Graduate Research Assistant

Questions? Please email or call Sara Varney (215.746.5940), the Center's Associate Director.

Graduate Research Assistant

The Wolf Humanities Center announces a Graduate Research Assistant position for the 2025–2026 academic year for a University of Pennsylvania dissertation-level (ABD) student in the humanities whose work pertains to Truth, the Center's research topic for the year. The Wolf Humanities Center's Graduate Research Assistantship is a 10-month service position (August 2025–May 2026) that provides full support for the 2025–26 academic year, including tuition, health insurance, and fees, plus a stipend of about $40,000.

The position carries membership in the Wolf Humanities Center's Mellon Research Seminar on Truth, which is composed of postdoctoral fellows, faculty from Penn and regional institutions, dissertation-level graduate students, and the Center's director and topic director. Applicants may not be holding other positions and must be in good academic and financial standing with the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The RAship is awarded competitively. Semifinalists are interviewed in April as part of the selection process. 

The half-time position requires 15–20 hours per week of service in a variety of functions:

  1. Assist the administrative staff of the Wolf Humanities Center and the Price Lab for Digital Humanities in carrying out general business.
  2. Staff events (requires some evenings and, rarely, weekends).
  3. Staff and participate in the weekly Wolf Humanities Center's Mellon Research Seminar and the bi-weekly Price Lab Mellon DH Seminar.
  4. Serve as the lead organizer of a one-day symposium related to the theme of Truth.
  5. Coordinate and draft social media announcements promoting research at the Wolf Humanities Center and Price Lab for Digital Humanities.

Call for Applications, 2025–2026 

Research Topic: Truth

Application deadline: March 19, 2025

To apply, the following materials must be submitted through the Interfolio application portal:

  • Cover letter expressing interest in the RAship, highlighting any experience in planning and supporting academic events and programs
  • C.V.
  • Unofficial Penn course transcript
  • A single PDF containing Project Title, Project Abstract (125 words maximum), and Project Proposal (approx. 1000 words)
  • Letter of recommendation from dissertation director or graduate chair

NOTE: We welcome applications from Penn ABD graduate students for both the Research Assistant position and a Doctoral Research Fellowship. Applicants must submit their materials through each of the relevant Interfolio portals to be considered for both opportunities.

Questions? Please email or call Sara Varney (215.746.5940), the Center's Associate Director.

Graduate Research Assistants

The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks talented students, postdocs, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds. The University of Pennsylvania does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected class status in the administration of its admissions, financial aid, educational or athletic programs, or other University-administered programs or in its employment practices. Additional information can be found online at Penn: Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs: Policies, Handbooks and Procedures.