Postdoctoral Fellow in the Study of Guns and Society
About The Position
Wesleyan University’s Center for the Study of Guns and Society, in collaboration with Wesleyan’s History Department, invites applications for a postdoctoral faculty research and teaching position running from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The successful candidate will teach one undergraduate course per semester, including one in a field of their choice related to religion and guns in Spring 2027. In addition, the postdoctoral scholar will help organize a workshop in Spring 2027 on religion and firearms for invited academic researchers, museum professionals, and students of religion across the country. The outcome of this workshop will be ideas for future collaborations and public facing projects. The successful candidate will work under the direction of History Prof. Jennifer Tucker, Founding Director of the Center for the Study of Guns & Society, and Joseph Slaughter, Assistant Prof. of History and Religion. They will be provided with an office at the Center for the Study of Guns & Society and will be expected to work there on weekdays while the university is in session. The minimum requirement for this position is a PhD in the humanities or social sciences in hand at the time of appointment; a successful candidate may be hired as an Instructor if the candidate does not have a PhD in hand at the time of appointment but will receive the PhD by October 15, 2026. Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts university (founded in 1831) in Connecticut and home to the Center for the Study of Guns and Society, the first academic center in the United States dedicated to interdisciplinary humanities study and teaching on the social and cultural history of firearms. Established in April 2022, the center is a hub for pioneering interdisciplinary research on a wide variety of topics in firearms history, including the technologies, manufacture, possession, and use of firearms; the social and cultural underpinnings of gun ownership; and the nature and impact of gun-related violence in the U.S. and other countries. The center has an internal and external faculty advisory board, promotes collaborations with other universities and museums, hosts regular conferences and workshops, and is engaged in several research projects ranging from empirical studies of ballistics lethality to explorations of the history of guns in movies. Information on the Center for the Study of Guns and Society can be found at https://gunsandsocietycenter.com/. This position is funded by a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation. Candidates will be asked to upload electronic versions of (1) a cover letter of application, including a statement of current research interests; (2) a brief proposal for a one-semester undergraduate course on religion and guns to be taught in Spring 2027, as well as a proposal for a Fall 2026 course in their chosen area, (3) a curriculum vitae, and (4) a brief writing sample of published work, extracts from the dissertation, or drafts of work in progress (not to exceed 25 pages). Candidates will also be asked to provide the e-mail addresses of three references from which we may obtain confidential letters of recommendation. Applications for this position will close on March 1, 2026, with Zoom interviews to be held soon afterwards. Work Location: On Campus All offers to external applicants are contingent on the candidate’s completion of a pre-employment background check screening to the satisfaction of Wesleyan University. Wesleyan University, located in Middletown, Connecticut, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, political belief, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or non-position-related criminal record. We welcome applications from women and historically underrepresented minority groups. Inquiries regarding Title IX, Section 504 or any other non-discrimination policies should be directed to Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, Title IX and ADA/504 Coordinator. Wesleyan University complies with the Clery Act and maintains records of campus crime statistics and security policies. Copies of Wesleyan University’s Clery Act Report are available on request and online at https://www.wesleyan.edu/publicsafety/clery.html. Experience is taken into consideration in the determination of salary offers. For more information visit https://www.wesleyan.edu/hr/handbook/compensation-practices/index.html Wesleyan offers a broad range of employee benefits and development opportunities, including comprehensive group insurance plans, wellness programs and incentives, generous paid time off and retirement plans, flexible work schedules, employee and dependent tuition programs for those who qualify. Detailed information on the benefits of working at Wesleyan is located at: https://wesleyan.edu/hr/careers/prospective-resources.html.
Requirements
- PhD in the humanities or social sciences in hand at the time of appointment
- A successful candidate may be hired as an Instructor if the candidate does not have a PhD in hand at the time of appointment but will receive the PhD by October 15, 2026.
Responsibilities
- Teach one undergraduate course per semester
- Organize a workshop in Spring 2027 on religion and firearms for invited academic researchers, museum professionals, and students of religion across the country.
Benefits
- comprehensive group insurance plans
- wellness programs and incentives
- generous paid time off and retirement plans
- flexible work schedules
- employee and dependent tuition programs for those who qualify
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What This Job Offers
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
Number of Employees
501-1,000 employees
