Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences

The Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences at the California Institute of Technology invites applications for a one-term lecturer appointment for fall quarter 2026 (which begins September 29th and includes ten weeks of in-person instruction). Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that attracts some of the world's brightest and most dedicated students. We seek instructors for Writing 2, a first-year writing course focused on the transition to college writing.

Each section of Writing 2 uses shared assignments and readings across sections, and new instructors will be provided with well-developed course materials (readings, assignments, policies, and activities) to use in their teaching. Course learning goals are focused on four related areas of academic writing: reading, making and supporting an argument in writing, information literacy, and the writing process. The course provides students with a foundation for successful communication across disciplines, and instructors must be broadly familiar with academic discourse conventions in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Course meetings are interactive, and the pedagogical approach emphasizes providing frequent, substantive feedback to writers via both written comments and individual meetings. This course meets twice per week (T/Th) for eighty-five minutes per meeting with small class sizes (15 or fewer students).

The successful candidate must hold a PhD in a relevant field and have prior experience teaching writing at the college/university level.

We ask interested candidates to submit the following materials electronically. 

• Letter of interest that describes the candidate’s relevant experience and interest
• CV, including contact information for at least three professional references who are willing to speak about your qualifications for this role
• A focused teaching portfolio that includes:
  
  • A cover page that briefly provides context on the contents, explaining when and how they were developed. Extensive explanatory commentary is not expected.
  • 1 – 3 syllabi from undergraduate writing courses you have previously taught
  • 2 – 4 writing assignment prompts from those courses
  • A statement of teaching philosophy is invited but not required.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Submission by June 25th is recommended. We expect to interview candidates in early July.

Hiring Salary: $12,000 per course.

Please note: No relocation, housing, or research financial support is available for this position. Applications from those with existing ties to local colleges/universities are encouraged.

As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, and more. Learn more about our benefits and who is eligible.

Questions about the application process may be directed to:
[email protected].