Postdoctoral Fellow in Humanities (Andrew W. Mellon Fellows)

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has announced a major 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 Fellows. The appointments, based in Chittagong, will be for two years, and upon completion, the Fellows may be considered for appointment as Assistant Professors.

We seek candidates who are 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. Candidates will also be expected to continue their own research and publication.

The Andrew W. Mellon Fellows 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. Fellows 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. Fellows 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.

Vacancies: Four Postdoctoral Fellows

Areas of interest: 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 specialization, 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 recognized 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 Fellowships will come with funds for research and travel (including incoming and outgoing airfare). Fellows 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: 15th 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)