Modern European Jewish History

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Job Category:

Faculty

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Assistant Professor

Job Summary:

Assistant Professor of Modern European Jewish History (1750–present), geographic field and chronological focus open. The successful candidate will teach courses in modern European Jewish history as well as at least one course per year on the Holocaust. An endowment for this position will also provide an annual fund to support public-facing programs related to the Holocaust.

Founded in 1991, the Mosse/Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies is a multidisciplinary undergraduate program offering a major and certificate (minor) in Jewish Studies. The Center for Jewish Studies enjoys collaborative relationships with numerous departments and programs across the UW–Madison campus, including the Department of History; George L. Mosse Program in History; Department of African American Studies; Department of German, Nordic, and Slavic+; Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies; Kemal H. Karpat Center for Turkish Studies; and the Religious Studies Program.

The Center for Jewish Studies is based in the College of Letters & Science, which provides a liberal arts education that is both broad and deep, through excellent, empathic teaching. As a Letters & Science program, we hire faculty who are interested in pursuing difficult questions, making new discoveries, and making an impact in their field. We reward excellent teaching and classroom innovation, and we are committed to shared governance. Learn more about the L&S mission on this webpage: https://ls.wisc.edu/about/mission.

The Weinstein Chair will advance the educational mission of the College of Letters & Science by valuing, prioritizing, and actualizing evidence-based and student-centered teaching and undergraduate student mentoring. They will contribute to an environment that fosters engagement and a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students and members of the broader community. As a member of the College of Letters and Science, they will proactively contribute to, support, and advance the College’s commitment to excellence among all aspects of their teaching, mentoring, research, and service. Tenure will reside in the Center for Jewish Studies.

Key Job Responsibilities:

As the Weinstein Chair, the candidate should be prepared to teach an undergraduate survey of modern European Jewish history, the Center’s core course, “What is Jewish Studies,” and more specialized advanced courses. At least one course per year must be related to the Holocaust. They will also be expected to actively participate in the Center’s shared governance, as well as provide service to the program, college, university, and professional community nationally and/or internationally.

Department:

College of Letters and Science, George L. Mosse / Laurence A. Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies

Compensation:

Negotiable – 9 months / ongoing / renewable

Required Qualifications:

Ph.D. in history is required at time of appointment. We welcome applications from historians who already hold teaching positions, as well as recent Ph.D.s and those who expect their Ph.D. by the time of appointment. Candidates must be proficient in the language(s) of their region of study.

In addition, as a member of the College of Letters & Science, the successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to foster a teaching, learning, mentoring, departmental, and a research environment where all can thrive.

Preferred Qualifications:

Proficiency in Hebrew, Yiddish, or Ladino

Education:

Ph.D. in history required at time of appointment

How to Apply:

Applications are due by September 24, 2026; however, the position will remain open, and applications may be considered, until the position is filled. We anticipate the position to begin August 23, 2027, the start of academic year 2027-28.

Apply online at "Jobs at UW" (http://jobs.wisc.edu) under Job Requisition JR10012692. Applications must be received through UW–Madison's online application system. Applications submitted outside of this system will not be considered. Click the "Apply Now" button to start the application process.

Applications should include:

• A cover letter that touches on research and teaching strengths and interests
• An article- or chapter-length writing sample
• One syllabus for a course on the candidate’s field of study
• One syllabus for a course on the Holocaust

Applicants will receive an email requesting the names and contact information for three references; each reference will receive an electronic link through which they can upload a signed letter of reference.

Please note that applicants will be evaluated based upon submitted application materials and therefore should speak to and include evidence of their qualifications. Application materials must clearly demonstrate the applicant’s dedication to excellence in student-centered teaching and mentoring. Additionally, materials should showcase the applicant’s ability to purposefully plan their teaching practices, evidenced through goals, action plans, reflection, and related documentation. This portion of the application materials must be created by the applicant and may include supporting letters.  It cannot be only in the form of letters and testimony by others.

Contact Information:

Nina Caputo, Lipton Professor of Jewish Studies and Director of the Center for Jewish Studies: [email protected]

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Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

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