Advancing Future Faculty Diversity Postdoctoral Scholars Program at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Job Description:

Applications open November 7, 2024 and close January 1, 2025.

To build the Lehigh of the future, the Advancing Future Faculty Diversity Postdoctoral Scholars Program seeks applications from outstanding scholars with diverse backgrounds and perspectives who plan to pursue a career in the professoriate. The position is an enriched postdoctoral appointment where alongside the pursuit of research activities, professoriate training is provided to develop competitive faculty-skills. Following the successful postdoctoral experience, each scholar may be considered for an assistant professor position in the relevant department at Lehigh University (or is expected to be competitive for positions at other institutions). We invite applications for the third cohort of Lehigh's Advancing Future Faculty Diversity Scholars to start as soon as Summer/Fall 2025.

This opportunity is aimed at prospective future faculty whose experience and plans for teaching, research and service are aligned with creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive academic culture of excellence at Lehigh University or similar institutions. Other eligibility details can be found online in the "About the Program" section.

Scholars will join departments, programs, or research institutes committed to fostering robust, inclusive professional development conducive to preparing top talent for tenure track success. In that environment, scholars will be expected to develop strong research programs, contribute to Lehigh's educational mission, augment or complement existing strengths, and collaborate effectively with colleagues. In addition, scholars must also be committed to the enhancement of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment in which world-class faculty, staff, and students can thrive to their full potential. We encourage applications from members of social identity groups historically underrepresented in the academy or their disciplines.

For Cohort 3 Review we seek applications in the following academic units, all of which are qualified hosts, especially in the named areas of special interest:

Department of History, in the area of transnational South Asia, broadly defined (within the College of Arts and Sciences).

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, in the broad topic of Materials for Energy (within the PC Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Sciences).

Department of Community and Population Health, in areas including biostatistics; Latino health; infectious disease; disability independence; health economics and policy; or urban health (within the College of Health).

Applications will be reviewed as they are received until the deadline January 1, 2025 by relevant departments for ideal matching of support and career success. Writing samples will be requested from semi-finalists to the Department of History position.

Appointed Scholars will create individual future faculty development plans, participate in networked mentoring support, engage in professional development activities, including those offered by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, and receive a flexible professional development fund of $10,000 per year as part of establishing an independent career. Host units commit to other research resources to set the scholar up for success in their research activities. Positions are one year renewable appointments; most scholars will complete two years and some may renew for a third.

At Lehigh University, Postdoctoral Scholars are staff members eligible for full employee benefits, including access to medical, dental, and retirement plan contributions. Starting salary is at least $65,000 per year; appointments include $10,000 funds for research and professional development per year (and up to $2000 can be used for relocation (taxable)).

Founded in 1865, Lehigh University has combined outstanding academic and learning opportunities with leadership in fostering innovative research. Recognized among the nation's highly ranked research universities, Lehigh offers a rigorous academic community for over 7,000 students and about 550 full-time faculty members. Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, PA., a vibrant and historic area. Over 820,000 people live in the Lehigh Valley, which is in close proximity to New York City and Philadelphia.

Lehigh University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital or familial status, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. We are committed to the pursuit of the educational benefits of a diverse campus community. Lehigh University is committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse academic community and is especially interested in candidates who can contribute, through their research, teaching and/or service, to this mission. Lehigh University sustains an active ADVANCE Center following receipt of an NSF ADVANCE Institutional Transformation award to increase the representation and advancement of women in academic sciences and engineering (http://www.lehigh.edu/luadvance), and has been recognized for five consecutive years among institutions of higher education recognized for excellence in diversity with the INSIGHT into Diversity HEED Award. Lehigh Business also received INSIGHT Into Diversity Magazine's 2023 Inspiring Programs in Business Award. Additional information about Lehigh's commitment to diversity and inclusion is available at https://diversityandinclusion.lehigh.edu/. Lehigh University provides competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including domestic partner benefits. More information about The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs can be found here https://postdoc.lehigh.edu/ and about Faculty Work/Life Balance can be found at https://provost.lehigh.edu/resources/worklife-balance. Lehigh University supports dual career efforts for following spouses/partners of newly hired faculty https://provost.lehigh.edu/resources/faculty-dual-career-assistance-program.

The application portal lets you save your application progress in a draft until ready to submit.

This application asks you to provide or upload:

• A cover letter describing your interest in working in the selected host unit and your interest working at Lehigh.


• Demographic information (with various options to respond) about dimensions of gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, disabilities, veteran status. Please note that this information will be collected in such a way that it is not linked to the application.


• A complete CV.


• Research Statement (~2p) that describes past scholarly contributions and future research directions. Outstanding applicants to the History position will be invited to share writing samples at the semi-finalist and/or finalist stages.


• Teaching Statement(~1-2 pages) that describes instructional philosophy and whether and how you would be interested in contributing to the teaching mission of the university. Note that Scholars in this program are not required to teach formal classes, but they may choose to do so as part of their professional development. That decision will be made between the scholar and hosting unit and should be decided based upon both the Scholar's interest and being competitive for an assistant professorship.


• A Statement on Contributions to Diversity, Inclusion and Equity that describes knowledge; prior diversity, equity, and inclusion experience and accomplishments, and the candidate's vision for enhancing community and culture at Lehigh University (~1-2 pages).


• Names and contact information for 3 references. We will request the letters via the application system. Letters are due with the complete application deadline of January 1, 2024.