Call for Chicago Faculty: Literature, Philosophy, and Feminist and Queer Theory

The Brooklyn Institute for Social Research seeks scholars who are interested in joining our Associate Faculty in Chicago. 

POSITION DESCRIPTION

BISR Chicago launched in the Fall 2023 and is looking to expand its course offerings in the three following fields: 

• Philosophy
• Literature
• Feminist and Queer Theory

Faculty will teach multiple seminars on the BISR model annually. During the academic year 2024-25, Chicago Associate Faculty can expect to teach 1 to 3 4-week courses in Chicago in partnership with various institutions and businesses across the city. BISR does not solicit one-off courses.

BISR Associate Faculty are independent contractors paid on a per course basis, earning 70% of the total enrollment revenue generated by a course.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

• Candidates must be based in Chicago for the majority of the academic year. While online teaching may be an option, Chicago faculty will be expected to conduct the bulk of their teaching in-person in Chicago during the Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer terms. Ideal candidates will be based in Chicago, if not for the long term, then for at least the next 2 to 3 years. 
• Candidates must be willing to develop new courses as well as teach existing BISR courses that fall within their range of expertise. 
• Candidates must have or be working toward a terminal degree in their field, have teaching experience at the undergraduate and/or graduate level, a strong commitment to pedagogy, and interdisciplinary research interests that complement those of other BISR faculty. Doctoral candidates must be ABD in the final stages of dissertation writing. 
• Candidates must specialize in one of the three fields listed below. We will not accept applications from other fields at this time.

DISCIPLINARY REQUIREMENTS

• Literature: Expertise in one or more national Western literatures (American, British, French, German, Spanish, Italian). Additional competence with non-Western literatures is a plus. Theoretically and historically informed, conversant in multiple literary theoretical modes, including structuralism and post-structuralism, Marxism, postcolonialism, queer theory and feminism. Conversance in history and theory of the novel and an interest in and facility for teaching individual authors and works is required. Catalog courses to be taught may include, among others: George Eliot’s Middlemarch: Awakening Consciousness; Virginia Woolf: Modernizing Fiction; The Trial and the Castle: Franz Kafka and Theory; James Joyce: Ulysses
• Philosophy: Broad fluency in a variety of philosophical traditions, from ancient to contemporary with a focus on French and German continental philosophy. Conversance in contemporary critical theoretical approaches and the ability to historically contextualize philosophers and philosophical movements is strongly preferred. Catalog courses to be taught may include, among others: Introduction to Plato; Introduction to Aristotle: Philosophy, Ethics, and the Order of Nature; Kant’s Practical Philosophy: Reason, Morality, and Freedom; Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit; Friedrich Nietzsche: Truth and Morality; French Existentialism: Beauvoir and Sartre
• Feminist Theory: Expertise in feminist thought ranging from early theorists to second wave, third wave and contemporary thinkers; strong preference for candidates who can connect foundational works to contemporary issues in political theory and political economy. Familiarity with feminist work in the Global South and/or concerning colonial relationships is a plus. Catalog courses to be taught may include, among others: Introduction to Feminist Theory; Ecofeminism and Xenofeminism; bell hooks: Race, Feminism, and Freedom
• Queer Theory:  Conversant with and able to connect topics in Queer Studies to other theoretical modes, including Marxism, critical theory, and other social scientific or humanistic disciplines, particularly contemporary sociology, and/or political economy. Catalog courses to be taught may include, among others: Introduction to Queer Theory; Queer Feelings: Understanding Eve Sedgwick; Trans/Queer/Woman: Theory and Politics; Gender, Sex, and Performance: An Introduction to Judith Butler

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

We are particularly interested in applicants who, in addition to teaching, wish to take an active part in non-classroom BISR programming in Chicago and beyond. Such programming may include: organizing one-time events (lectures, screenings, performances), participating in our Praxis and Office Hours programs, as well as our digital projects, podcasts, forthcoming publications, development, and other programming. 

BISR is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other legally protected status. We strongly encourage, and will strongly weigh, applications from women and historically underrepresented minority groups.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Interested candidates should submit: 

• a CV
•  writing sample (can be a book/dissertation chapter, academic paper, or a piece of public-facing writing)
•  three short course proposals/ideas (We encourage candidates to browse our course archive to help shape their proposals)

Please send your application via email with the subject line “BISR Chicago Faculty Application 2024: [Field in which you are applying].” to the four following persons: Executive Director (ajay@thebrooklyninstitute.com); Managing Director (mark@thebrooklyninstitute.com); Program Director (lauren@thebrooklyninstitute.com); Chicago Coordinator (audrey@thebrooklyninstitute.com) 

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until July 1st, 2024. We will not consider applications submitted after that date.