Path 1 Kawader: Research Assistant – Voice Studies and Cultural Anthropolinguistics
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Key skills for this role
About the Role
NYU Abu Dhabi seeks a Research Assistant Fellow for two book projects on voice, cultural performance, and linguistic modalities. The role involves archival research, fieldwork, co-authorship, and administrative support, with international travel including a visiting fellowship in Canada.
Key Skills for This Role
Responsibilities
- Conduct deep archival and secondary literature reviews on Artaud’s theatre of cruelty/glossolalia, sound studies, and Middle Eastern oral/vocal histories
- Assist in organizing, executing, and documenting ethnographic fieldwork exploring vocal traditions and glossolalia in the Arab world
- Collaborate on draft conceptualizations and co author a book chapter based on field data or theoretical synthesis
- Manage administrative workflows for book projects, including corresponding with co editors, publishers, and contributing authors
- Assist in administrative and strategic tasks related to setting up the Voice Studies & Epistemological Research Centre in the UAE
Requirements
- Graduate degree in Arts or Humanities or related field
- Fluency in English and Arabic (Classical and/or regional dialects)
- Experience or training in qualitative research methods, ethnography, oral history interviewing, or field audio recording
- Strong academic writing skills and familiarity with academic citation standards
- Excellent organizational and administrative skills
- Willingness and ability to travel internationally, including a four month residency in Canada
- Background or strong interest in Voice Studies, Sound Studies, Performance Studies, or decolonial epistemologies (preferred)
- Prior experience with academic publishing workflows (preferred)
Full Job Posting
Position Overview
- 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.
- Project A: An exploration of the sonic philosophies of Antonin Artaud reframed through the lens of Bedouin vocal traditions.
- Project B: A comprehensive study of glossolalia (speaking in tongues/non semantic vocalisation) and its cultural, ritualistic, and spiritual relevance within the Arab world and beyond.
- 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.
Key Responsibilities
- 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.
Required Qualifications
- 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.
Preferred Qualifications
- 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.
What the Program Offers
- 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.
Supervision
- Supervised by Chinasa Ezugha
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