The Southeast Asia Program (SEAP) at Cornell University invites applications for a two-year Postdoctoral Associate appointment. We are seeking an independent and highly motivated social scientist with fieldwork and area expertise on one or more Southeast Asian countries. Scholars from a range of fields including geography, anthropology, sociology, data/information science, public and ecosystem health, planning, political science, and environmental social science are encouraged to apply. We especially welcome someone able to work across disciplinary boundaries and is interested in the intersections between research, public engagement, and policy making in the Southeast Asian context.

Since its founding in 1951, SEAP has contributed to understanding Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brunei, East Timor, and Singapore in a comparative regional and global context, with a distinctive interdisciplinary program that spans the humanities, social sciences, and applied sciences. At present, Southeast Asia faces ongoing interrelated challenges, including natural resource extraction, climate change, migration, civil conflict, and inequitable economic growth. These challenges have practical significance for the lives of over half a billion people as well as the biodiversity and landscapes in the region, and call for a renewed focus on how governments, citizens, and other actors must respond to them.

The most competitive candidates will have proficiency in one (or more) Southeast Asian language(s) and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary contexts. We strongly encourage scholars from Southeast Asia and underrepresented scholars who have been historically and structurally excluded from research and funding opportunities to apply. The Associate will be housed in the Kahin Center for Advanced Research on Southeast Asia and, through SEAP, be part of the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies. SEAP will also provide connections to Department of Global Development, the Einaudi Migrations Program, and other Cornell units as relevant to the Scholar’s research and teaching interests.

Roles

The Associate will teach one class per year on a topic focused on Southeast Asia in a department closely related to their field of study. They will primarily contribute to the Southeast Asia Program by conducting independent research and disseminating their findings through presentations, publications, podcasts and public outlets such as the SEAP Bulletin and other forms of outreach. The Associate is required to be in residence at Cornell’s Ithaca campus where they can take advantage of the Echols Collection on Southeast Asia in the library and participate in SEAP’s weekly Gatty Lecture series as well as seminars and other programming in the Department of Global Development and other campus units.

Requirements

Awardees must have earned the doctoral degree within five years of beginning their appointment with SEAP. Candidates with more than five years of postdoctoral experience and those who received their Ph.D. from Cornell are not eligible. Awardees may not simultaneously hold any other paid or unpaid position during the term of the postdoctoral appointment. Before starting their term, candidates will be asked to confirm that their doctoral degree has been conferred.

How to Apply

• The completed application, including three letters of reference, must be received by the application deadline of January 15, 2025 through Academic Jobs Online (AJO https://academicjobsonline.org/).
• Applicants must submit biographical information, including the expected (or actual) date that they will receive their Ph.D. degree. Eligible applicants must have their Ph.D. conferred before beginning the postdoctoral term.
• Full CV in PDF format.
• Description of proposed research (maximum of 2 pages, single-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, PDF format).
• Draft syllabus for a planned course on Southeast Asia that falls within the general theme of the social sciences. The course may be offered at any level (introductory undergraduate, advanced undergraduate, or graduate) but the syllabus should include, at minimum,
  • A description of the course content and learning goals
  • A description of the intended audience
  • Weekly course plan
  • Preliminary list of readings
• Full name and contact information of three references, one of whom must be the applicant's doctoral advisor. All reference letters should be submitted directly online by the reference writers to https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/ site. Please note that all references must be received by the application deadline on January 15, 2025.
• Shortlisted applicants will be invited to participate in an interview via electronic conference with the selection committee.
• Please note that non-U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents who are offered a SEAP Qualitative Social Sciences Postdoctoral Associate position will be required to provide additional information to obtain a valid visa and/or work authorization. The SEAP Postdoctoral Associate position does not support H1B visa status.
• Applicants will only be considered for one of the two posted SEAP Postdoctoral Associate appointments. Do not apply for more than one of these positions.

Salary and Appointment Details

• The SEAP Qualitative Social Sciences Postdoctoral Associate is provided an annual salary ranging from $62,000-$65,000, depending on candidate experience.  They will receive Cornell benefits for the duration of their post-doctoral appointment.
• In addition to the annual salary, Associates receive an annual professional development fund of $4,000 per year. Associates will also have the opportunity to apply for additional research funds through discussion with the SEAP faculty steering committee and the SEAP Director.
• Associates are appointed for a one-year term with second-year renewal contingent upon performance.
• Appointment start date is negotiable between July 1 and September 1, 2025.
• Candidates will be notified of selection decisions by February 15, 2025.

Supervision

Associates will be housed within SEAP, part of the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies, and will work closely with Professor Jenny Goldstein and other faculty involved in SEAP.