Postdoctoral Fellow in Islamic Art [Washington University & The Saint Louis Art Museum, St Louis, MO]

Description

The Department of Art History and Archaeology at Washington University in St. Louis, and the Saint Louis Art Museum seek a specialist in Islamic Art, for a joint teaching-curatorial two-year position beginning July 1, 2016 (start date could be moved slightly later). The fellow will spend two semesters at Washington University in the Fall of 2016 and Spring of 2018, teaching two courses in each of those semesters. The fellow will spend the twelve-month period of 2017 working full-time at the Saint Louis Art Museum as the A. W. Mellon Fellow for Islamic Art.  It is thus envisioned that the candidate will spend a year in total at each institution over the two-year period. Courses at Washington University, a leading research institution, will be offered to a combination of beginning and advanced undergraduates, and perhaps graduate students, in art history and/or religious and area studies. An introductory-level course will broadly address the field of Islamic Art; other classes may focus on traditions of miniature painting, the sacred arts of Islam, or the visual arts of Persia (Safavid) and/or India (Mughal). A course on modern or contemporary art in the Islamic world may be considered.

At the Saint Louis Art Museum, the fellow will study, catalogue and interpret a collection of 50 works on paper and related objects, primarily from Persia and India in the Safavid and Mughal periods. Scholarly expertise in these areas is highly desired. The fellow will curate the current gallery spaces for Islamic art, work with conservation staff on the collection, research possible acquisitions of miniature paintings and other works of art, give public gallery talks, and conduct docent training on the Museum’s Islamic collection.

Requirements

The applicant should have no more than three years of postdoctoral teaching or curatorial experience in the field at the start of the appointment. Annual salary will be $50,000 a year, plus moving expenses, benefits, and generous research and travel funds.

To apply, please go to https://jobs.wustl.edu/ and look up job posting #31932. Required materials which may be uploaded to the website include the following:

1. A letter of interest.
2. Current c.v.
3. A writing sample.
4. Three letters of recommendation.

Any writing samples too large to be uploaded should be directed via email to artarch@wustl.edu, or sent via postal mail to:

Prof. Elizabeth Childs,

Chair, Department of Art History and Archaeology

Washington University, CB 1189

One Brookings Drive

St. Louis, MO 63130-4899

Review of applications begins January 15, 2016. Initial interviews will be conducted by Skype; some may be scheduled at CAA in Washington, D.C. Finalists will be brought to St Louis.

Washington University in St. Louis is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and actively encourages applications by women and members of minority groups. Employment eligibility is required upon appointment.

The Saint Louis Art Museum is also an equal opportunity employer (Minorities/Female/Disabled/Veteran).