Princeton University

Center for the Study of Religion brings a select number of pre-tenure scholars and recent Ph.D. graduates to Princeton University to study religion and religious history. The scholars, who are appointed by the Dean of the Faculty, devote time to serving the intellectual life of the Center and the University through mentoring graduate and undergraduate students and participating in one of the Center's weekly interdisciplinary seminars.

Current scholars are listed here.

For 2012-2013, scholars will be appointed in the area of Christian Thought and Practice with special emphasis on the religious life of American Christians, congregations, or clergy. Scholars should be engaged in projects that focus attention on North American Christianity and may be relevant for congregations or pastoral leaders. Scholars will conduct their own research on historical or contemporary aspects of Christian thought and practice, attend one of the weekly interdisciplinary workshops, and participate in occasional Center-sponsored events.

Applicants must submit an online application form at http://jobs.princeton.edu. Search for requisition number #0110611. The online application will include instructions for attaching the following five items:  

• Curriculum Vitae;
• A cover letter including a research project title and a project summary of 200 words of less;  
• A brief (five-page) presentation of the proposed research project;  
• A relevant writing sample (published or unpublished paper) in English or with an English translation; and
• Contact information for three refernces from former instructors and/or major scholars.

All application materials, including letters of reference, must be received by January 6, 2012. For more information, contact the Center at (609) 258-5545 or via e-mail csrelig@princeton.edu.

Appointments at the Center for the Study of Religion generally run for a full academic year (September through June). The candidate's obligations are to pursue his or her research, in residence in Princeton, to attend regularly and contribute actively to one of the Seminars and to other scheduled Center activities. The Religion and Public Life and the Religion and Culture Seminars meet on Wednesday and Tuesday afternoons, respectively, during the term. Scholars are given offices at 5 Ivy Lane, each of which is equipped with a Dell computer with Windows and Microsoft Office or a similarly equipped Macintosh. Computers are connected to the Princeton University network. Scholars also have access to laser-printing and photocopying facilities.

Support amounts are calculated using the following guidelines:

1. The Center's funds are limited and candidates should therefore apply for travel and research funds from their own universities and from other grant-giving institutions.
2. In calculating support for each candidate, deductions are made for outside grants and sabbatical leave funds that a candidate may bring with him/her. Within the limits of its resources, it is the intent of the Center for the Study of Religion to provide a salary plus benefits that will equal, but not exceed, the normal salary paid to a scholar at his or her home university.
3. The Center will pay each Fellow candidate for the year, with no outside support, the equivalent of his/her annual salary paid at his/her home university, up to a maximum to be determined by the Center on an annual basis.
4. Scholars without current institutional affiliation will be paid a salary commensurate with their experience at established Princeton University rates.
5. Those with outside support that amounts to less than their normal salary will receive sufficient additional funds from the Center, up to a maximum determined by the Center, to bring their salaries up to normal.
6. CSR provides a small fund to each invited scholar (normally $1000 to $2000) to be used for research or travel.