Lecturer History and Literature

Position Description

Department/Area Committee on Degrees in History and Literature

The Committee on Degrees in History and Literature seeks applications for a Lecturer position in one or more of the fields of Latin American Studies;
European Studies, 1800 to the present;
American Studies and Ethnic Studies; and Urban Studies. Especially encouraged to apply are candidates whose work is comparative, transnational, and/or interdisciplinary in scope, and those who can teach a range of geographic areas and historical periods.

The appointment is expected to begin on July 1, 2026. Lecturers will be responsible for designing and executing interdisciplinary tutorial programs for juniors, directing senior honors theses, advising students on curricular matters, evaluating essays and senior theses, conducting senior oral examinations, and teaching an interdisciplinary seminar of their own design. The Lecturer position is for three years, with the second two years contingent on a satisfactory performance review during the first year.

This position may be represented by the Harvard Academic Workers (HAW) – UAW for purposes of collective bargaining and matters affecting your compensation and working conditions.

Doctorate in a related discipline required by the time the appointment begins, strong interdisciplinary background, teaching experience.

Demonstrated strong commitment to interdisciplinary teaching is desired.

1. Cover letter, including a description of the candidate’s teaching and advising experience, as well as their approach to creating a learning environment in which every student is encouraged to ask questions and share ideas.

3. Writing sample, such as a journal article or dissertation chapter.

4. Teaching portfolio including a teaching statement, any sample syllabi, assignments, course evaluations, and/or other examples of your teaching effectiveness.

5. A course title and description of approximately 200 words for two interdisciplinary seminars of your own design that you could offer as History & Literature 90 seminars which are designed for first‑year students or sophomores with no prior experience or expertise. Please also include a list of readings and/or other materials for one sample week in each course. The interview committee will not be able to review a full syllabus, so there is no need to prepare one.

Instead, consider what combination of cultural and historical sources you might include in a given week, and be prepared to discuss how you would teach this material in the interview.

6. Names and contact information of three to five referees, who will be asked by a system‑generated email to upload a letter of recommendation if the candidate is invited to interview for the position. The application is complete only when all three letters have been submitted.

7. Applicable only for those candidates who have not yet received a Ph.D.: a letter from your dissertation chair confirming that you will receive your Ph.D. by June 30th, 2026.

Personnel Committee, History and Literature, Barker Center 122, 12 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138.. For further information regarding fields of study and the structure of the program, visit the History and Literature website at (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

$70,300 to $72,900. Pay offered to the selected candidate is dependent on factors such as years of experience, training or qualification, field of scholarship, and accomplishments in the field.

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