Category Archives: opportunities and projects

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Recommendation letters: Dos and Donts

So, you are a student and you want to ask a professor for a recommendation letter? Consider doing the following:

—Explain who you are (e.g., “My name is Elisa Freschi, I was in your PHL 100 and PHL 401 classes”)

—Explain what you want their recommendation for (e.g., “I am writing to ask whether you might want to write a recommendation letter for me for my application to an MA in Gender Studies at Western University”)

—Be specific: Do you need a recommendation letter or just to put down their name as a reference?

—Give all the details about yourself: Attach your transcripts, letter of intent, writing sample, cv…

—Give all the details about the position you are applying for (a graduate program? A summer course? A conference?…)

—ASK before giving the name of a certain professor as reference (it is annoying to know that you have no choice)

—Explain when the deadline is and REMIND the professor one week in advance (I have never received an automatic reminder, but I know that it looks bad on an application if a professor did not submit their application)

—Don’t aim too high: It’s better to have an engaged letter by a TA or postdoc than to have a lukewarm letter by a well-known professor who does not really know you and will only say vague things about you.

—Connected with the above: Be sure that the professor will be happy to write a strong letter for you (not just a letter). Some letters are not really of help.

—Optional: Explain why you are asking exactly this professor (e.g., “I am asking you because you are the one who engaged the most with my writing assignments and could therefore speak about them/because your class is the one during which I have been improving the most and I hope you can attest to that/because of the many 1-1 discussions we had, which makes me confident that you have a clearer opinion about my philosophical ideas than most other professors/…”).

—INFORM your letter-writers of what happened. It’s nice to hear back from you!

Am I forgetting something?

(Updated, thanks to @neuroyogacara.bsky.social)

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Kumārila conference

The first Kumārila Conference will be held at the Department of Philosophy at the University of Toronto, Mississauga, from May 27th to June 1st, 2024. Venue: Maanjiwe nendamowinan building, Room 3230, UTM.

The conference will bring together experts who will lead two-hour reading sessions on key passages of Kumārila’s texts and provide participants with the necessary tools to understand the hidden gems of Kumārila’s philosophy. More in detail, these sessions will include the reading and commenting on selected passages on a given topic (e.g., adhikāra in Ṭupṭīkā 6.1) and a talk on the topic itself (e.g., mapping the intersection of adhikāra and sāmarthya) and then a discussion session. Besides, there will be opportunities for scholars and advanced students to present their research related to Kumārila in shorter sessions (60′ and 30′).

The conference will be coordinated by Elisa Freschi and Nilanjan Das and will see the participation of other experts in Sanskrit philosophy and philology. Confirmed participants (so far) include Dan Arnold, Tarinee Awasthi, Purushottama Bilimoria, Hugo David, Alessandro Graheli, Ham Hyoung Seok, Kei Kataoka, Malcolm Keating, Lawrence McCrea, Sudipta Munsi, John Nemec, Monika Nowakowska, Andrew Ollett, Parimal Patil, Akane Saito, Wintor Scott, Taisei Shida, Elliot Stern, Angela Vettikkal, Alex Watson and Kiyotaka Yoshimizu.

This will be an in-person only event, since we believe in the power of collective intelligence and collaboration and these are hardly replicable when some participants speak per Zoom and others are in the room. Please consider that we are happy to assist you with invitation letters etc. if you need them for visa purposes, just let us know!

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Lecturer in Philosophy (including comparative philosophy engaging with more than one tradition)

Lancaster University is hiring a lecturer in philosophy (full time, indefinite position), to start on August the 1st 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The post is “open to all those working in all areas of Philosophy, though we would particularly welcome applicants whose work addresses topics in either (a) feminist philosophy or (b) history of philosophy, including areas of the history of philosophy which consider the contributions of marginalised groups and comparative philosophy that engages with more than one tradition.”

More details: https://hr-jobs.lancs.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?id=9897&forced=1

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CfP: Conference on ineffability


CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

 Deadline: 1 February 2023

We invite proposals for papers to be given at an online conference on varieties of ineffability in ancient philosophy (spanning ancient Chinese, Graeco-Roman and Indian thought), on 18th-21st September 2023. The conference is expected to take place in the afternoon (British Summer Time) over the course of the four days.

