Assistant Professor:

Comparative Media Studies / Writing section at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor in Creative Writing starting July 1, 2026, or as soon thereafter as possible.

Comparative Media Studies / Writing (CMS/W) offers an undergraduate major, minor, and concentration in Writing. Some students pursue the major in combination with a technical one. Our section includes a diverse group of faculty members who work as creative writers, science writers, and other types of non-fiction writers as well as those who work in many areas of media studies and practice. Many MIT students have strong backgrounds and interests in the arts and are especially excited to take creative writing classes.

CMS/W features a wide variety of creative writing subjects. A full list of writing subject offerings can be found here: https://catalog.mit.edu/subjects/21w/ [2]  Untenured faculty are typically supported with two semesters free of teaching via junior faculty research leaves. There are various opportunities to engage the larger MIT community, including in such programs as the new MIT Human Insight Collaborative initiative.

Position Description:

We seek a candidate to contribute to the Institute’s intellectual life by pursuing an active publishing agenda, teaching courses in creative writing and related subjects at the undergraduate level, advising students, and directing senior theses.

We encourage candidates who write fiction of any or many sorts, including literary fiction, speculative fiction, romance, fantasy, science fiction or other genre fiction. Novelists and short story writers whose writing practice also includes less traditional work in writing for comics, the screen, and digital and non-digital games are welcomed as well. We are especially interested in candidates whose work engages with topics including race/ethnicity, diaspora, global south, gender, feminism, sexuality, disability, and class, as well as the intersections among them.

A full-time teaching load is three undergraduate classes per year and typically includes such classes as Writing & Reading Short Stories, Fiction Workshop, Genre Fiction, and Writing Longer Fiction.

Required Qualifications: 

The position requires a PhD or MFA in creative writing or related area, by the start of employment, or a professional record of equivalent achievement, and a significant record of publication.

Preferred Qualifications: 

Experience with classroom or workshop teaching, especially at the college level.

Application Materials:

Applications must include: (1) a cover letter; (2) a CV; (3) approximately 25 pages of creative writing; (4) evidence of teaching effectiveness; (5) the names of three references (of whom letters may be requested at a later stage).  Review of applications will begin September 15, 2025. Applicants must apply online with Interfolio here: http://apply.interfolio.com/167792 [3].  Questions may be addressed to the Search Committee Chair, Professor D. Fox Harrell at fox.harrell@mit.edu [4].

Employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background
check, including verifying any finding of misconduct (or pending investigation)
from prior employers.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

MIT is an equal employment opportunity employer.  We value diversity and strongly encourage applications from individuals from all identities and backgrounds.  All qualified applicants will receive equitable consideration for employment based on their experience and qualifications and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin.  MIT’s full policy on Nondiscrimination can be found here.