Assistant Professor - Department of Sociology & Anthropology

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology at West Virginia University invites applications for a full-time, Assistant Professor (tenure-track) appointment in sociology. The area of specialization is open. The preferred start date is August 2025.

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology houses a PhD program in sociology featuring specializations in four broad areas: crime, law, and deviance; inequality, diversity, and equity; social psychology and group processes; and the sociology of religion. The Department also offers a graduate certificate in Women's and Gender Studies, B.A. programs in Sociology, Criminology, Anthropology, and Women's and Gender Studies, and collectively serves over 700 majors.

WVU is a comprehensive land grant university and WVU's Carnegie Classification is R1 ("Doctoral Universities - Very High Research Activity"). Morgantown is centrally located (90 minutes from Pittsburgh and 3.5 hours from the Washington/Baltimore area) and regularly makes "Best Place to Live" lists because of its good schools, excellent health care, low unemployment rate, low crime rate, and abundant recreational opportunities. WVU provides faculty members with a supportive environment for developing a visible and productive career (https://talentandculture.wvu.edu/new-employees) and commits to assist in partner employment.

The university has many resources for faculty including an introductory faculty academy, library reserves, writing center, Faculty and Leadership Development, and formal opportunities to work with undergraduate students such as the Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) and the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program. The university has a robust research office that assists faculty in many ways: connects new faculty to existing faculty, community partners, and resources aligning with their interests and needs, finds grants, assists with grant applications, develops the budgets for grants, and more. There are other ways to get involved on campus and in the local community such as the Women's Leadership Initiative, Women's Resource Center, Center for Community Engagement, WVU Humanities Center, and the LGBTQ+ Center.

Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to graduate level courses and mentorship in quantitative research methods, statistics, and data analysis in addition to offering other undergraduate and graduate courses. The teaching load is typically two courses per semester. The candidate is expected to develop a program of teaching and research, pursue external funding to support those efforts, engage in student mentorship, and contribute to the service needs of the department, college, and university.

The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. in Sociology. Candidates who are ABD will be considered but must have degree in-hand before the start date. The candidate must show evidence of an interest and ability to contribute to graduate instruction and mentorship in quantitative research methods, statistics, and data analysis, but area of research specialization is otherwise open. In addition, the candidate must have a demonstrated ability or potential to establish an externally funded research program in their areas of expertise; demonstrated or potential excellent teaching skills; ability to contribute to undergraduate student success initiatives and graduate student mentorship/advising; ability to develop new courses; excellent written and oral communication skills; and excellent interpersonal skills.

To apply, please visit https://careers.wvu.edu/career-opportunities and upload (1) a cover letter addressed to the Search Committee, (2) a curriculum vitae including a complete list of publications and relevant teaching experience, (3) a one-page teaching statement including a summary of teaching effectiveness and a discussion of their interest and ability to contribute to graduate instruction and mentorship in quantitative research methods, statistics, and data analysis; (4) a one-page research statement describing their areas of specialization and methodologies used, and (5) complete contact information for three professional references. Letters of recommendation from professional references will only be requested of the finalists. For more information, please visit our website https://soca.wvu.edu/. Questions regarding this position may be directed to the chair of the search committee, Prof. Chris Scheitle at cpscheitle@mail.wvu.edu. Review of applications will begin January 24, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled.

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and engaging working environment and actively seek candidates who bring diverse ideas, approaches and experiences.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and is the recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. We value diversity among our faculty, staff and students and invite applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.