Call for Applications
2025-2026 Boniuk Institute Graduate Student Scholar Program
Rice University’s Boniuk Institute for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance (BI) is seeking
candidates for up to two Graduate Scholar positions during the 2025-2026 academic year, with academic/ research interests that align with the Boniuk Institute's mission as outlined below; preference will be given to applicants with quantitative skills. Students who have previously held the position are not eligible to apply.
The Boniuk Institute is a premier interdisciplinary research and scholarly institute that aims to understand the conditions which lead to religious pluralism, tolerance, intolerance, conflict, and discrimination, and then help people apply its findings in their lives and communities.
Graduate Scholars will work under the supervision of Dr. Elaine Howard Ecklund, BI Director, Herbert S. Autrey Chair in Social Sciences, and Professor of Sociology; Dr. Rachel C. Schneider, Religion and Public Life Center (RPLC) Director and BI Associate Director of Academic Programs; and Dr. Kerby Goff, BI Associate Director of Research. Graduate Scholars will participate in a range of both scholarly research and outreach endeavors, including:
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Participate in the BI Reading Religion Salon, which will review current research on the topics of religion, religious pluralism, and tolerance with an eye for publishing the reviews.
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Attend the BI/RPLC Scholars Meetings, in which Graduate Scholars will present their ongoing research to a scholarly group of peers.
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Contribute to the BI's newsletter by creating new and timely content on current research in the field of religion, religious tolerance and pluralism.
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Assist with the planning, preparation and running of an annual scholarly conference in the Spring of 2026.
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Teach a short segment for the BI's Educator Professional Development series in the summer of 2026.
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Participate in BI research projects as needed.
A stipend of $37,000 will be provided to BI Graduate Scholars with a start date of August 25, 2025 (in-person requirement beginning start of fall semester) to be paid over a 9- or 12-month period during the 2025-2026 academic year dependent on Graduate Scholars' home supervisors as needed.
This is a hybrid position with both remote and in-person participation. Graduate Scholars will be required to work on campus in the BI Graduate Scholars' office every Tuesday and Thursday, with possible additional in-person days to be determined by the Graduate Scholars' supervisors as needed.
Continuation of the Graduate Scholar position during the Spring 2026 semester will be contingent on the successful completion of the Fall 2025 semester.
Interested Rice University PhD graduate students should submit the following application materials to Hayley Hemstreet (hjh2@rice.edu) by Monday, March 17, 2025:
- CV
- Academic transcript
- Brief letter of interest which includes PhD year, funding need, and any special skills relevant to the position
- One letter of recommendation from a Rice University faculty reference sent directly to Hayley Hemstreet by Monday, March 17, 2025