Lecturer/Instructor in Jainism and South Asian Culture and Religions

Department of Religion

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The Department of Religion at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign invites applications for a Lecturer/Instructor position in Jain Studies and South Asian Culture and Religions with a target start date of August 16, 2026. This is a 9-month, full-time, non-tenure track position, with an initial one-year appointment. Renewal may be possible based on continued funding, enrollments, and strong performance reviews. The budgeted salary for this position is $60,000, commensurate with similar positions at Illinois. The successful applicant will teach an introductory course in Jainism and other courses that relate South Asian Culture to Jain ethics, philosophy, artistic and material culture depending on their specialization. Teaching assignment: 3/3 course load, with up to one course release possible per semester for public engagement and planning, organization, and coordination of University events, including the annual Madhuri J. Sheth Symposium in Jain Studies.

Required Qualifications

• Phd in hand in humanities or social science disciplines, interdisciplinary programs or related fields will be considered as Lecturer. Candidates who are ABD in humanities or social science disciplines, interdisciplinary programs or related fields will be considered as an Instructor.
• Wide range of knowledge of Jain philosophy, ethic, religion, and history in its social and cultural contexts in both India and diaspora

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to build a Jain Studies program
• Demonstrated ability to teach courses related to Jainism’s past and present and to bring Jain teachings on non-harm, non-attachment, and indeterminacy to bear on contemporary practices and issues
• Demonstrated commitment to outreach to and engagement with the Jain community at the University of Illinois and to partner with institutions in the United States and worldwide

Application Process and Deadline Information

Please create a candidate profile at https://jobs.illinois.edu. Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CDT) on April 1, 2026.

Required Documents to be submitted for full consideration

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Contact information for three professional references, as letters of recommendation may be requested electronically from referees at a later date

We ask that all documents be uploaded as a single .pdf file as an upload in the “Resume/CV” section. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. The search committee may contact candidates to request further materials, including letters of reference, sample syllabi, and a writing sample. Candidate interviews may begin before the closing date, although no hiring decision will be made until after that date.

This position is eligible for sponsorship for work authorization, except for sponsorship of a new H1B petition that would incur the $100,000 fee. This position will be expected to work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus on a full-time basis per the University’s Workplace Flexibility policy.

Questions about the position may be directed to Professor Dov Weiss, dyweiss@illinois.edu.

For inquiries about application materials, email: lascollegehiring@illinois.edu

For questions regarding the application portal, please contact 217-333-2137 or jobs@illinois.edu

The University of Illinois must also comply with applicable federal export control laws and regulations and, as such, reserves the right to employ restricted party screening procedures for applicants.