Confirmed participants:
​
Lea Cantor (Oxford)
Amber Carpenter (Yale-NUS)
Ursula Coope (Oxford)
Nilanjan Das (Toronto)
Chris Fraser (Toronto)
Dirk Meyer (Oxford)
Adrian Moore (Oxford)
Parimal Patil (Harvard) 
​Shaul Tor (KCL)

This conference will examine notions of philosophical ineffability in ancient Chinese, Graeco-Roman and Indian texts, dating up to the 9th century CE. By philosophical ineffability we mean the idea that the object of one’s philosophical inquiry, or some aspects of that inquiry itself, are wholly or to some extent beyond the reach of articulation through words. The conference will seek to explore the variety of reasons (sometimes congruent) that might lead a philosopher to adopt some version of an ineffability attitude (e.g. a particular conception of the limits of one’s capacities for knowledge, thought or linguistic expression; a particular ontological stance; secrecy in relation to the uninitiated; a conception of silence as somehow spiritually formative; reverential inhibitions, etc.) as well as the variety of reactions a philosopher might then have in the light of their ineffability attitude (e.g. a qualified or non-committal approach towards the status of one’s own speech; an appeal to metaphors, analogies or periphrasis; some version of the via negativa; silence, etc.). We are interested in how these sorts of motivations and reactions might relate to one another, as well as to wider cultural models on which they sometimes draw. Our aim is not to attempt or approximate comprehensive coverage, nor to offer a survey. Instead, the conference will seek to explore case-studies stemming from the three traditions that, in conjunction, will show something of the variety and richness of the phenomenon of ineffability in ancient philosophy. We welcome both papers that take a fresh look at famous examples and papers that examine cases that are less often discussed. It is hoped that the consideration of a diverse range of ineffability attitudes, as well as the adoption of a comparative, cross-cultural perspective, will throw into sharp relief different patterns of philosophical preoccupations and strategies, and indeed will offer one particular and productive angle from which to think about the scope and orientation of some central aspects of ancient philosophy.

CfA Eligibility & submission guidelines 

We invite abstracts of 300-500 words from researchers at all levels (abstracts from graduate students and ECRs are particularly welcome),  suitable for 30- to 35-minute presentations.

We welcome abstracts which address the themes of the conference in relation to one or more of the following ancient traditions: Chinese, Graeco-Roman and Indian. Comparative, cross-cultural and/or ‘connected’ approaches are welcome, but not necessary.
​
Please submit abstracts as an email attachment to ineffabilitiesconference[at]gmail.com by 1 February 2023. Abstracts should be submitted as .pdf files and should not exceed 500 words.

Please write ‘Conference Abstract Submission’ in the subject line of your email and include your name, departmental affiliation (if relevant), email address, and the title of your paper (as well as the year in which your PhD was awarded in the case of ECRs) in your email. Abstracts should be prepared for blind review, so please ensure that your abstract is free from any identifying personal details (i.e. including title and abstract, but no information about author or institutional affiliation).

Decisions will be communicated by 15 February 2023. 

Organizers

Lea Cantor (Oxford)
Ursula Coope (Oxford)
Nilanjan Das (Toronto)
Shaul Tor (KCL) 

Contact

For more information and updates, please visit our conference website. If you wish to be kept informed about the conference (and how to attend), please register your interest here.  

For any inquiries, please contact one of the conference organizers directly.

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Sanskrit position in Chicago

Instructional Professor in Sanskrit

Position Description
The Department of South Asian Languages and Civilizations and the College of the University of Chicago invites applications for a position as an Instructional Professor (open rank) in Sanskrit. The position begins in academic year 2023–24, with a start date of September 1, 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter. The selected candidate will be appointed at the rank of Assistant Instructional Professor, Associate Instructional Professor, or Instructional Professor, depending on qualifications and educational background. The initial appointment will be for a minimum of two years, with longer initial terms possible depending on initial rank, with review and progression schedule determined by a collective bargaining agreement between the University and the Service Employees International Union.

Qualifications
Applicants must have advanced proficiency in Sanskrit and evidence of excellence in teaching Sanskrit at the university level. An M.A./MPhil degree or foreign equivalent degree is required. A Ph.D. in a related field is desirable. Preferred qualifications include proficiency in another South Asian language, advanced training in South Asian area studies, and specialized training in second-language pedagogy.

Responsibilities
Responsibilities include both teaching and service duties. Teaching normally consists of seven courses across three quarters, six of which are Sanskrit courses at the beginning and intermediate levels of the language. One additional course may include non-language offerings in the College Core or in the Department of South Asian Languages and Civilizations, to be determined in consultation with the Department and College. There may also be an opportunity to teach occasional courses in another South Asian language, depending on departmental need as well as the ability and experience of the selected candidate. Service duties may include advising undergraduate theses, teaching independent studies, and engaging in outreach, or other program-specific duties. Instructional Professors of all ranks are required to engage in regular professional development.

Application Instructions
To apply for this position, please submit your application through the University of Chicago’s Academic Recruitment website at http://apply.interfolio.com/112938. An application must include:

  • a cover letter;
  • curriculum vitae;
  • a teaching statement;
  • one sample syllabus for a Sanskrit language course at the beginning or intermediate level;
  • a second sample syllabus for a non-language course; and
  • the names and contact information of three references who can supply letters of recommendation upon request.

Application deadline: All applicant materials must be received by January 9th 2023. Candidates may be asked to provide additional materials following the initial review.

