ISAC Postdoctoral Fellowship in Religion, Healing, and Magic in Late Antiquity

Job Posting Title :

ISAC Postdoctoral Fellowship in Religion, Healing, and Magic in Late Antiquity

Hiring Department :

Department of Religious Studies

Position Open To : All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours :

40

FLSA Status : Exempt

Earliest Start Date :

Sep 01, 2026

Position Duration :

Expected to Continue Until Aug 31, 2028

Location : UT MAIN CAMPUS

Job Details : General Notes

The Department of Religious Studies at the University of Texas at Austin seeks to appoint in Fall 2026 a two-year postdoctoral fellow affiliated with the Institute for the Study of Antiquity and Christian Origins (ISAC). We seek early career scholars with a specialization in Religion, Healing, and Magic in Late Antiquity. The fellow may have expertise in Ancient Christianity, Ancient Judaism, or Greco-Roman Religions, and may work from any relevant methodological approach. Their focus may include topics such as : alchemy; altered states of consciousness; anatomical votives; curses; demonology and spirit possession; disability; divinatory practices and ritual expertise; epidemiology; exorcism; dietary practices and fasting; gynecology and obstetrics; healers and physicians; healing sanctuaries, hospitals, and other spaces of healing; Hermetic traditions; Hippocratic traditions; magical bowls and incantations; medical philosophy and education; mental health and "madness"; pain management; pediatrics; pharmacology; prosthetics; and sexual health.

Applicants should hold a Ph.D. in Religious Studies or a related field with a specialization in the area of Ancient Mediterranean Religions. ABD applicants must receive the Ph.D. before the appointment begins in August 2026. Ph.D. must have been received no more than three years prior to the start date. Besides a competitive stipend, this position includes support for relocation, research expenses, and organizing a research symposium or conference.

Review of applications will begin Oct. 31, 2025. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Purpose

To conduct postdoctoral research in the field of religion, healing, and magic in Late Antiquity.

Responsibilities :

Perform research on topics related to religion, healing, and magic in Late Antiquity with the intent to publish

Teach three courses over two years, with the possible option of one course being a graduate seminar.

Organize and execute an interdisciplinary conference or research symposium on campus that involves collaboration with other programs and units on campus, such as the Humanities, Health & Medicine Program, the Dell Medical School, and the College of Natural Sciences

Present at a departmental colloquium

Participate in departmental grant-writing efforts

Participate in department and university intellectual communities and programs concerning Ancient Mediterranean Religions

Required Qualifications :

Applicants should hold a Ph.D. in Religious Studies or a related field in the area of Ancient Mediterranean Religions by the time of appointment. Ph.D. must have been received no more than three years prior to the start date.

Salary Range

$65,000

Working Conditions

Typical office environment

Required Materials : CV

The names of 3 academic references with their contact information

Letter of interest

A brief writing sample (no more than 12,000 words)

A syllabus for an undergraduate course

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers : You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure thatALLRequired Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers : As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questionspresented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

Employment Eligibility :

Please make sure you meet all the required qualifications and you can perform all of the essential functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Retirement Plan Eligibility :

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks :

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer :

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer ,complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency :

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification :

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify :

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university's company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following :

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance :

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031 .

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.