Job Description Summary

Organization's Summary Statement:

The Latin American and Caribbean Studies Center (LACS) at the University of Maryland seeks a scholar of Latin America and the Caribbean for a one-year postdoctoral associate position, renewable up to three (3) years, contingent on financial support. The associate will work jointly with LACS (50%) and the Graduate School (TGS, 50%). Duties will include:


-Teaching three courses each academic year: LACS course courses (234 and 235), and the LACS Capstone course (486)
-Planning the LACS Graduate Lecture Series
-Implementing Graduate School initiatives preparing doctoral students for multiple career paths by leading workshops and conducting 1:1 student appointment;
-Creating opportunities for Directors/Coordinators of Graduate Studies in select colleges and schools (ARHU, EDUC, BSOS, INFO etc.) to support existing career/professional development efforts and enhance career development best practices;
-Conducting research on national trends/innovations in career/professional development in humanities and social sciences in order to understand and track data/trends internally and externally.


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Eligible scholars are those who have earned a doctorate, preferably within the last two (2) years, in any academic discipline in the Humanities, Arts, or Social Sciences, with a geographical focus on Latin America and/or the Caribbean. Applicants must have a PhD in hand by June 1, 2025.

The postdoctoral associate will receive academic mentorship through support from the LACS director while also having the opportunity to refine their teaching skills with considerable autonomy in both pedagogical methods and course material across the three (3) courses they teach during the academic year. LACS offers an ideal setting for the postdoctoral associate to work on a large research project. Additionally, during the summer, the associate will design and oversee programming for the annual Graduate Lecture Series, which consists of four lectures featuring two speakers per session. The associate will also be an integral part of the Graduate School’s Graduate Student Success Team and receive professional mentorship from the Program Director of Career & Professional Development.


The successful candidate will embrace an interdisciplinary outlook in their teaching and demonstrate a significant research agenda in their field. We are also looking for a candidate who is open to learning about career & professional development and engaging with current graduate students in humanities and social sciences to support others’ growth. Recent LACS postdoctoral associates have gone on to attain tenure-track jobs, and the Graduate School provides comprehensive support for postdoctoral scholars interested in academic or professional career pathways. LACS and the Graduate School are committed to the goals of diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism in higher education. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and who can contribute significantly to furthering these goals. Priority will be given to UMD graduates, but all candidates will be considered.


ABOUT THE CENTER
The Latin American Studies and Caribbean Studies Center (LACS) at the University of Maryland originated as a research center and academic program in 1969. Since then, it has been a dynamic research center on the College Park campus and is well known internationally. In 1996, an undergraduate Latin American Studies and Caribbean Certificate program was established and the first cohort of LACS students signed up in fall 1997. The Certificate program continued in 2017, along with research support, academic presentations, student and faculty conferences, and co-curricular cultural events. The Minor program started in the spring of 2019. The minor helps prepare students for careers related to Latin America. https://www.lacs.umd.edu/

ABOUT THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
The Graduate School encompasses all graduate programs at the University of Maryland, making it one of the largest graduate education enterprises in the country. The Graduate School serves as home base for the entire graduate community, offering guidance and support from application to graduation and every milestone in between. Our offices, each dedicated to a particular area and staffed with area experts, work together to ensure seamless support to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and programs. Our mission is to advance graduate education and enhance the graduate student experience.


Physical Demands:

Work is performed in an office environment and requires the ability to operate standard office equipment and keyboards. Must have the ability to walk short distances, and/or drive a vehicle to deliver and pick up materials.


Preferences: NA


Licens