Call for Applications: Humanities EXPLORE Undergraduate Research Fellowship with Literature Professor Sean Keilen, 2024-2025
Research Assistant: Shakespeare in Santa Cruz (LIT/THI)
We encourage work-study and non-work-study students to apply. This role is only open to undergraduate students with a declared or proposed Humanities major or minor and requires work authorization.
Application Deadline: January 15, 2025
The Humanities Division and The Humanities Institute are excited to announce an experiential learning opportunity for undergraduates at UC Santa Cruz to work with Professor of Literature Sean Keilen, who supports Shakespeare Workshop and Santa Cruz Shakespeare.
The Humanities Experiential Learning Opportunities in Research (EXPLORE) Program connects Humanities majors and minors to faculty-led research projects in the division. EXPLORE Fellows are mentored by faculty members to develop skills and knowledge to help them make an impactful intellectual or creative contribution to their field. Students gain practical experience and professional training that builds on their studies in the Humanities. At the same time, faculty benefit from students’ assistance and academic expertise.
Applicants must have a declared or proposed major or minor in the Humanities Division at the time of their application to be eligible. Please see the Humanities Division majors and minors list to check your eligibility before applying.
About The Project
The goal of this project is to explore the records of Santa Cruz Shakespeare in McHenry Library for information about past productions and to write brief histories of those productions for use in community education programs sponsored by Shakespeare Workshop and in playbills and other publications associated with the upcoming summer season at Santa Cruz Shakespeare.
Position Description:
RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS
- Archival Research [40%]: reading the records of Shakespeare Santa Cruz at McHenry Library for information about past productions; seeking information about production history beyond the archive (for example, in local newspapers and other media outlets or publicly available departmental records) and from relevant UCSC faculty and staff; keeping detailed notes
- Writing [40%]: drafting and revising content about local performance history for the purposes of community education and outreach
- Collaboration [20%]: meetings with Professor Keilen to discuss the scope and progress of the project
Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
- You are a declared or proposed major or minor in a department in the Humanities Division and are in good academic standing. If your major or minor is proposed, you can declare by the end of the academic year in June. [strict eligibility requirement]
- Eligible majors: Applied Linguistics and Multilingualism, Classical Studies, Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Feminist Studies, History, Jewish Studies, Language Studies, Linguistics, Literature, Philosophy, Spanish Studies
- Eligible minors: Black Studies, Classical Studies, East Asian Studies, History of Consciousness, History, Italian Studies, Jewish Studies, Language Studies, Linguistics, Literature, Middle Eastern and North African Studies, Philosophy, Spanish Studies
- You have work authorization. [required]
- You have studied Shakespeare’s works at the college level.
- You can write clearly, concisely, and to deadlines.
- You are well-organized, manage your time wisely, and can work independently on complex academic projects.
Preferred Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
- Experience working with a unique archive of professional theater history in our region.
- The opportunity to work one-on-one with Professor Keilen in developing future projects using the Shakespeare Santa Cruz archive.
- The opportunity to contribute your research and writing to the mission of Shakespeare Workshop and the Santa Cruz Shakespeare summer season.
Position Term: Winter 2025–Spring 2025
Hours: 10 hours/week
Compensation: $20/hour
Mentorship: You will work closely with and report to Literature Professor Sean Keilen. They will delegate tasks, review your work, provide coaching, and help you understand professional research. You will meet to check in at least once per week
Apply By Submitting
- Your updated resume
- A short cover letter (no more than one page) answering these questions: Why are you interested in this position? How does your academic expertise and skillset prepare you for this role? What are you hoping to gain from this opportunity?
REVIEW these resume and cover letter resources to ensure you are a strong candidate! For application help, see Humanities Career Engagement.
- Address your cover letter to Professor Keilen
Once the application window closes, there will be an interview process with top candidates. This job is expected to start in January.
Please contact the EXPLORE Program coordinator, Kylie Rachwalski, at hum-experiential-learning@ucsc.edu with any questions.
The Mellon Foundation, The Helen and Will Webster Foundation, The Humanities Institute, and the UCSC Humanities Division generously support the Humanities EXPLORE Program.
