Collegiate Assistant Professor - Harper and Schmidt Fellow 2026-27

The University of Chicago • Chicago, IL

3d

About The Position

The University of Chicago College is hiring four-year postdoctoral teaching appointments as Harper and Schmidt Fellows, holding the rank of Collegiate Assistant Professor. The primary professional responsibility is teaching in the College’s general education (Core) program in the Humanities or Social Sciences. Applicants may apply to the Humanities sequences listed in the posting and to designated Social Sciences sequences for the 2027–28 cohort; other Social Sciences sequences may review applications if programmatically necessary.

Fellows typically teach two courses, usually with identical preparation, during each of three quarters per year. In years two through four, each Fellow may design up to two independent courses in total and is eligible for two quarters of research sabbatical. In the fourth year, there may be an additional quarter with a reduced teaching load. The position offers a salary of $92,875, full benefits, and a minimum annual professional development fund of $7,000. The effective appointment date is September 1, 2027.

Applicants from all disciplines and areas of specialization are welcome, provided they will have completed all Ph.D. requirements by August 31, 2027. Candidates must demonstrate excellence in teaching and original scholarship. Conventional expertise in the specific texts and topics currently taught in a sequence is not required. Applicants should be able to identify and guide students through fundamental questions in a Core sequence and contribute meaningfully to its instructional community and curricular development.

Requirements

• Will have completed all requirements for a Ph.D. degree no later than August 31, 2027.
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching.
• Demonstrated excellence in original scholarship.
• Ability to apply conceptual and methodological creativity and skill to teaching general education courses.
• Ability to guide students through fundamental questions in a Core sequence and contribute to its instructional community and curricular evolution.

Responsibilities

• Teach courses in the College’s general education (Core) program in the Humanities or Social Sciences.
• Typically teach two courses, usually of identical preparation, during each of three quarters per year.
• Identify and guide students through fundamental questions in a Core sequence.
• Contribute meaningfully to the instructional community and curricular evolution of the relevant Core sequence.
• In years two through four, Fellows may design up to two independent courses in total.

Benefits

• Full benefits, including access to health, retirement, and paid time off programs for eligible employees.
• Minimum annual professional development fund of $7,000.
• Eligibility for two quarters of research sabbatical.
• Possibility of an additional quarter with a reduced teaching load in the fourth year.
• Opportunity to design up to two independent courses in total during years two through four.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree