Moon Family Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2026-27

University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stipend: $67,000

Conference travel funds: $2,000

Shared office space

Library access

Job summary

The James Joo-Jin Kim Center for Korean Studies at the University of Pennsylvania invites applications for the Moon Family Postdoctoral Fellowship for 2026–27. The 12‑month fellowship runs from August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027, with a minimum stipend of $67,000 and up to $2,000 for conference travel.

The fellow will have shared office space and Penn library access. Applicants must reside in the Philadelphia area, teach one Korea-related course per year, and participate in Kim Center events,

Qualifications

• Ph.D. must be completed by July 31, 2026.
• Research and teaching focus on Korea.
• Resident of the Philadelphia area.
• Ability to design and teach Korea-related course(s).

Responsibilities

• Teach one Korea-related course per year.
• Give a public presentation for the Korean Studies Colloquium.
• Mentor Kim Center graduate and undergraduate fellows.
• Participate in Kim Center events and related activities at Penn.
• Organize a Korea Studies Conference (Fall 2026 or Spring 2027).

Skills

Korean studies focus

Teaching experience

Mentoring fellows

Conference organization

Education

PhD by 2026-07-31

Tools

Interfolio

Job description

University of Pennsylvania: School of Arts and Sciences: School of Arts and Sciences Centers and Institutes: Kim Center for Korean Studies

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Open Date: Nov 19, 2025

Description

The James Joo-Jin Kim Center for Korean Studies at the University of Pennsylvania announces a Moon Family Postdoctoral Fellowship for the 2026–27 academic year. The postdoctoral fellowship is open to scholars from any discipline with a research and teaching focus on Korea. The fellowship is the 12-month period between August 1, 2026 and July 31, 2027 and carries a minimum stipend of $67,000 as well as conference travel funds up to $2,000. The postdoctoral fellow will also receive a shared office space and access to libraries and other resources at Penn. The fellowship may be renewed for a second year, based on satisfactory performance, the existence of funding, and programmatic need.

The fellow will be required to: 1) reside in the Philadelphia area; 2) teach one Korea-related course per year; 3) give a public presentation for the Korean Studies Colloquium; 4) mentor the Kim Center graduate and undergraduate fellows; 5) participate in the Kim Center events and related activities at Penn; and 6) organize a Korean Studies Conference (either in Fall 2026 or in Spring 2027).

Eligibility

The applicant who is awarded the fellowship must complete all requirements for the Ph.D. degree (dissertation deposited) by July 31, 2026.

Application Requirements

• Cover Letter (including a description of research projects to be carried out during the fellowship, and teaching interests/experiences)
• CV
• Writing Sample (a published/publishable article or a dissertation chapter)
• One Korea-related course syllabus
• Two Letters of Recommendation (uploaded to the Interfolio directly by the recommenders)

The School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania is committed to cultivating a vibrant community of students, scholars, researchers, and staff and to upholding the highest standards of academic excellence. The School and the Center for Korean Studies strive to create working and learning environments that foster intellectual growth and encourage meaningful connections within our Penn academic community and beyond.

Questions Can Be Directed To

Seok Lee, Associate Director of Academics

Email: [e-mail]