The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has announced a major grant to the Asian University for Women in Chittagong (Bangladesh) to create and support a new Humanities major that will combine Literature, History, Philosophy and Comparative Religion, supported by extracurricular activities in music, dance, photography and the visual arts.

AUW is seeking applications from candidates who have recently acquired PhDs from reputable universities in the fields of History, Literature, Philosophy, or Comparative Religious Studies for appointment as Andrew W. Mellon Fellows at AUW. The appointments, based in Chittagong, will be for two years on completion of which the Fellows may be considered for appointment as Assistant Professors.

We seek candidates who are rooted in their disciplines and at the same time passionate about the potential of interdisciplinary work; who can inspire students with an understanding of the relationship of theory and practice in understanding the world; who can engage creatively with the students to understand multiple forms of oppression and resistance, whether through written texts or through religious practices. Past courses taught at AUW include Literature of Social Reflection; Banned Books; Shakespeare; Literature as Resistance to Oppression; Poetry of Faiz, Darwish, and Neruda; Greek Tragedies; History of Empires; South Asian History; South East Asian History; Women’s History; History of Those Without History; Labor Movement History; History of Industrialization; Socially Engaged Buddhism; Asexuality in Contemporary Global Fiction; and Islam and Gender.

Fellows in History will most likely have interests in topics that relate to hegemony and resistance; in  Literature in postcolonial and comparative literature; in Comparative Religion in people’s lived religious experience, for example sufism, rather than textual analysis; in Philosophy in moral philosophy, philosophy of science and critical theory.

The Andrew W. Mellon Fellows will work as a team with the Dean of Humanities and colleagues in Bangladesh and internationally to develop a Humanities major at AUW.

Vacancies: Four

Areas of interest: History, Literature, Philosophy and Comparative Religious Studies

Employment Status: Full-time contractual

Job Location: Chittagong, Bangladesh

Job Context: Developing AUW’s capacity to teach the humanities from an Asian perspective and to generate fresh and exciting ideas

Core Responsibilities:

• Research and publication in the applicant’s area of specialization
• Teaching two courses per term (four per year).
• Program development
• Other duties as assigned by Dean of Humanities

Qualifications and Experience Required:

• Doctorate from recognized university in relevant field
• Demonstrated ability to think and work outside disciplinary boundaries
• Experience of working in a liberal arts environment in a well-established university or college
• Excellent command of spoken and written English
• Experience of working in a multicultural environment with excellent communication skills
• Appropriate IT skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and capacity to work collaboratively, build constructive partnerships and engage in effective teamwork
• Ability to represent the University in a professional manner and to communicate effectively and persuasively

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Andrew W. Mellon Fellowships will come with funds for research and travel. Each Andrew W. Mellon Fellow will have the opportunity to continue his or her research and to identify a mentor to work with them. Selected candidates will receive a salary of $30,000 per annum, tax-free in Bangladesh (except for Bangladeshi citizens) plus free housing and access to meals at the AUW dining halls at no cost. Local transportation between the residential accommodation and the campus runs on a regular schedule.

Candidates with spouses who have similar intellectual pedigrees and interests are encouraged to apply. Similarly, candidates with particular connections or interests in the region are emphatically encouraged to apply.

Start Date: 1 August 2024. Earlier or later start dates are negotiable.

Application Deadline: Priority will be given to applications submitted by 30 November 2023.

To Apply:

Interested applicants should send their CVs along with a Cover Letter detailing how their qualifications, skills, abilities and experience meet the specific requirements of the role, as outlined in the job description; teaching and research statements; and three references (Name & Contact Information), to jobs@auw.edu.bd. In addition to the other documents, applicants should also send an illustrative course description and syllabus. Please mention the position applied for in the subject line. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.