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Tenured/Tenure-track Position in the Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures

University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia, PA · 1 mo ago
OTHRFull-time

About the Position

The Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures at the University of Pennsylvania and the Penn Museum invite applications for a faculty‑curator position in Mesopotamian Archaeology. The appointment is joint: the Museum will hire the incumbent as a curator in the Near East Section, and the School will appoint the incumbent as a tenured or tenure‑track faculty member. Time, duties, and responsibilities are evenly split between the two roles, and the faculty‑curator’s teaching load is reduced from four to two courses per year.

Responsibilities

  • Carry out independent research and publication on the historic periods of Mesopotamia (modern Eastern Syria and Iraq).
  • Teach undergraduate and graduate courses that complement existing offerings on ancient Mesopotamian cultures, history, and material remains.
  • Supervise B.A. and M.A. theses and Ph.D. dissertations.
  • Mentor undergraduate and graduate students working in Mesopotamian archaeology.
  • Fulfill all other faculty duties expected of tenured or tenure‑track faculty.
  • As curator, participate in exhibition, research, education, and outreach activities related to the Near East collections.
  • Engage in collections stewardship; experience in this area is highly desirable.

Department and Museum Context

The Penn Museum houses over one million artifacts and archaeological finds, with the Near East Section containing more than 100,000 objects from a century of excavations across the Middle East. The Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures (MELC) conducts interdisciplinary study of the region’s languages, texts, art, architecture, archaeology, and material culture, spanning from North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula to Iran and Turkey. MELC offers an undergraduate major in the ancient, medieval, and modern Middle East and participates in cross‑disciplinary graduate programs such as the Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean World.

Interdisciplinary Connections

The successful candidate will join a highly interdisciplinary community, including Ph.D. programs in the Art and Archaeology of the Ancient World and Ancient History, as well as faculty and students in Anthropology, Art History, MELC, and the Museum’s Center for the Analysis of Archaeological Materials. The department also collaborates with Bryn Mawr College, Princeton University, and Temple University for course exchanges.

Qualifications

  • Publications appropriate to the rank being sought.
  • A deep commitment to teaching undergraduate and graduate students and mentoring a diverse student body.
  • Expertise in the archaeology of ancient Mesopotamia, with active research and fieldwork in the region.
  • Ability to direct graduate and undergraduate research for a diverse student body.
  • Ph.D., post‑doctoral experience, or other terminal degree expected by the appointment date of July 1 2027.

Application Materials

  • Cover letter (2–3 pages).
  • Curriculum vitae.
  • Research statement (3–5 pages) covering recent, present, and planned research programs.
  • Contact information for three individuals who have agreed to provide letters of recommendation.
  • Writing sample of no more than 40 pages (requested from long‑listed applicants).

Review of applications will begin on October 19 and will continue until the position is filled. Questions regarding the application process may be directed to Dr. Steve Tinney at stinney@sas.upenn.edu.

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