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Recent Academic Positions in Science and Religion
The following table lists academic positions in religion for which the job description mentions the desire for a specialization in some aspect of the interaction between religion and the natural sciences. These positions appeared in the American Academy of Religion’s Openings publication for the years 1997 to the present. Details for each position are listed below. (This information was compiled by Kirk Wegter-McNelly.)
Note: Positions in social sciences have been excluded because they are too numerous. Also, "general studies" department positions, science-based positions, and a range of other possible locations for SPR graduates are excluded. The jump in the number positions posted after 2000 likely reflects Openings’ transition in 2001 from paper to online listings, which has led to a larger number of trackable posts in all areas.
| Year | Four-Year Colleges |
Seminary or Div Schools |
Private Universities | Public Universities | Other | Total |
| 1997 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| 1998 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| 2000 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2001 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 20 |
| 2002 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 23 |
| 2003 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 18 |
| 2004 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 18 |
| 2005 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| 2006 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 20 |
| 2007 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 18 |
We think this is good news for people undertaking doctorates in science and religion. Of course, think tanks, consulting, policy work, and the many relevant academic positions not counted above are also viable employment options.
Details
key: school - position title - “relevant phrase from position description”
1997
Middlebury College – Ethics – “environmental studies”
Virginia Tech – Comparative Religious Ethics and Religion in the Modern World – “science and technology studies”
Berry College – Christian Ethics – “bioethics, environmental ethics”
Loyola Marymount University – Director of Institute for Bioethics
Boston University – Theology – “expertise in science”
Oberlin College – Religious Social Ethics – “biomedical ethics”
Washington University – Witherspoon Fellowship – “natural science or mathematics”
1998
Gustavus Adolphus College – Contemporary and/or Historical Theology – “religion and science”
St. Mary’s University of San Antonio – Biomedical Ethics
Texas Lutheran University – Systematic Theology – “bioethics”
University of Oxford – Idreos Chair in Science and Religion
Duke University – Christian Ethics – “medicine…environmental studies”
McGill University – Environmental Ethics
1999
Rutgers University – Religion and Social Ethics – “interdisciplinary and comparative work dealing with the relationship between religion and…science”
Seton Hall University – Catholic Moral Theology – “issues concerning science, technology, or the environment”
Augsburg College – Theology – “science and religion”
Arizona State University – Ancient to Modern World Culture – “philosophy and history of science”
University of Manitoba – Hinduism/World Religion – “science and religion”
2000
Yale Divinity School - Philosophy of Religion - “philosophy of science”
Elon College – Religious Studies – “environmental ethics”
Skidmore College – Religion and Women’s Studies – “environmental studies”
Hood College – Philosophy – “biomedical ethics”
Andover Newton Theological School – Christian Social Ethics – “biomedical, ecological ethics”
Drew University – Christian Theology – “ecological hermeneutics”
2001
Univ. of Victoria (BC) - Director of Centre for Studies in Religion and Society - “relation of religion to the sciences”
College of the Holy Cross - Catholic Systematic Theology - “theology and science”
Pacific Lutheran University - Religion, Cultural, and Society - “religion and science”
PCRS/Metanexus - Associate Director - “constructive dialogue between science and religion”
Pomona College - Women’s Studies - “cognitive science”
Manhattan College - Contemporary Religious Thought - “religion and natural sciences”
Eastern Mennonite University - Philosophy and Theology - “philosophy of science”
Thiel College - Historian of Religion, or broadly trained scholar of religion or theology - “interfacing of the humanities with the natural and social sciences”
Albright College – Religious Studies – “environmental ethics”
Mercyhurst College – Religious Studies - “environmental ethics”
University of Puget Sound – East Asian Religions and Cultures – “religion and the environment”
Berea College – Religion – “environmental studies”
Centre college – Theology and Ethics – “environmental ethics”
Middlebury College – Religion and the Environment
University of Florida – Christian Ethics – “environmental ethics”
University of Calgary – Religious Experience – “environmental ethics”
University of North Texas – Environmental Ethics in Latin America or Latino/a Environmental Issues
University of North Texas – Environmental Justice and African-American Philosophy or African-American Religion
Augustana College – Religion – “biomedical ethics and theology”
Andover Newton Theological School – Christian Social Ethics – “biomedical, ecological ethics”
2002
Pennsylvania State University - Islam - 2ndary expertise in “relation to science”
Santa Clara University - Theology and Contemporary Culture - “theological engagements with science”
Austin College - Lilly Scholar-in-Residence Program - “intersection of science and religion”
Saint Mary’s College - Religion, Theology, and Culture - “science”
Manhattan College - Religion and Science
University of Northern Iowa - Bioethics/Medical Ethics - “substantial study in the life sciences…PhD in religion”
