Institute for LGBT Studies

https://lgbt.arizona.edu/

Main Campus

Tucson, AZ USA

The University of Arizona’s LGBTQ+ Institute is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate the Transgender Writers in Prison Project (TWPP), a Mellon funded writing education program serving transgender women who are currently incarcerated. We seek applicants who are experienced in working with queer and transgender adults in community and educational settings. Preference will be given to applicants who have experience working with people who are currently or have been incarcerated. This position would begin August, 2025. This is a grant funded, year to year appointment, contingent upon funding and performance.

The Trans Writers in Prison Project at the University of Arizona will provide opportunities for an early career scholar to develop and implement a creative writing and arts program in collaboration with project staff and trans women who are participating in the program. The project also involves opportunities to collaborate with the Arizona Queer Archives, and scholars in Education, Anthropology, and Public Health on research-to-practice in trans studies, prison education, higher education, and community archives. The Postdoctoral Fellowship will provide robust experiences through 1) curriculum development and educational praxis with trans women in prison, 2) professional development with a designated faculty mentor, and 3) development of a community of praxis with program staff and scholars via the LGBTQ+ Institute. The postdoctoral fellow will be situated in the LGBTQ+ Institute, and Dr. Moira Ozias, co-investigator with the TWPP, will coordinate the professional activities, as well as research collaborations and community building.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs.

Duties & responsibilities:

• The Postdoctoral Fellow will collaborate with program staff to design, implement, and assess a writing and creative arts program for transgender women who are incarcerated. Specific responsibilities include:

• Writing curriculum facilitation on site at a maximum security facility with transgender women;

• Curriculum development, in collaboration with program staff and participants;

• Collaboration with the Arizona Queer Archives to archive participants’ work;

• Course design for an undergraduate class on education in prison and detention contexts;

• Participation in grant team meetings.

• Additional duties may be assigned

 

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Ability to work collaboratively with transgender writers and community members

• Knowledge of and ability to facilitate writing and arts-based workshops

• Ability to work within a prison or jail

• Excellent organizational and communication skills

• Demonstrated ability to mediate and facilitate a process involving multiple stakeholders with diverse interests

• Demonstrated commitment to working with queer and trans communities

• Demonstrated knowledge of queer and trans studies

• All doctoral degree requirements have been met and confirmed by major advisor by start date

• Experience facilitating educational curricula with adults
• Experience working with queer and transgender communities
• Experience with community archives
• Experience facilitating writing workshops in community settings
• Experience working with formerly or currently incarcerated adults

Exempt

Full Time

40

1

Fiscal

Research

Yes - Full Benefits

DOE following NIH scale

salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)

Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)

1

Moira Ozias, moiraozias@arizona.edu, 405-365-7555

1/14/2025

Yes

Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Cover Letter

At the University of Arizona, we value our inclusive climate because we know that diversity in experiences and perspectives is vital to advancing innovation, critical thinking, solving complex problems, and creating an inclusive academic community. As a Hispanic-serving institution, we translate these values into action by seeking individuals who have experience and expertise working with diverse students, colleagues, and constituencies. Because we seek a workforce with a wide range of perspectives and experiences, we provide equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information. As an Employer of National Service, we also welcome alumni of AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service programs and others who will help us advance our Inclusive Excellence initiative aimed at creating a university that values student, staff and faculty engagement in addressing issues of diversity and inclusiveness.

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University’s campuses. These reports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures.
Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at cleryact@arizona.edu.