Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Department/Organization
204691 - Political Science

Rank
Assistant Professor

Position Summary
The Department of Political Science invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level in Comparative Politics, beginning August 16, 2027

Detailed Position Information
The Department of Political Science invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level in Comparative Politics, beginning August 16, 2027. The successful candidate should have a strong research agenda that applies rigorous methods to important theoretical questions, with a clear plan for peer-reviewed publication. The position is open to candidates with any theoretical or regional expertise, and the successful candidate will play an active role in undergraduate teaching and the graduate program.

The University of Alabama is a student-centered research university and the flagship campus of the University of Alabama System. The Political Science Department offers B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees. A completed Ph.D. in political science or a closely related field is required for appointment at the level of Assistant Professor.

Review of applications will begin September 21, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.

Minimum Qualifications
Ph.D. in political science or a closely related field is required for appointment at the level of Assistant Professor.

Preferred Qualifications

Instructions and Required Materials for Application
To apply, go to facultyjobs.ua.edu and complete the online application. Attach a cover letter and curriculum vitae. Additional materials — including a research statement, writing samples, and teaching materials — along with transcripts and three letters of recommendation, will be requested from finalists. Review of applications will begin September 21, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. For more information, contact Christopher Hale, Search Committee Chair, at cwhale@ua.edu, or the Department of Political Science, Box 870213, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0213.

About the Division/College/School
The J. Frank Barefield Jr. College of Arts and Sciences at The University of Alabama offers an exciting and dynamic environment for faculty seeking to make an impact in their field and in the lives of the innovators and changemakers of tomorrow.

As the largest college at The University, we house over 9,000 students and 1,000 faculty and staff across our 22 departments.

With nationally recognized programs and award-winning faculty, our College has positioned itself as a leader in higher education. Our facilities and resources include state-of-the-art laboratories, research centers, and performance venues, providing students with hands-on learning experiences and opportunities for research and creative expression.

The College is committed to the liberal arts philosophy that fosters creative and critical thinking and a lifetime of learning.”

About the University
The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, named one of Travel + Leisure’s 25 Best College Towns and Cities in the U.S. As one of the nation’s premier universities, UA offers bachelor’s, master's and doctoral degrees in nearly 200 fields of study. With more than 1,400 acres of tree-lined academic core campus and over 300 state-of-the art facilities, UA has been ranked among the most beautiful and most impressive college campuses in the South, in the state of Alabama and in the nation.

In Fall 2023, the Capstone set a new enrollment record with more than 39,000 students, including more than 8,200 in the freshman class. The current enrollment includes students from every county in Alabama, every state in the nation and 92 countries around the world. More than 1,100 National Merit Scholars are currently enrolled, making UA one of the largest enrolling institutions of the scholars in the country.

UA was recently recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. students for the seventh time in nine years, as well as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the first time. UA is one of only 12 universities in the nation to receive both honors.

For reasons like this, the University made Forbes list of America’s Top Colleges for 2023 and Time magazine’s list of Top 50 Best Colleges for Future Leaders. It also made Princeton Review’s list of Top Value Colleges.

UA is also designated among the top doctoral research universities in the United States in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. One of the fastest growing major research institutions in the nation, UA saw a 21% increase in sponsored awards in the 2023 fiscal year.

Since 2015, UA has invested over $1.1 billion in the physical campus, adding more than 2.55 million gross square feet of space, over 150 new research-intensive faculty, signature research areas (e.g., “The Alabama Research Institutes”), and a growing number of partnerships with industry and with state and federal agencies.

The University employs nearly 2,100 faculty and over 4,500 staff, with 52 UA researchers included in the National Academy of Inventors. An additional 40 current faculty have received the NSF CAREER Award, the nation’s most prestigious recognition of top performing young scientists in disciplines ranging from nanoscience and engineering to biological sciences.

Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to any legally protected basis and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. More information is available in the EEOC’s Know Your Rights: Workplace (-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf) discrimination is illegal poster.

The University of Alabama affirms its longstanding commitment to institutional neutrality, free speech, and academic freedom.

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