Description

Postdoctoral Research Associate

D-26-HIS-00002 | Research | History

Post-Doctoral Research Associate "PROPERTY AND POVERTY," 2026-27.

Princeton University's Shelby Cullom Davis Center for Historical Studies is pleased to announce openings for a year-long position as a residential Postdoctoral Research Associate, with the expectation of renewal for a second year, contingent upon satisfactory performance and continued funding. During the academic years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028, the Shelby Cullom Davis Center for Historical Studies will focus on the topic of "Property and Poverty." We invite recent Ph.D.'s to apply for a postdoctoral position related to this topic.

The Davis Center for Historical Studies seeks applications from scholars researching the history of property and dispossession, wealth and poverty, and the practices of owning and disowning things, people, bodies, and ideas. Historians studying the intellectual, legal, religious, cultural, and economic histories of property and poverty, and from social historians who explore the world of the impoverished, the practices of poor relief, the causes of poverty, and the mechanisms of dispossession, are invited to apply. All approaches are welcome, including but not limited to: the history of intellectual property and copyright, the history of the commons, the lived experience of poverty, various forms of individual and collective ownership and resistance to them, the administrative and informational technologies enabling the development of property, and the religious and moral aspects of poverty and ownership. Intellectual, environmental, and economic historians, as well as historians of art, gender, race, and sexuality from antiquity to the modern period, whose work engages with these subjects, are encouraged to apply. Applications are welcomed from a range of historical fields, with no restrictions on either chronological period or geographical region.

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will be engaged in full-time work on the proposed historical project during the period of the appointment and will not have teaching or administrative responsibilities. The Postdoctoral Research Associate will also participate in all of the Davis Center's weekly activities (along with the Center's faculty-level fellows).

The initial expected term of appointment is July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027, with the expectation of renewal for a second year, contingent upon satisfactory performance and continued funding. The appointment will be made through the Department of History. The Postdoctoral Research Associate will receive a competitive salary along with University benefits and an annual research fund of $5,000. Applicants must apply online at https://www.princeton.edu/acad-positions/position/40302. Applicants should submit a letter of application, a CV, a writing sample of no more than 10,000 words, and the contact information for three referees who will be asked to provide letters of recommendation. Applicants who have not yet received the Ph.D. must also provide a letter from their dissertation advisor indicating that they are on track towards completing the doctorate by the start of the Postdoctoral Research Associate position. Applications received by January 11, 2026 at 11:59 pm EST will receive full consideration. Referees will have until January 19 to submit their letters. Information about the Shelby Cullom Davis Center for Historical Studies can be found at http://history.princeton.edu/centers-programs/shelby-cullom-davis-center.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. This position is subject to the University's background check policy. The work location for this position is in-person on campus at Princeton University.

Expected Salary Range: $75,000.00

The University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's qualifications, work experience, education/training, key skills, market, collective bargaining agreements as applicable, and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The posted salary range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate for a full-time position; salaries for part-time positions are pro-rated accordingly.

The University also offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees. Please see this link for more information.

Requisition No: D-26-HIS-00002

*Required information is denoted with an asterisk.

How to Apply

The form below must be completed to submit your application for this position.

It is recommended that you read through the entire application and gather the required application materials before beginning your application. You will not be
able to save or return to edit a partial application. Only complete applications will be accepted for consideration and the application form must be completed in its entirety before it can be submitted.

Upon submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation email at the email address that you provide in your application. In some cases, your references may be contacted using the email address that you provide for them and may be asked to provide their recommendation via a web-based form similar to the application form.

Be sure to provide the correct email addresses for you and all of your references to ensure that communications from Princeton University are properly delivered.

For more information send an email to skrogers@princeton.edu
or call 609-258-4997.

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