About the Department:

The Department of Language, Literature & Culture is a close-knit community dedicated to advancing both language proficiency and critical cultural literacy. Students explore literature, film, and media through interdisciplinary and global perspectives, preparing them for careers in education, government, nonprofits, and the arts. The department values research and teaching that connects language and culture across boundaries and that fosters collaboration among Clark's diverse academic programs.

Position Overview:

The Department of Language, Literature and Culture at Clark University invites applications for a one-year Visiting Assistant Professor in Japanese Language and Culture, beginning in August 2026. This position is partially funded by the Japan Foundation. The successful candidate will teach four courses per year: two in intermediate or advanced Japanese language and two on Japanese culture (taught in English).

Preferred Specializations:

We seek a scholar whose research and teaching focuses on Japanese cultural production and who brings a disciplinary background in comparative literature, cultural studies, environmental humanities, gender studies, linguistics, media studies (including digital media or digital humanities), religion, or related fields.

We especially welcome candidates whose work is collaborative and interdisciplinary. The successful candidate will have opportunities to engage with colleagues and students through centers, programs and Schools, such as Asian Studies, Center for Gender, Race, and Areas Studies (CGRAS), the Higgins School of Humanities, the Becker School of Design and Technology, and the School of Climate, Environment and Society, among others.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a relevant field required by the time of appointment.
• ABD candidates will receive full consideration, provided all degree requirements are completed by August 1, 2026.
• Demonstrated excellence or strong promise in teaching Japanese language and culture at the college level.
• Evidence of research in Japanese cultural studies within an interdisciplinary context.

Expected Hiring Range: $81,600 to $90,750

Pay Transparency Disclosure:
The compensation for this position will be determined based on factors that include available budget, internal equity, and the selected candidate's qualifications, experience, education, and other job-related credentials. This range represents Clark University's good-faith estimate of the expected hiring range at the time of posting consistent with Clark's compensation philosophy and internal alignment.

At Clark University we believe that diversity of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds leads to a more innovative and productive work environment. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to join our team and contribute their unique ideas to help us achieve our goals.

Clark University offers a generous benefit package for full and, if applicable, part-time employees that include; paid time off, generous retirement plan, group health and dental insurance, life insurance, and tuition, along with use of many campus amenities. For a complete list of benefits for eligible employees visit here.

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About Clark University

Founded in 1887, Clark University is a liberal arts-based research university committed toscholarship and inquiry that addresses social and human imperatives on a global basis. It is the place where Robert Goddard invented the modern rocket, where Sigmund Freud delivered his only lectures in the United States, and where current students stake their claim to the Clark motto, “Challenge Convention, Change Our World,” which is the rallying cry that inspires our community every day. Located in Worcester, Massachusetts, Clark University educates its undergraduate and graduate students to be imaginative and contributing citizens of the world, and to advance the frontiers of knowledge and understanding through rigorous scholarship and creative effort. The University’s engages students in such areas as biology, chemistry, economics, geography, psychology, urban education, management, environmental science and policy, Holocaust and genocide studies, and international development and social change. Clark University’s pioneering model of higher education, LEEP (Liberation Education and Effective Practice) compels undergraduate students to thrive in authentic world and workplace settings, and prepares them for lives and careers of consequence.

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