Public Affairs Postdoctoral Fellow (EXPIRED)

The Institute for Freedom and Community (IFC) and the Philosophy Department at St. Olaf College invite applications for a two-year Post Doctoral Fellowship, beginning on August 15, 2019 and concluding on August 14, 2021. In this first run of the fellows program the Fellow will be housed within the Philosophy Department and will contribute jointly to the Philosophy Department and to the core activities of the IFC.  Post-Doctoral Fellows will teach 3 courses per year, pursue their own scholarly research, participate in various IFC-sponsored events on campus, and contribute through their teaching and scholarly activities to intellectual diversity and substantial student engagement with American public affairs on campus. 

We seek candidates with primary specialization in areas of philosophy that have a substantial bearing on contemporary American public affairs, including social/political philosophy, history of social/political ideas, philosophy of social science/economics, or relevant areas of ethics. We are particularly interested in applicants who will contribute to the Philosophy Department’s commitment to increasing access and opportunities for populations that are currently under-represented in the field.  In their letters of application, candidates should address their potential to contribute to the diversity of people and perspectives at the College.

Each year, candidates will teach the fall semester of the year-long IFC-sponsored Public Affairs Conversation. The fall semester looks at the evolution of contested ideals in American politics (e.g. freedom and equality) through the history of the republic, and engages a range of contemporary normative perspectives that provide the foundation for contemporary debates. The spring semester integrates normative and empirical analysis of a range of contemporary public policy issues.  In both semesters, the program is supplemented by co-curricular activities and events. In addition to teaching the fall semester of the Public Affairs Conversation each year, candidates will also teach two courses per year in the Philosophy Department that will contribute to the IFC’s mission of supporting intellectually diverse critical engagement on campus.

Established at St. Olaf in 2015, The Institute for Freedom and Community (https://institute.stolaf.edu/) is an inter-disciplinary organization which seeks to promote free inquiry and meaningful debate of important American political and social issues across ideological divisions. By exploring diverse ideas about politics, markets, and society, The IFC aims to challenge presuppositions, question easy answers, and foster constructive dialogue among those with differing values and contending points of view.

The Philosophy Department comprises nine faculty who teach and research across a broad range of the discipline.  The Department prides itself both on its devotion to teaching and its robust research environment.  The Department hosts a lively joint colloquium series with Carleton College (also in Northfield), an annual retreat with an internationally distinguished philosopher, and its annual Belgum Lecture series.

St. Olaf College is an academically rigorous, nationally ranked liberal arts college of the Lutheran Church (ELCA).  The College’s Lutheran heritage is defined by a commitment to use the gifts of reason, creativity, and empathy to their fullest; to live in community with all people; to steward carefully the resources on which we depend; and to respond in good will to the needs of neighbor and planet.  Academic staff at St. Olaf have complete academic freedom and there are no doctrinal requirements for teaching or research.  St. Olaf College is an equal employment opportunity and voluntary affirmative action employer.  The College is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our community.  The College is located in Northfield, Minnesota, 45 minutes south of Minneapolis/St. Paul, a vibrant and culturally rich metropolitan area. It is home to approximately 3,000 students and 800 faculty and staff. To provide a safe and secure educational environment, St. Olaf College verifies the accuracy of all credentials presented by applicants and conducts a criminal background check on every new hire.