This position is contingent upon budgetary approval. The terms and conditions of employment for this position are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the University and the Service Employees International Union. For information on the Department of South Asian Languages and Civilizations, please visit https://salc.uchicago.edu/. For questions about the position, please contact Tracy Davis.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages diverse perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange. The University’s Statements on Diversity are at https://provost.uchicago.edu/statements-diversity.

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-834-3988 or email equalopportunity@uchicago.edu with their request.

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Assistant professor opening at the Thapar Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Thapar Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences (TSLAS) inaugurated its first semester in August 2020. We are in the early phase of building a world-class research and teaching space in all major areas of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Sciences, including interdisciplinary areas. The school is currently open for applications from qualified candidates for the position of Assistant Professor in any area of Indian literary, intellectual, and cultural history, preferably in classical/medieval/early modern Indian literature and culture. An advanced-level training in one of the Indian classical or medieval languages — Sanskrit/Prakrit/Apbhramsha/Persian, or any of the medieval regional/vernacular languages — and demonstrated use of the acquired linguistic skills is desired for such positions.  

 The minimum qualification for the position of Assistant Professor is PhD; however a PhD candidate expecting the degree in the near future is also welcome to apply. We will also consider applications from candidates with a strong proven record of high-quality research work for senior positions of Associate and full Professors. Our remuneration packages are highly competitive. Please send your detailed CV and two recent research papers along with a letter of application to ajit.sinha@thapar.edu with a CC. to lav.sharma@thapar.edu

Desirable areas of research/expertise fields:

·         The formation and development of intellectual, religious, and scientific/technical knowledge traditions/practices in classical/medieval/early modern South Asia 

·         Social history of the formation of social and religious identities in classical/medieval/early modern India 

·         Aesthetic, philosophical, and political cultures in classical/medieval/early modern India 

·         Formation of languages and literary cultures in classical/medieval/early modern South Asia

·         Rise and turn in jurisprudential cultures, and the nature of political authority in classical/medieval/early modern South Asia

·         Making and growth of textual, visual, and performing arts cultures 

·         Military culture, war technology, and the making of political authority

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Ass. Prof. in South Asian Religions at McGill

Assistant Professor- Position in South Asian Religions, School of Religious Studies 

The School of Religious Studies at McGill University (Montreal, Canada) invites applications for a tenure-­track faculty position in the area of South Asian Religions, with a focus on gender and/or sexuality, at the rank of Assistant Professor. Exceptionally qualified candidates may be considered at the rank of Associate.  


Position Description:
We seek a dynamic colleague capable of expanding and enriching an already strong program in Asian Religions at McGill who is prepared to teach at undergraduate and graduate levels. 

The appointment begins August 1, 2023.  


Job Duties: 

The candidate will also be expected to teach at undergraduate and graduate levels; to contribute to graduate seminars in theory and method offered by the School of Religious Studies.  


Qualifications and Education Requirements:
The candidate is expected to have received the PhD prior to appointment.  

This position calls for specialization in the study of South Asian Religions alongside substantive engagement with the wider fields of Religious Studies, South Asian Studies, and Gender Studies, including relevant theoretical and methodological approaches.   

Preference will be given to candidates who have an excellent overall research profile; research competence in at least two South Asian languages, ideally, one modern and one classical; and the ability to teach broad courses that cover South Asian religious traditions in interreligious and regional perspectives.

Faculty/Department/Unit:
School of Religious Studies 

For further information about the School of Religious Studies, visit: http://www.mcgill.ca/religiousstudies.   

For more information on the study of Asian Religions at the School of Religious Studies, visit:  

https://www.mcgill.ca/religiousstudies/graduate/research-areas-and-fields-study/asian-religions.

Job Type:
Tenure-track

Rank:
Assistant Professor

Salary:
Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Posting Period: 

Applications should be received by November 1, 2022 to guarantee full consideration, but will be accepted until the position is filled.   

Applications must be submitted online through Workday, McGill’s employment portal    

(https://mcgill.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/mcgill_careers).  


Required Documents: 

Applicants should submit the following:  

a letter of application (addressing qualifications, research, and teaching interests);  

a Curriculum Vitae; relevant teaching materials;  

and one representative writing sample or scholarly publication.  

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit three letters of recommendation at the relevant stage of review. 

Inquiries: 

Inquiries may be addressed to Ms. F. Maniaci, Administrative Officer, School of Religious Studies (francesca.maniaci@mcgill.ca), or to the chair of the search committee, Prof. Hamsa Stainton (hamsa.stainton@mcgill.ca). 

McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities. 

At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry. 

McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record. 

McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, accessibilityrequest.hr@mcgill.ca. 

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. 


Further information on this application: https://mcgill.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/mcgill_careers/details/Assistant-Professor–Position-in-South-Asian-Religions–School-of-Religious-Studies_JR0000031192