Description

Position No. 6355. The Department of Anthropology at Southern Methodist University invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor (tenure-track) with a focus on environmental anthropology. We seek specialists with an outstanding record of community-based and locally engaged research and scholarship. Preference will be given to those with expertise in science, technology, and society studies (STS), complex adaptive systems, dynamic human-ecological modeling, participatory research, and/or a focus on alternative environmental futures. Strong consideration will be given to anthropologists whose scholarship and teaching complement those of current faculty in environmental anthropology and environmental archaeology and bridge cognate campus programs, including Earth Sciences, History, Human Rights, International Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies. This position supports ongoing development of the Earth Hazards and National Security research cluster at SMU (https://www.smu.edu/dedman/resources/faculty-staff/recruitment/clusterhires). Successful applicants will have evidence of an ongoing research program, evidence of teaching effectiveness, and a commitment to increasing diversity and fostering inclusion in academia. Regional focus is open. The position begins August 1, 2025. 

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to be a significant partner in building ties between the department and an increasingly diverse and globally connected community at the university and in the Dallas- Fort Worth Metroplex. They will also join a fast-growing, PhD-granting department that participates actively in interdisciplinary initiatives on campus through the Dedman College Interdisciplinary Institute, which features ongoing scholarly clusters in Native American and Indigenous Studies, Asian Studies and Asian American Experiences, and Urban Research. More information on the Dedman College Interdisciplinary Institute research clusters can be found at https://www.smu.edu/dedman/research/institutes-and-centers/dcii/research/research-cluster.

Department/Division:

The Department of Anthropology at SMU believes that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. Accordingly, we prefer candidates who work productively with colleagues, within and across disciplines, and are skilled at communicating with diverse audiences using different forms of media. Beyond research, the successful candidate must also demonstrate a firm commitment to teaching and mentorship in a liberal arts environment. Visit us at https://www.smu.edu/dedman/academics/departments/anthropology.

SMU is a nationally ranked, private, non-sectarian research institution located in one of the nation’s fastest growing metropolitan areas. Researchers are part of an inclusive and intellectually vibrant community of internationally recognized scholars across the humanities, social sciences, mathematical sciences, engineering, and business. SMU offers excellent benefits including full same-sex domestic partner benefits. The City of Dallas is one of the nation’s most cosmopolitan commercial and cultural centers, and the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex is the fourth largest in the US. Dallas’ quality of life is exceptional, with a relatively low cost of living and a variety of housing options. A full range of professional sports teams, mu