Postdoctoral Scholar - Judaic Studies

The program in Judaic Studies at Tufts University, in partnership with the Center for Expanding Viewpoints in Higher Education (CEVIHE), seeks to host a Postdoctoral Fellow in European Jewish History and Literature (Medieval-Modern). The successful candidate will pursue an active research agenda and contribute to the program's undergraduate teaching mission in Jewish history, literature, and textual cultures, situating Jewish communities and texts within broader European intellectual, political, and cultural traditions.

Research interests may include, but are not limited to: Jewish history in medieval, early modern, and modern Europe; Jewish textual cultures in Hebrew and European vernaculars (e.g., Yiddish, Ladino, German, Russian); Jewish-Christian intellectual encounters; Jewish political history (from the kehillah to citizenship); and Jewish engagements with European philosophy, political thought, secularism, nationalism, emancipation, and memory.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning April 13, 2026, and the position will remain open until filled. The hiring range for this position is $65,000 - $75,000, commensurate with experience. This is a one-year limited-term position, commencing July 1, 2026, with the possibility of renewal pending performance, funding, and mutual agreement.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will teach two undergraduate courses (six credits total) in the Judaic Studies program. These courses may include a lecture course such as Jewish Communities in Europe, offering a historical overview from the medieval period through the twentieth century, and/or an upper-level seminar such as Jewish Literature and the Western Political Imagination, examining themes of emancipation, nationalism, secularism, canon formation, and representation through close textual analysis and historical context.

The fellow is expected to maintain an active research program while gaining teaching experience in a supportive academic environment. The fellow will be encouraged to participate in Judaic Studies lectures, workshops, and events, and to mentor undergraduate students.

The Postdoctoral Fellowship in Expanding Viewpoints is supported by CEVIHE, which seeks to cultivate early-career scholars whose teaching and research broaden the range of ideas represented in their disciplines and strengthen Tufts' culture of open inquiry. The Center is committed to renewing the university's intellectual mission by fostering a culture of engagement across ideological, religious, and cultural differences.

The fellow will maintain their offices at CEVIHE, where they will be part of a cohort of postdoctoral fellows representing various departments and programs. The fellow will be supported by a dual-mentor structure, including a faculty mentor in the Tisch College and a CEVIHE faculty mentor, to support research, teaching, and professional development. Fellows are expected to work in person at least four days a week and contribute to the CEVIHE community through attendance at a weekly lunch series, informal mentorship of undergraduates, and participation in occasional Center events.

Applicants should hold a Ph.D. by the start of the appointment in a relevant field. Appropriate disciplinary backgrounds may include Jewish Studies, History, Literature, Religious Studies, Comparative Literature, or related interdisciplinary fields. The program welcomes a wide range of methodological approaches and intellectual perspectives, provided candidates demonstrate strong historical training, advanced textual skills, and a commitment to serious engagement across differences.

Application Instructions:

Please submit the following application materials: an application letter, a curriculum vitae, a brief research statement, a brief statement of teaching philosophy with a proposed teaching contribution, at least one sample syllabus that reflects the candidate's approach to course design and pedagogy, and at least two confidential letters of reference submitted directly by their authors. Teaching evaluations may be submitted if available. Please direct any questions to Yonatan Brafman at yonatan.brafman@tufts.edu. Letters of reference should also be submitted to this email address.

All offers of employment are contingent upon the completion of a background check.

Tufts University, founded in 1852, prioritizes quality teaching, highly competitive basic and applied research, and a commitment to active citizenship locally, regionally, and globally. Tufts University also prides itself on creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. Current and prospective employees of the university are expected to have and continuously develop skills in, and dispositions for, positively engaging with a diverse population of faculty, staff, and students.