"Postdoctoral Associate - Medical Humanities Research Institute"

Position Summary

The Medical Humanities Research Institute at Rice University seeks to appoint one postdoctoral associate with a PhD in the Humanities, interpretive Social Sciences, or the Arts for Fiscal Year 2026-27 with a one-year extension available upon successful completion of the first year in the research areas of Trustworthy and Responsible Health AI, Digital Technologies and Health Inequities. The Medical Humanities Research Institute includes faculty from diverse fields in the humanities, social sciences, engineering, and the arts, and collaborates with numerous institutions in the Texas Medical Center and the broader Houston community.

One aim of the Medical Humanities Research Institute is to intervene in the perpetuation of inequitable healthcare by bringing key insights and methodologies of the humanities into the analysis, creation and use of healthcare technologies and the collection and use of health data from these technologies. Building on the strength of Rice University's faculty working in Medical Humanities, Science and Technology Studies, Engineering, and the Creative Arts, the Institute and our collaborations with clinicians, biomedical researchers, technology designers, and data scientists, MHRI imagines new approaches to healthcare that place anti-racism, ethics, patient experiences, artistic expression, and historical and narrative analysis at the center of medical innovation. We do this through multiple research projects, classes, and our joint Rice-Baylor College of Medicine Center for Humanities-based Health AI Innovation. The postdoctoral associate would work within this dynamic environment at Rice to further MHRI's key initiative in Trustworthy Health AI.

The postdoctoral associate will spend approximately 50% on MHRI research projects and 50% of their time on their own research and teaching/mentoring. The postdoctoral associate will attend key MHRI events, participate in collaborative research, present their research at public events, develop collaborative and single-author publications, mentor student research assistants, and teach one or two courses per year on a topic related to trustworthy health AI. The Institute will provide multidisciplinary mentoring and opportunities for professional development.

The postdoctoral associate will be selected based on the relevance of their work to the Institute's objectives and focus area on trustworthy health technologies, potential for outreach with local health and community-based organizations, scholarly record of publications and presentations, and history of demonstrated interest in collaborative research.

This position is in the Rice University Medical Humanities Research Institute for the period from July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027. This is a full-time, residential postdoctoral position teaching 1-2 classes during the academic year and is benefits eligible.

Ideal Candidate Statement

The ideal candidate has a PhD in the humanities, interpretive social sciences, or the arts, conferred between June 29, 2022 and June 30, 2026. The ideal candidate should have evidence of strong humanities-based research skills and experience in collaborative research projects, preferably in the medical humanities field in research areas of trustworthy and responsible health AI, digital technologies, or health inequities. Demonstrated ability to work in an organized, detailed, and collaborative manner is important.

Workplace Requirements

This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. The position is located in TMC Helix Park with teaching on the Rice campus. The postdoctoral associate is expected to work in the office 3 days per week. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

The postdoc will receive an annual salary of $70,000 plus benefits, a $2,500 annual stipend for research, and up to $3,000 for relocation to Houston. The position is renewable for a second year pending successful completion of the first year.

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.*

Minimum Requirements

• Ph.D. in the Humanities, interpretive Social Sciences, or the Arts, conferred between June 29, 2022 and June 30, 2026

Skills

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, as well as oral presentation skills
• Ability to work in a team environment, to participate actively, to collaborate and to motivate others
• Ability to work independently and professionally with minimal supervision and direction
• Excellent time management skills

Preferences

• Research and/or teaching focused on medical humanities
• Research and/or teaching focused on trustworthy and responsible health AI, digital technologies, or health inequities

Essential Functions

• Publishes and/or presents their research in academic venues
• Participates in regular meetings and activities related to the Institute
• Participates in collaborative MHRI research on trustworthy health AI and communicates research findings through presentations and publications/reports
• Mentors, oversees, and/or trains junior research team members (such as post-baccalaureate and undergraduate students)
• Teaches one to two courses/year in the Medical Humanities Program

Additional Functions

• Some research-related travel, as well as event attendance and engagement with the Institute and Medical Humanities Program
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Required Application Materials

• Cover letter connecting your work with trust and health technologies
• Curriculum Vitae
• Writing sample (approximately 25 pages)
• 1,000-word project proposal for your research work to be completed during the postdoctoral appointment, including discussion of the collaborative and outreach potential of the project
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness
• Two-page course proposal for a 14-week undergraduate course on a topic related to trust and health technologies

Please combine all materials into one PDF and upload them to the "Supplementary Documents" section. If all the materials cannot be combined into a single file, additional files may be sent to jobs@rice.edu (please reference the Postdoctoral Associate - Medical Humanities Research Institute - 91201-12370 job requisition).

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are also required for the application. Please ask your recommenders to email letters by the application deadline to Tiffany Morgan at mhri@rice.edu, and use the subject line "MHRI Postdoc LOR."

Deadline for online applications is Friday, March 13, 2026.