Title: Postdoctoral Fellow
https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/11379
We seek a postdoctoral fellow with research experience in computational approaches to language and literature to work on a cross-institutional project to develop methods for the study of historical psychology in Latin texts. This is a one-year full-time position beginning in September 2022 and potentially renewable for one additional year. Besides regular meetings with the project PI, Joe Henrich (Harvard University, Culture, Cognition, and Coevolution Lab) and co-PI, Jonathan Schulz (George Mason University), the position will entail close collaboration with the Quantitative Criticism Lab, co-directed by Joseph Dexter (Harvard University). The aim of the project is to develop computational methods for the study of diachronic changes in psychology based on current research in the social sciences and developments in computational text analysis for Latin and other pre-modern languages. The work forms part of a larger multi-institutional project, funded by the Templeton Foundation, entitled “Religion, Family Structure and the Origins of Individual Freedom and Economic Prosperity.”
The successful applicant will join a cross-disciplinary, highly collaborative team of humanists, social scientists, and data scientists; this position will contribute to the team through research competence in historical languages and some experience in natural language processing, corpus linguistics, computational literary studies, digital humanities, or a related area. Experience in Latin language and literature is highly desirable; also desired but optional areas of experience include one or more of the following: cultural analytics, cultural evolution, history of ideas, lexicography. The fellow will have no teaching responsibilities.
A Ph.D. in a computational, statistical, linguistic, or literary field is required; possible disciplines include (but are not limited to) anthropology, applied mathematics, bioinformatics, classics, comparative literature, computer science, English, evolutionary biology, linguistics, and statistics. By the start date of the position, applicants should either have the Ph.D. in hand or be able to provide certification from their home institution that all degree requirements have been fulfilled.
The Culture, Cognition, and Coevolution Lab space is based at Harvard University; residence near Cambridge during the fellowship period is preferred but not required.
Applicants should submit the following materials by August 31, 2022:
– Cover letter describing their interest in the position and any relevant prior work
– C.V.
– Short (1-2 page) summary of past and current research interests, giving particular attention to any computational work, including link to GitHub or other online coding portfolio, if available
– Writing sample of not more than 30 pages
– Names and contact information of three referees (letters will be requested only for short-listed candidates)
Questions regarding the position may be directed to jdexter@fas.harvard.edu.
Harvard is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, age, protected veteran status, disability, genetic information, military service, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or other protected status.
