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Tenure-track assistant or associate professor of Medical Humanities, specializing in narrative and/or digital humanities approaches to medicine and health in the 20th-21st centuries. Focus on data, technology, and computational approaches to health narratives (or critical data and software studies focusing on health/medicine) highly desired, with a preference for scholars with demonstrated engagement with the field of Medical Humanities who can connect with Rice’s new Media Studies major and Science and Technology Studies minor.

The School of Humanities at Rice University in Houston, Texas, seeks applicants for a tenure- track assistant or associate professor position in Medical Humanities, specializing in narrative and/or digital humanities approaches to medicine and health in the 20th-21st centuries. The primary appointment will be in a department in the School of Humanities, with an agreement describing the candidate’s role in the Medical Humanities program relating to teaching, research, and service activities. Ability to teach courses in literature and medicine, digital health humanities, and diverse narrative traditions is highly desired. A research focus on minoritized or marginalized communities, and engagement with interdisciplinary and collaborative methods is preferred. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in a relevant field in the Humanities (including but not limited to Literary Studies, Media Studies, Digital Humanities, or a related interdisciplinary field) by July 1, 2026.

The Medical Humanities program at Rice University aims to become a leading program in the United States focused on health equity, social justice, patient narratives and experiences, and ethical, human-centered technology development for health care settings. The recently established Medical Humanities Research Institute at Rice will provide resources and opportunities for faculty to work with our partners in the Texas Medical Center and engage in international collaborations. Applicants should be prepared to teach regularly offered undergraduate and graduate courses in Medical Humanities, along with courses in their own field of expertise. The normal course load in the Humanities is 2:2, and teaching will be in the Program in Medical Humanities, with cross-listing as appropriate in the candidate’s home department.

Please submit your application by October 31, 2025 (via Interfolio).

In addition to the application, the following items must be uploaded:

+ Cover Letter

+ Curriculum Vitae

+ Research Statement and Five-Year Plan

+ Statement of Teaching Philosophy and Interests (a complete teaching portfolio, including student evaluations, will be requested from finalists)

+ Sample syllabus for an undergraduate elective relevant to the position description

+ Writing sample of up to 25 pages

+ Three letters of recommendation

The Medical Humanities program was launched at Rice University in the fall of 2016 in response to student demand, faculty interest, and nationwide recognition that well-rounded students with humanities training bring valuable skills to health care and clinical research. The program takes a multidisciplinary approach to teaching and research on human experiences of health and illness, with a strong focus on health equity and justice. We aim to increase equity and inclusiveness through learning focused on social and cultural history, representation across forms of media, diversity, ethics, and health disparities. The School of Humanities has identified Medical Humanities as a strategic priority. Our program has strong collaborations with institutions in the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world, the University of Texas Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Baylor College of Medicine, and numerous community organizations. For more information on the program, see: https://medicalhumanities.rice.edu/. In addition to the undergraduate minor, the Medical Humanities Research Institute (MHRI) was launched in fall of 2023 to support the development of translational work in this field. MHRI was recently awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities grant to establish the Center for Humanities-Based Health AI Innovation (https://news.rice.edu/news/2025/future-ai-human-rice-baylor-college-medicine-lead-center-humanities-based-health-ai) in partnership with colleagues at Baylor College of Medicine. The successful candidate will be an active participant in this initiative and MHRI. For more information on the institute, see https://mhri.rice.edu/.

Rice University is a private, comprehensive research university located in the heart of Houston’s dynamic museum district and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. The fourth largest and most diverse city in the United States, Houston provides an opportunity for scholars to collaborate with area universities, museums, the Texas Medical Center, and civic organizations, and to engage with the broader metropolitan community. Rice University is a comprehensive and highly selective private research university consistently ranked among the top 20 universities in the United States. Rice offers undergraduate and graduate degrees across eight schools and has a student body of nearly 5,000 undergraduates and over 4,000 graduate students. Its hallmarks include a very high level of research activity and intellectual innovation, a 6:1 student-faculty ratio, and a commitment to diversity at all levels.

Application Process

This institution is using Interfolio's Faculty Search to conduct this search. Applicants to this position receive a free Dossier account and can send all application materials, including confidential letters of recommendation, free of charge.

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University (https://www.rice.edu/mission-values#xd\_co\_f=NzhlYjAxZjUtZDM4Yi00N2VkLTkwODAtYjdkNzE0ZmUwZTA3~)