Postdoctoral Associate in History

Cornell University

Department: History of Art & Visual Studies
Institution: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Term: Two-year appointment (AY 2026–2028)
Salary: $65,000 (Year 1), $66,950 (Year 2), plus benefits, $5,000 moving allowance, up to $3,000/year research allowance
Application: Academic Jobs Online

Position Overview

The Department of History of Art & Visual Studies at Cornell invites applications for a two-year Postdoctoral Associate position as part of the Active Learning Initiative (ALI). The postdoctoral associate will:

• Work with department faculty to develop, design, and implement active learning techniques in larger undergraduate courses (up to two per semester).
• Participate in college-wide ALI activities, including weekly fellows’ meetings, surveys, and classroom observations.
• Pursue independent scholarly research.
• Opportunities for co-teaching may be available, but this position does not involve sole instructor responsibilities.
• The position requires in-person residency at Cornell during semesters of appointment.

Qualifications

Required:

• PhD in History of Art or closely related field.
• Strong research potential and interest in diversity and inclusion in pedagogy.
• Interest in innovative and active learning approaches, including integrating technology and AI in teaching.
• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty and participate in departmental activities.

Preferred:

• Cross-disciplinary interests across related fields (e.g., American studies, anthropology, archaeology, architecture, Asian studies, Black studies, classics, computer science, ecology, gender studies, Indigenous studies, Latin American studies, medieval studies, media studies, science & technology studies).
• Experience with creative and interactive teaching methods in history of art or visual studies.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with faculty to implement active learning methods in larger courses.
• Participate in ALI assessments and initiatives.
• Conduct and publish independent scholarly research.
• Engage in professional mentorship and departmental activities.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Cornell University is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and encourages candidates from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized groups to apply. Employment is provided without discrimination on legally protected grounds.

This position is ideal for scholars who want to combine pedagogical innovation with research while gaining mentorship for faculty career development.