Postdoctoral Research Scholar

Job Details

The Institute for Religion, Culture and Public Life (IRCPL) of Columbia University invites applications for a full-time appointment as a Postdoctoral Research Scholar for one year, with the possibility of renewal for a second year based on satisfactory performance. The Institute seeks a scholar whose research and teaching directly address the Institute’s foundational terms: religion, culture, and public life. Preference will be given to projects that seriously engage with the theme of religion and at least one of the other two dimensions.

The incumbent will pursue their own research; contribute to IRCPL program planning and be an active participant in IRCPL events; engage in collaborative projects with IRCPL/Columbia faculty, staff and students; and teach undergraduate courses (for additional compensation). The expectation is to teach one course per fellowship year, with the option to teach two courses in the second year.

About the Institute for Religion, Culture and Public Life

The Institute for Religion, Culture and Public Life supports academic research, teaching, and scholarship on the study of religion, culture, and social difference at Columbia University. In addition, it convenes academic conferences, public forums, and collaborative programming to support and extend academic and scholarly understanding of these topics, and to disseminate and distribute such new understandings to broader publics and communities. The Institute actively supports scholarship, teaching and public programming across the Faculty of Arts and Sciences as well as in the University more broadly. Each year the Institute curates event series that address specific themes. In recent years these series have addressed public religion in Africa and South Asia; religion and climate; patriarchal violence; the relationship between devotion and distraction; and shifting paradigms in American religion.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must have completed all Ph.D. degree requirements (defended and deposited the dissertation) between July 1st, 2022 and July 1st, 2026.

Preferred Qualifications

In addition to a Ph.D. the incumbent should have a substantial research background; teaching experience; a record of publications; and experience with programming and public outreach in and/or beyond academia (e.g., public humanities or related rubrics).

Special Instructions to Applicant

All applications, and accompanying materials, must be submitted through Columbia’s academic hiring portal, ASR. The following list of materials is required for all applicants:

• Curriculum Vitae, including a list of classes taught (if any) A cover letter (maximum two single-spaced pages) detailing the significance of your research and how it connects to religion and culture or public life.
• A statement (maximum two single-spaced pages ) on teaching interests and potential public programming ideas
• An article or chapter-length writing sample
• The names and contact details of three referees. We will request letters from referees for short-listed applicants.

Application Deadline

Please submit your application through Columbia’s academic hiring portal ASR/Interfolio. Applications received by May 31, 2026  will receive full consideration. Review of applications will commence immediately; we plan to hold Zoom interviews of finalists in June 2026, and to make a determination soon thereafter. The proposed start date for the position is in mid-August  2026.

Salary

Postdoctoral Research Scholar Salary: $72,116

Adjunct Lecturer: $10,000 per course

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Pay Transparency Disclosure

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training.  The above hiring range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.