Svare-Toven Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow

Pacific Lutheran University

Tacoma (WA)

On-site

USD 48,000 - 56,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Campus housing

Moving allowance

Job summary

Pacific Lutheran University invites applications for the Svare-Toven Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowship in Scandinavian Studies. The one-year residential fellowship supports pedagogical development for recent PhDs, with a rank equivalent to visiting assistant professor.

Fellows reside on campus from September 1, 2027 to May 31, 2028. The program accepts PhDs or equivalent by Sept 1, 2027, in Scandinavian Studies or related humanities/social sciences, with a strong emphasis on teaching, mentorship,

Qualifications

PhD or equivalent degree in hand no later than September 1, 2027.
PhD in Scandinavian Studies or a related humanities or social science discipline with primary focus on Scandinavia.
Applicant must be an emerging teacher-scholar not yet tenured or on tenure track.

Responsibilities

Teach four undergraduate courses across fall, J-Term, and spring semesters.
Participate in PLU’s mentorship program, including teaching mentorship.
Present scholarly work at campus or community events, especially with the Scandinavian Cultural Center.

Skills

Inclusive teaching strategies

Diversity awareness

Undergraduate teaching

Effective communication

Education

PhD or equivalent terminal degree

PhD in Scandinavian Studies or related field

Emerging teacher-scholar (not tenure or on tenure track)

Job description

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening.

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Applications must be submitted in English and are due by January 4, 2027. Applications must include the following:

Proposal that describes your teaching philosophy and experience (if applicable), experience with a diverse student body, scholarly agenda, and potential contributions to and benefits from this fellowship (maximum 2000 words);
Curriculum vitae; and
Names and contact information for three professional references who can speak to your qualifications, past work, and potential as a postdoctoral teaching fellow at PLU .

Position Type

Position Type: Faculty

Benefits Status

Benefits Status: Benefits Eligible

FLSA

FLSA: Exempt

Hiring Range

Hiring Range: $48,000 plus benefits, housing in a campus apartment for the duration of the fellowship, and a $3000 moving allowance.

Location

Tacoma, WA 98447

Department

Department: College of Liberal Studies

Posting Date

Posting Date: 10/16/2026

Closing Date

Closing Date 01/04/2027

Work Schedule

Full-time fellowship available September 1, 2027 - May 31, 2028. The academic year is from September to May. Classes begin on September 7, 2027. New Faculty Orientation will take place in late August. Housing will be provided from August 15, 2027 - May 31, 2028.

General Description

Svare-Toven Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowship:Since its founding in 1890 by Norwegian minister Bjug Harstad, Scandinavian immigrants and their descendants have had a distinct influence on Pacific Lutheran University. Today, these strong Scandinavian ties are most evident in the Scandinavian Cultural Center, whose mission is to enrich understanding of Nordic and Nordic-American cultures in conjunction with the Mortvedt Library’s Scandinavian Immigrant Experience Collection.

The Svare-Toven Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowship at Pacific Lutheran University builds on this rich heritage to support the pedagogical development of recent PhDs who have expertise in Scandinavian Studies. As a one-year residential fellowship, it provides time to focus on the craft of teaching. One fellow is appointed each academic year (with possible renewal for a maximum of two years) to serve on the faculty at a rank equivalent to visiting assistant professor.

Fellows are selected from applicants who hold a PhD or equivalent degree in Scandinavian Studies or in one of the following humanities or social science disciplines with a primary scholarly focus on Scandinavia: anthropology, economics, environmental studies, ethnomusicology, gender/sexuality studies, history, indigenous studies, languages, literature, philosophy, political science, religious studies/theology, and sociology. Fellows are in residence at PLU for the full academic year following acceptance (September 1, 2027 - May 31, 2028).

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Teach four undergraduate courses during the academic year: one in fall semester, one in J-Term, and two in spring semester, which may include one or two courses in the First-Year Experience Program and/or co-teaching an upper-division course.
Participate in PLU’s mentorship program, including teaching mentorship.
Present scholarly work as part of campus or community events, particularly in collaboration with the Scandinavian Cultural Center.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of effective and inclusive teaching and learning strategies.
Commitment to working effectively with a diverse faculty and student body.
Demonstrated enthusiasm for teaching at the undergraduate level within a liberal arts setting.
Ability to communicate effectively.

Required Qualifications

Applicants must have received the PhD or equivalent terminal degree no earlier than December 2025, and the degree must be in hand no later than September 1, 2027.
Hold a PhD or equivalent degree in Scandinavian Studies or in one of the following humanities or social science disciplines with a primary scholarly focus on Scandinavia: anthropology, economics, environmental studies, ethnomusicology, gender/sexuality studies, history, indigenous studies, languages, literature, philosophy, political science, religious studies/theology, and sociology.
Applicants must be an emerging teacher‑scholar who is not yet tenured or on the tenure track since earning their PhD. Applicants who do not yet hold the PhD, but expect to have it in hand by September 1 of the fellowship year must provide a letter from their home institution (department chair, head of graduate studies, or advisor) confirming the degree award schedule.
Applicant must be legally eligible to work in the United States on their hire date AND legally authorized to work in the United States for Pacific Lutheran University without sponsorship.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applications must be submitted in English and are due by January 4, 2027. Applications must include the following:

Proposal that describes your teaching philosophy and experience (if applicable), experience with a diverse student body, scholarly agenda, and potential contributions to and benefits from this fellowship (maximum 2000 words);
Curriculum vitae; and
Names and contact information for three professional references who can speak to your qualifications, past work, and potential as a postdoctoral teaching fellow at PLU .

Pacific Lutheran University purposefully integrates the liberal arts, professional studies and civic engagement in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Our faculty lead with a bold commitment to expanding well‑being, opportunity, and justice and instill this commitment in their students. PLU educators work to create an environment where students feel heard and valued, nurturing lifelong learners who aren’t afraid to do things differently to make the world better for everyone. PLU supports faculty as they help students turn ambition into purpose, skills into tools, and their caring into a transformative force.

Because PLU is a community committed to the creation and advancement of knowledge through diversity and inclusion, the university actively recruits a faculty, staff, and student body from all religions, races, socioeconomic groups, sexual orientations, and gender expressions and from all over the world. For the 2025-26 academic year, 45 percent of PLU undergraduate students are from the first generation in their families to attend college; 51.4 percent self‑identify as students of color; and 34.2 percent are Pell Grant‑eligible.

Offering distinctive opportunities for global engagement, collaborative student‑faculty research, and purposeful learning, our faculty guide 2,800 students from all faiths and backgrounds to discern their purpose through relevant coursework, inclusive mentoring, and internships at world‑class Puget Sound‑area businesses and institutions. PLU is located on a 156-acre woodland campus in the Parkland neighborhood of Tacoma, Washington and about 40 minutes south of downtown Seattle. The campus reflects consciously green practices and is in proximity to the natural beauty of Mount Rainier, the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges, and the Puget Sound.

PLU administration supports and respects the strong culture of faculty‑shared governance by working closely and collaboratively with faculty leadership to sustain and strengthen existing structures and procedures while working together on key institutional, academic and curricular decisions. PLU is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from members of historically underrepresented and marginalized groups, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and others who would bring broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research, or other work activities. For general application questions or if you need accommodations at any point in the application and/or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Office at 253-535-7185 or humr@plu.edu . Click here for detailed benefits information.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

* Will you have a PhD or equivalent in hand by the date of appointment?
- Yes
- No
* Are you legally eligible to work in the United States on your hire date AND legally authorized to work in the United States for Pacific Lutheran University without sponsorship?
- Yes
- No

Required Documents