CfA for a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Columbia University

The Center for the Study of Democracy, Toleration and Religion (CDTR) at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) of Columbia University invites applications for a two-year appointment of a Postdoctoral Scholar to participate in the research and activities of the Center.

The Center for the Study of Democracy, Toleration and Religion (CDTR) at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) of Columbia University invites applications for a two-year appointment of a Postdoctoral Scholar to participate in the research and activities of the Center.
The Center for the Study of Democracy, Toleration, and Religion conducts research and training on the interfaces of, and tensions between, religion, toleration, and democracy in the world. The center runs graduate courses, supports student-faculty research initiatives, provides student scholarships, and develops new research networks.
The successful candidate will be expected to
- teach a graduate level course at SIPA on 'Religion and Democracy - Implications for The Twin Tolerations' in the spring semesters of 2008 and 2009.
- teach a graduate level course at SIPA of his or her own design in the fall semesters on topics revolving around religion and politics.
- help coordinate a speaker series with religious leaders from the United, States, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia and West Africa.
- help coordinate activities of the center that are close to the postdoctoral scholar\'s professional and academic development.
Key areas that CDTR will focus on in 2007-2009 are religion-state relations in India, Indonesia, Senegal, Turkey, France and the United States.
The applicant should have interest and experience in organizing conferences, seminars and workshops in the field of religion and politics. Training in the following languages is advantageous, but not required: French, Turkish, bahasa Indonesia, Arabic, Hindi or another major language of South Asia.
Applicants should have defended their Ph.D. dissertations no later than August 2006.
The fellowship period will start January 2008, if possible sooner. The fellow will receive a stipend of $50,000 including fringe benefits that provide health insurance and access to Columbia University Student Housing.
Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, a statement describing their research interests, as well as a writing sample, and arrange to have three letters of reference sent on their behalf. Applications will be considered on a running basis until the position is filled.
All application materials should be sent via email to Professor Alfred Stepan, Director of the Center for the Study of Democracy, Toleration and Religion (CDTR) at cdtr@columbia.edu.