Graduate Associates ("Writing History, Righting Democracy" Sawyer Seminar)

Deadline: Monday, March 30, 2026, 11:59 PM CT
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Position Summary:

The Humanities Research Center (HRC) at Rice University seeks to appoint two Graduate Associates as part of the Sawyer Seminar “Writing History, Righting Democracy.”

We seek two graduate students who will be in their fifth year at Rice in AY 2026–27 who have demonstrated interdisciplinary and public humanities experience who are interested in conducting research at the intersection of higher education (especially Rice), democracy, and the U.S. South.

Applicants who have proven experience working collaboratively with community partners and developing public-facing work are encouraged to apply. This could include community-based research projects, exhibitions, museum collaborations, public writing, podcasts, or other accessible formats. The cover letter and CV should include specific examples. We welcome applications from any PhD program in the School of Humanities and Arts at Rice.

The successful applicant will conduct research related to the Sawyer Seminar “Writing History, Righting Democracy.” This Seminar will bring together Rice University faculty and students as well as Houston-based scholars, artists, curators, activists, public librarians, and community members to examine the legacies of higher education that continue to affect our present, particularly within the context of Texas. Through complementary approaches grounded in humanistic research methods and critical creative practices, this seminar strives to not only imagine but also advance a more just institutional future at Rice University and beyond.

During the Sawyer Seminar year (2026–27), students will attend Seminar meetings, conduct research related to the Seminar, provide mentorship to graduate and undergraduate students in the research group, meet with internal and external collaborators, present their research at public events, and develop publications, podcasts, reports, and/or other materials related to the seminar activities. 

This position provides full fifth-year funding to the selected candidates and carries a $37,000 stipend for AY 2026–27, with an expectation of up to 20 hours of work on the Seminar during Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. The selected candidate may not hold any other concomitant assignments (teaching, administration, etc.) and is expected to make progress toward dissertation completion. We will fill two positions. Selected candidates will be given priority if applying for sixth-year funding with the School of Humanities and Arts for AY 2027–28.

Applications are due on Monday, March 30, 2026, 11:59 PM. Interviews will be conducted in person or via Zoom depending on the applicant’s availability. The expected starting date will be in Fall 2026.

Work-related duties may include:

  • Participating in meetings and activities related to the Sawyer Seminar, including planning meetings, lectures, and other events
  • Conducting research related to the Sawyer Seminar, including leading research groups
  • Mentoring, overseeing, and/or training junior research team members (graduate and undergraduate students)
  • Supporting project management
  • Developing research projects related to the Seminar
  • Participating and presenting own research in the HRC’s “Fellows Fridays,” and interdisciplinary working groups with other emerging and established scholars
  • Participating in HRC programming
  • Other duties as assigned

Eligibility:

  • Fifth-year PhD student in the School of Humanities and Arts
  • Must be in good standing

Required application materials:

  • Cover letter (up to two pages)
  • CV (up to three pages)
  • Research statement, including how your work connects to the Sawyer Seminar theme and your approach to community-engaged research and public history (up to three pages)
  • Brief endorsement from dissertation advisor. The faculty member endorsing the application should upload their endorsement letter to the following Box folder by the application deadline: https://rice.app.box.com/f/db5ba7cae6094f94b95ca195de83526d.

Application instructions:

Deadline: Monday, March 30, 2026, 11:59 PM

APPLY NOW