Virginia Tech - Comparative Religious Ethics - “science and technology studies”
Yale Divinity School - Philosophy of Religion - “philosophy of science”
Loyola Marymount University – Christian Ethics – “environmental ethics”
University of Mississippi – Judaism, Christianity or Islam – “environmental ethics”
University of Puget Sound – East Asian Religion – “religion and the environment”
University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh – English or Religious Studies – “environmental studies”
University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh – Religious Ethics – “environmental ethics”
Dartmouth College – Native American Studies – “environmental studies and religion”
Williams College – International Environmental Studies
Colgate University – North American Religions – “environmental studies”
University of Manitoba – Catholic Moral Theology – “bioethics”
Harvard Divinity School – Christian Ethics – “bioethics”
Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley – Catholic Moral Theology – “bioethics”
University of St. Michael’s College – Christian Ethics – “ecology”
Xavier University – Christian Ethics – “ecological ethics”
Swarthmore College – Western Religious Thought – “religion and ecology”
University of Central Florida – Humanities – “world religions, ecology, technology”
2003
Guilford College - Contemporary Religious Thought/Theology - “religion and science”
Austin College - field open - “intersection of science and religion”
Harvey Mudd College - Religious Studies - “combination of technology, science, indigenous traditions, or gender”
Princeton University - postdoc in bioethics - “study of ethical issues arising from developments in medicine and biological sciences”
Boston University - Theology - “interests in science and religion”
Boston University – Ethics – “bioethics, ecological ethics, ethics and technology”
Ohio State University - Cultural Studies of Religion - “science studies”
Oregon State University - Religion and Culture - “religion and science”
St. Mary’s College of Maryland - East Asian Philosophies and Religion - “philosophy of science desirable”
St. Olaf College - Constructive Christian Theology - “theological conversation with science”
Arizona State University - position in interdisciplinary bioethics program - “life sciences, philosophy of science”
Florida State University - Religion and Science
Guilford College – East Asian Religions – “environmental issues”
Saint Joseph’s University – Christian Social Ethics – “environmental ethics”
Arizona State University – Bioethics
Seattle University – Catholic Moral Theology – “biomedical ethics”
Augustana College – Christian Ethics and Theology – “biomedical ethics”
University of Miami – Ethics – “biomedical ethics”
2004
University of Nijmegen - director/researcher of interdisciplinary institute for theology, science, and culture - “areas where theology intersects other scientific disciplines”
Manhattan College - Science and Religion
Austin College - Lilly Scholar-in-Residence Program - “intersection of science and religion”
Davidson College - Holmes Rolston Chair in Religion and Science
Harvard University - Arabic and Islamic Studies - “history of science”
Brandon University - Western Religions - “science and technology”
DePaul University - Religion and Ethics - “religion, science, and ethics”
Guilford College - Contemporary Religious Thought/Theology - “religion and science”
University of Sioux Falls - Philosophy - “relationship between theology and science”
Berry College – Ethics – “environmental ethics”
Indiana University – Religious Ethics – “environmental ethics”
Clemson University – Environmental Ethics
DePaul University – Religion and Ethics – “environmental ethics”
Seton Hall University – Christian Ethics – “environmental ethics”
Albright college – Asian Religious Traditions and Comparative Study of Religion – “environmental ethics”
Harvard Divinity School – Religious Ethics – “environmental ethics”
Catholic University of America – Catholic Moral Theology – “biomedical ethics”
San Diego State University – South and Southeast Asian Religion – “religion and ecology”
2005
San Jose State University – Comparative Religious Studies – “science and religion”
Austin College – Lilly Scholar-in-Residence – “the intersection of science and religion/philosophy/culture”
Mount Holyoke College – Religion and Contemporary Culture – “the nexus between religion and…environmental studies…, science”
University of Toronto – Christianity and Culture – “tenure-stream position at the level of Assistant Professor in the area of Christianity and Science”
Carleton College – Religion and Ecology
St. Mary’s University – Catholic Medical and Biomedical Ethics
Palmer Trinity School (grades 6-12) – Religious Studies – “religion and ecology course”
University of Florida – Religion and Nature – “religion and nature in relation to the natural or physical sciences; philosophy of religion; historical perspectives; non-Western traditions; law/policy; or ethics”
2006
Cambridge University, Faraday Institute for Science and Religion – Research Associate – “research into our theological understanding of the nature of the created order and its future”
University of Oxford – Andreas Idreos Professorship of Science and Religion
Harvard Divinity School – Watson Professorship in Science and Religion
La Salle University – Theology/ Ethics – “specialization in contemporary moral theology, biomedical ethics or peace and social justice. Additional strength in the field of religion and science is desirable”
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Religious Studies, Philosophy, and Ethics – “in ethics (Western religious and philosophical), including biomedical and technological ethics… epistemology and the philosophy of science and of religion are also of significant interest”
University of Toronto – Christianity and Science
