Houston, Texas
Aug 23, 2023
Oct 15, 2023 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time
The School of Humanities at Rice University in Houston, Texas seeks applicants for a tenure-track assistant or associate professor position in Medical Humanities, specializing in the history of medicine and health in the 19th-21st centuries. The primary appointment will be in the History department or Transnational Asian Studies department in the School of Humanities, with an agreement describing the candidate’s role in the Medical Humanities program relating to teaching, research, and service activities. A research focus on minoritized or marginalized communities is highly desired, with a preference for scholars who can connect with Rice’s Science and Technology Studies program, the Department of Transnational Asian Studies, and/or the Center for African and African American Studies. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in history, history of medicine, history of science, or related interdisciplinary field by July 1, 2024.
The Medical Humanities program at Rice University aims to become a leading program in the United States focused on health equity, social justice, patient narratives and experiences, and ethical, human-centered technology development for health care settings. The newly established Medical Humanities Research Institute at Rice will provide resources and opportunities for faculty to work with our partners in the Texas Medical Center and engage in international collaborations. The successful candidate for this position will hold a primary appointment in the History department or Transnational Asian Studies department in the School of Humanities, with equal participation in teaching, research, and service activities in the Medical Humanities program. Applicants should be prepared to teach regularly-offered undergraduate and graduate courses in Medical Humanities, along with courses in their own field of expertise. The normal course load in the Humanities is 2:2, and teaching will be split between the candidate’s primary department and the Program in Medical Humanities.
Please submit your application by October 15, 2023 (via Interfolio). Applications must include a letter of application, CV, a writing sample of ca. 25 pages, evidence of contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion, and three letters of recommendation. Finalists will also be asked for teaching evaluations (if available).
The Medical Humanities program was launched at Rice University in the fall of 2016 in response to student demand, faculty interest, and nationwide recognition that well-rounded students with humanities training bring valuable skills to health care and clinical research. The program takes a multidisciplinary approach to teaching and research on human experiences of health and illness, with a strong focus on health equity and justice. We aim to increase equity and inclusiveness through learning focused on social and cultural history, diversity, ethics, and health disparities. The School of Humanities has identified Medical Humanities as a strategic priority. Our program has strong collaborations with institutions in the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world, the University of Texas Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Baylor College of Medicine, and numerous community organizations. For more information on the program, see: https://medicalhumanities.rice.edu/.
Rice University is a private, comprehensive research university located in the heart of Houston’s dynamic museum district and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. The fourth largest and most diverse city in the United States, Houston provides an opportunity for scholars to collaborate with area universities, museums, the Texas Medical Center, and civic organizations, and to engage with the broader metropolitan community. Rice University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees across eight schools and has a student body of over 4,000 undergraduates and a nearly equal number of graduate students. Rice is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report, and is ranked No. 1 for race/class interaction and No. 1 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. Its hallmarks include a very high level of research activity and intellectual innovation, a 6:1 student-faculty ratio, and a commitment to diversity at all levels. 
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.
Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.
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