Job description

NYU Abu Dhabi invites applications for a Kawader Research Assistant Fellow position in Voice Studies and Cultural Anthropolinguistics within the Arts and Humanities division.

The successful candidate will support two major, interconnected book projects exploring the intersections of voice, cultural performance, and alternative linguistic modalities.

1. Project A (Monograph): An exploration of the sonic philosophies of Antonin

Artaud specifically reframed and analysed through the lens of Bedouin vocal

traditions.

2. Project B (Edited Volume/Monograph): A comprehensive study

of glossolalia (speaking in tongues/non-semantic vocalisation) and its cultural,

ritualistic, and spiritual relevance within the Arab world and beyond.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in bridging theory and fieldwork, with the potential to co-author a chapter in the forthcoming volume. This position offers a unique global itinerary, including supporting a 4-month visiting fellowship at the University of Victoria (Canada) and contributing to the foundational development of a new Voice Studies & Epistemological Research Centre in the UAE.

• Full-time paid research position for up to 3 years.

  
  
  

• Mentorship by NYUAD faculty.

  
  
  

• Professional development and training opportunities.

  
  
  

• Exposure to interdisciplinary research in voice studies, cultural anthropolinguistics, and performance studies.

  
  
  

• Opportunity to co-author a scholarly book chapter.

  
  
  

• International research experience, including support for a four-month visiting fellowship at the University of Victoria (Canada).

  
  
  

• Experience contributing to the establishment of a new Voice Studies & Epistemological Research Centre in the UAE.

  
  
  

• Research & Literature Synthesis: Conduct deep archival and secondary literature reviews on Artaud’s theatre of cruelty/glossolalia, sound studies, and Middle Eastern oral/vocal histories.

  
  
  

• Fieldwork & Participant Coordination: Assist in organizing, executing, and documenting ethnographic fieldwork exploring vocal traditions and glossolalia in the Arab world; recruit and liaise with research participants.

  
  
  

• Co-Authorship & Writing: Collaborate on draft conceptualizations, with the opportunity to formally co-author a book chapter based on field data or theoretical synthesis.

  
  
  

• Administrative & Publication Liaison: Manage administrative workflows for the book projects, including corresponding with co-editors, publishers, and contributing authors.

  
  
  

• Institutional Development: Assist in administrative and strategic tasks related to setting up the Voice Studies & Epistemological Research Centre in the UAE.

  
  
  

Supervised by Chinasa Ezugha

• Graduate degree in an Arts or Humanities discipline, or a Master's degree in a related field.

  
  
  

• Fluency in English and Arabic (Classical and/or relevant regional dialects vital for fieldwork).

  
  
  

• Experience or training in qualitative research methods, ethnography, oral history interviewing, or field audio recording.

  
  
  

• Strong academic writing skills and familiarity with academic citation and formatting standards.

  
  
  

• Excellent organizational and administrative skills, including experience managing communications with multiple stakeholders.

  
  
  

• Willingness and ability to travel internationally, including participation in a four-month residency at the University of Victoria (Canada) and fieldwork across the Arab world.

  
  
  

• Background or strong interest in Voice Studies, Sound Studies, Performance Studies, decolonial epistemologies, or the avant-garde ( specifically Artaud).

  
  
  

• Prior experience with academic publishing workflows, including manuscript preparation, indexing, or copyediting.

  
  
  

Specialized Technical, Computational, or Research Competencies

• Methodological Versatility: Demonstrated ability to work with varied research methodologies alongside strong analytical skills in synthesizing complex data.

  
  
  

• Audio/Field Technology: Familiarity with high-quality field recording equipment and basic audio editing/archiving software (e.g., Audacity, Adobe Audition) for preserving vocal performances.

  
  
  

• Epistemological Frameworks: Strong literacy in decolonial methodologies and non- Western epistemologies of language and body.

  
  
  

Learning Outcomes & Professional Development

• Publication Record: Direct mentorship through the academic publishing cycle, culminating in a verifiable co-authorship credit on a major book chapter.

  
  
  

• Global Networking: Exposure to high-level academic environments across North America (University of Victoria) and the Middle East (the new UAE Research Centre).

  
  
  

• Project Management: Practical experience in institutional building and managing a complex, multi-author editorial project from conception to print.

  
  
  

1. CV
2. Statement of interest (1 page)
3. Transcript(s)
4. Two letters of recommendation or referee contacts

For questions regarding the position, please contact [Click to show email].

UAE nationals are encouraged to apply

This position is under the NYUAD Kawader program, for details regarding the program, open dates, specific program requirements, and FAQ's please refer to our NYUAD Kawader webpage:https://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/about/careers/postdoctoral-and-research/kawader-research-assistantship-program.html

Kawader is a unique, national capacity-building research fellowship program that allows outstanding graduates to gain experience in a cutting-edge academic research environment. This three-year, individually tailored, intensive program has two distinctive paths designed for (Emirati) graduates considering a graduate degree or a career in research.

For further information or questions regarding the position/program please contact [Click to show email](due to the high volume of emails received, please allow 5 working days for a response)