St. Mary’s University – Professorship in Catholic Medical and Biomedical Ethics
Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary – moral theology/Christian ethics – “teaching undergraduate and graduate courses on marriage and family, human sexuality, and biomedical ethics”
Seattle University – Catholic moral theology – “moral theology, biomedical ethics, Catholic social teaching and one other area of social ethics”
Yale Divinity School – ethics – “Special interests in the history of Jewish and Christian ethics, biomedical ethics, and sexual ethics are desirable”
Durham University (England) – Theological Ethics – “the foundations of theological ethics/moral theology; bioethics; environmental ethics; sexual ethics; political ethics; social ethics”
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences – philosophy – “bioethics”
Chestnut Hill College – Chair of Religious Studies & Philosophy Department – “concentration in historical or moral theology is required; interest in bioethics is desirable”
Duquesne University – Vernon F. Gallagher Chair for the Integration of Science, Theology, Philosophy, and Law – “clinical bioethics”
University of Southern California – Christian Thought and Ethics – “Experience in bioethics and the examination of bioethical issues across a range of religious traditions preferred”
University of Virginia – Bioethics
University of Southern California – Christian Thought and Ethics – “Experience in bioethics and the examination of bioethical issues across a range of religious traditions preferred”
University of Missouri-Columbia – History of Christianity – “cultural transformations in the global arena from the Middle Ages to the present, including the formations of secular culture, for example, in the fields of science, law and medicine”
Oregon State University – Religion and Culture – “religion & politics, religion & science, religion & the environment, history of western religious thought, religion in contemporary America”
Thiel College – Historian of Religion – “humanities interface with the natural and social sciences within a global context”
2007
Florida International University – Religion and Science – “specializations in environmental ethics and bioethics and ability to teach courses in Christian theology”
Boston College – Systematic/Constructive Theology – “intersection of Christian doctrine with historical scholarship, natural science and recent philosophy”
Hobart and William Smith Colleges – Comparative Theology and Philosophy of Religion – “Ability to contribute to the interdisciplinary strengths of the Colleges (eg. First Year Seminars or in programs such as Women’s Studies, Environmental Studies, Architectural Studies, Peace Studies) is also desired.”
Illinois Wesleyan University – Islam or East Asia – “Ability to teach introductory courses essential; ability to contribute to interdisciplinary programs such as International Studies, Women’s Studies, or Environmental Studies desirable.”
University of San Diego – Christian Ethics – “secondary competence in biomedical ethics, environmental ethics, sexual ethics, the ethics of war and peace, or comparative ethics”
Yale Divinity School – Ethics – “areas of scholarly focus include: biomedical ethics, sexual ethics, feminist ethics, comparative religious ethics, and inter-traditional or cross-cultural studies”
St. Joseph’s College – Catholic Moral Theology – “competence in the Catholic tradition in bioethics and/or sexual ethics”
Fordham University – Moral Theology/Christian Ethics – “Fundamental Moral Theology; Race Relations; Bioethics; Health Care Ethics; Environmental Ethics”
Methodist Theological School – Christian Ethics – “interest in taking a specialty such as bioethics, environmental ethics or some facet of social ethics into the public sphere”
Regis College – Moral Theology – “specialized training in an area such as sexual ethics, healthcare ethics or bioethics”
University of Virginia – Bioethics
Wake Forest University – Bioethics – “candidate will play a leading role in developing an interdisciplinary, campus-wide Bioethics Center of national prominence, and may be considered for directorship of the Center or one of its component programs if interested and qualified”
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences – Bioethics – “The University recently received stipulation to establish a new Masters of Arts degree in Bioethics. Having successfully launched the new program this year, KCUMB seeks a Bioethicist who will partner with existing faculty to further shape and develop this new Masters degree. The successful candidate must have a PhD degree in ethics (philosophical or religious) or other fields related to Bioethics, or a Masters in Bioethics, combined with an advanced clinician’s degree (e.g., D.O., M.D., MA or Ph.D. in nursing, etc.), and some teaching experience in bioethics, preferably at the graduate level.”
Rivier College – Religious Studies – “expertise in two or more of the following three areas of inquiry: work and vocation; bioethics; comparative religious ethics”
Florida State University – History of Science – “assistant professor position in the history of science, with a particular focus on science and religion. Preference is for persons working in early modern/Reformation/Scientific Revolution”
Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education – Systematic/Dogmatic Theology – “Possible areas of specialization include Reformation studies (particularly Calvin), science and theology, philosophical theology, historical theology, constructive theology, Christianity and interfaith dialogue, and missiology”
Bethany College – Islam – “of competence are open, but proficiency in the study of religion as it pertains to culture, science, or ecology would be of particular interest.”
Duke University Divinity School – Theology, Ecology, and Rural Ministry
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