Postdoctoral Fellow (Center for the Literary Arts)

The Center for the Literary Arts, a Signature Initiative of Arts & Sciences, at Washington University in St. Louis, invites applications for a two-year postdoctoral fellowship for a literary scholar and creative writer.

The anticipated start date is July 1, 2023. The fellow will work under the supervision of Center for the Literary Arts Co-Directors, Danielle Dutton and Ignacio Infante. The Fellow will assist both Co-Directors in key areas of the Center for the Literary Arts in general, and particularly in the development of the Center’s Literary Arts Resource Space (including programming, communications, promotional activities and community engagement pertaining to the CLA). For more details on the Center’s various programming areas, please visit: https://literaryarts.wustl.edu

The Fellow is expected to be in residence during the fellowship period and to participate in the intellectual life of the Center for the Literary Arts, as well as in collaboration with other units of Washington University relevant to the Fellow’s particular research and creative practice interests.

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees. Benefits eligibility is subject to employment status, full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and weekly standard hours. Please visit our website at https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/ to view a summary of postdoctoral benefits.

Washington University is dedicated to building a diverse community of individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive environment – fostering respect for all and welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Individuals with a commitment to these values are encouraged to apply.

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Required Qualifications

  • Ph.D. by the beginning of the postdoctoral appointment in a literary studies discipline (broadly understood, and including English, Creative Writing, Comparative Literature, Foreign Languages and Literatures, or related fields)
  • For candidates finishing their Ph.D. in 2023, all requirements of the degree must be finished no later than June 30, 2023. To qualify for postdoctoral status, candidates should have three or fewer years of postdoctoral experience.
  • Experience in the practice of creative writing and/or literary translation
  • Strong organizational skills and an ability to coordinate with colleagues and attend to the logistics of workshop and event organization
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills, including a high standard of written and spoken English
  • The ability to work to deadlines and maintain a professional approach to all aspects of the position

Preferred Qualifications

  • MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction, Poetry, Non-Fiction, Literary Translation)
  • Experience with editorial work, and/or scholarly publication, and/or literary publication

Employment eligibility verification required upon hire. 

Application Instructions

Application materials--a CV, writing sample, cover letter, and three (3) letters of reference--should be submitted via Interfolio, using this link: apply.interfolio.com/121519 The search committee will begin their review of applications for this position on April 1, 2023.

This institution is using Interfolio's Faculty Search to conduct this search. Applicants to this position receive a free Dossier account and can send all application materials, including confidential letters of recommendation, free of charge. APPLY now

Direct questions about application process to literaryarts@wustl.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by those underrepresented in their academic fields. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or genetic information.


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