, cultural, or historical studies by August 25, 2024, have a promising record of publication, and an innovative research program. Candidates should demonstrate interest in teaching and mentorship of students and a willingness to contribute to the scholarly life of the Department of English and its MA and PhD programs.
Application Instructions
Visit http://apply.interfolio.com/130424 to apply.
Review of applications is expected to begin on November 15, 2023 and will continue until the position is filled. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.
Only complete applications will be considered. Questions about this position should be directed to Chair of the Search Committee Alison Booth at ab6j@virginia.edu or Chair of the Department Andy Stauffer at ams4k@virginia.edu. Procedural questions may also be directed to Melanie Sponaugle, Academic Recruiter, at unw5dq@virginia.edu.
Required materials:
1. Cover letter of interest that includes a summary of your past and planned research experience and goal, your teaching interest and experience, and how your skills and experiences could advance the University's ambition to cultivate the most vibrant community in higher education in order to prepare students to be leaders in a diverse and globally connected world.
2. CV. This may include links to relevant websites.
3. A statement of teaching philosophy (two-to-three single-spaced pages).
4. A writing sample of about 20 double-spaced pages; excerpts of two pieces are accepted, not more than 20 pp. You may share a pdf or link for a publication that may exceed 20 pp.
5. Contact information for requesting three letters of recommendation. Letters should not be submitted before being requested.