Assistant Professor of Philosophy

Summary: The Philosophy Department at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the Philosophy Department to begin Fall 2026. Applicants are expected to have a PhD or ABD in Philosophy or a closely related field. The Philosophy Department at GVSU is focused on undergraduate education and values the history of philosophy, diverse philosophical traditions and schools of thought, and interdisciplinary and applied philosophical thinking. Individuals from all backgrounds, including from underrepresented groups, are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates must be able to effectively engage with students, colleagues, and community members with a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.

Required Qualifications and Education:

• Ph.D. in Philosophy or closely related field. Current ABD candidates will be considered for a two-year contract with the provision that the Ph.D. must be completed by December 2027.

• Potential for successful college-level teaching and active research.

• Scholarly expertise in some area(s) of Early Modern Philosophy.

• Teaching competence in Early Modern Philosophy.

• Teaching competence in at least one of Philosophy of Science or Philosophy of Technology.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, such as the ability to interact with others with respect and cultural humility.

• Potential to contribute, in collaboration with other colleagues, to sustaining the Philosophy Department’s disciplinary and interdisciplinary contributions to the University.

Preferred Qualifications and Education:

• Scholarly expertise in some areas of Philosophy of Science and Technology Broadly Construed.

• Ability to work on interdisciplinary collaborations, including curriculum, with other parts of the university such as computing, health sciences, environmental science, environmental studies, or engineering.

Responsibilities: Tenure-line faculty in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are typically hired on nine-month contracts, with a nine-credit hour teaching load per semester. They are also expected to engage in scholarly/creative activity, service, and a significant focus, which is equivalent to three credit hours of additional responsibilities in teaching, scholarly/creative activity, and/or service depending on the successful candidate's interests and the department’s needs. The successful candidate will regularly teach Early Modern Philosophy (PHI 313 Reason, Experience, Morality at the Dawn of Modernity: Early Modern Philosophy) as well as introductory and intermediate courses in Philosophy located across GVSU’s General Education program.

Minimum Starting Salary: $67,000; commensurate with experience.

Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package including medical, vision, dental, life insurance, generous employer retirement contributions, wellness resources and tuition waiver effective on date of hire.

Department: The Philosophy Department at Grand Valley State University aims to set a standard of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service in the University and the community that is centered on the fundamental intellectual and practical value of philosophy as a discipline. We aspire to develop students’ abilities to question and wonder as well as their skills in careful thinking, critical judgment, and oral and written communication. We foster a diverse community of inquiry through the study of philosophy and its methods in different historical periods, cultural contexts, and intellectual traditions. Our 11 full-time faculty represent a broad area of philosophical traditions, expertise, and approaches that we are committed to sharing with our c. 40 majors and c. 100 minors, as well as with the more than 1000 students we teach each semester from across the university. The Department values extra-curricular opportunities such as Philosophy Club, Ethics Bowl, and Philosophy Colloquium and has collaborations with other disciplines at the university and partners within the broader community.  

College: