Postdoctoral Fellow

Position Description

The Department of English at Clemson University invites applications for several Postdoctoral Fellowship appointments to support the teaching and administration of first-year writing, starting August 2024. These full-time, benefits-eligible positions span three nine-month academic years (2024-25, 2025-26, and 2026-27), with a starting salary of $55,000 and possible summer teaching on a per-course basis.

Clemson is an R-1 land grant institution located in upstate South Carolina—a global university with a mission to serve the diverse communities of our state. The recently updated university strategic plan offers a three-tiered strategy to enhance student experience, increase faculty research, and expand the positive impact of the university within communities across South Carolina. Consequently, the search committee is especially interested to hear from candidates with an interest in student engagement and community outreach, especially to traditionally underserved communities across the state.

Responsibilities

This three-year fellowship includes service, research, and a 3/3 teaching assignment in first-year writing (English 1030) and occasional upper-level writing and rhetoric courses. Writing Postdocs are encouraged to incorporate their research interests into their teaching and are supported through group workshops and individual mentoring for their teaching and research. Postdocs also receive job market support as they seek academic and/or non-academic roles, including a series of workshops, mock interviews, and individual mentoring. Postdocs engage actively in department and University life, reading groups, workshops, and pedagogical training. Postdocs work closely with the Director of First-Year Writing (Michelle Smith), as well as the Associate Director and the First-Year Writing Committee, on all aspects of our writing program.

Qualifications

We welcome applicants who will receive a Ph.D. in rhetoric and composition or a related field by August 1, 2024. The Ph.D. must have been conferred within the past five years. Candidates should have an active research agenda and experience with writing pedagogy and/or administration. We especially welcome applicants with an interest in developing an expertise in any of the following: mentoring and supporting MA students new to teaching first-year writing; incorporating generative AI into writing classes or developing course materials/policies for generative AI; supporting the development of themed first-year writing courses taught by experienced faculty or advanced graduate students; or exploring and implementing alternative assessment practices on a course or programmatic level.

Application Instructions

Please submit a cover letter, a CV, and contact information for three references by March 15, 2024 for optimal consideration; review of applications will continue until all positions are filled. Please direct questions to Michelle Smith, mcsmth@clemson.edu. Submit materials via Interfolio to Dr. Will Stockton, Chair, Department of English, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634.