USA: Rice University Faculty Fellowships in Human Trafficking

Overview

Rice University will award up to six external, year-long faculty fellowships to scholars from any rank (senior to postdoc) and any discipline during the academic year 2012-13. Fellows will receive $60,000 in salary, eligibility for Rice medical benefits, and an allowance for reallocation expenses. Fellows must be in residence at Rice during their appointments.

Fellows will participate in the Rice Seminar, “Human Trafficking Past and Present: Crossing Borders, Crossing Disciplines,” co-directed by two Rice historians of slavery, James Sidbury and Kerry Ward. This academic think tank will begin with the history of slavery and slave trading, considering both U.S. and global histories of slavery through the 19th century. With these foundational discussions in mind, the faculty seminar will turn to modern forms of human trafficking, exploring how 20th century political initiatives sought to globalize the suppression of slavery through human rights discourses. Narrowing the focus of the topic, the seminar will use Houston as a case study to examine the public and private philanthropic actors working to combat new forms of slave trading and labor exploitation. Examining these histories and discourses across a long-ranging historical period and through interdisciplinary approaches will result in the production and publication of innovative work that shows the intersection between local and global cultures of human trafficking.

Fellows will develop, present, and discuss original scholarship that explores past and contemporary histories of human trafficking. Their primary obligation will include participating in the seminar. Fellows are also expected to contribute to graduate and undergraduate experience of Rice University students; the nature of this engagement will be determined in consultation with the applicant. This seminar will conclude with the publication of an edited collection with a major university press, which will reflect the work and discussions of the seminar.

International applicants are encouraged to apply.

Selection Process

Proposals are evaluated on these criteria:

The scholarly and multidisciplinary promise of the specific research project being proposed
The originality and intellectual distinction of the candidate’s previous work
The research project’s potential interest within the study of human trafficking
The applicant’s potential to contribute to the seminar and the intellectual community of Rice

Applicants will be notified of fellowship decisions in early February 2012.

Application Process

Applications will be accepted via email to laurenk@rice.edu or paper copies by postal mail or courier delivery.

US mail address:
Humanities Research Center
Rice University
Attn: Rice Seminars
P.O. Box 1892- MS 620
Houston TX 77251-1892

Delivery (Fedex, UPS, etc):
Humanities Research Center
Rice University
Attn: Rice Seminars
6100 Main St. - MS 620
Houston TX 77005

Applications Materials Include:

· 1000 word research project proposal

· One page bibliography

· Two page CV

Eligibility

Fellowships are awarded to applicants from all disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. This includes, but is not limited to, history, philosophy, languages, literature, linguistics, religious studies, art history, the arts, anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, and sociology.
Scholars from all ranks eligible to apply. Applicants must have received the PhD before June 30, 2012.
Rice University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer. Scholars who are members of traditionally under-represented groups are encouraged to apply.
There is no citizenship requirement or restriction for this fellowship. Non-U.S. nationals are encouraged to apply.
Employment eligibility verifications are requested upon hire.
This fellowship will include medical benefit eligibility.