Assistant Professor of Anthropology: Archaeological study of climate change
Position Overview
Organization: Anthropology
Title: Assistant Professor of Anthropology: Archaeological study of climate change
Position Details
Position Description
The Department of Anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Washington invites applications for a full-time assistant professor of anthropological archaeology with a focus on climate change and community resilience. Rapid, anthropogenic changes to the earth’s climate is one of the most fundamental challenges to humanity at the moment. While we are struggling to find political and technological fixes to limit the severity of climate change in the near future, we are already living on a changed planet. Humans have survived periods of rapid climate change before and current vulnerabilities as well as capacities for resilience are the cumulative result of the deep histories of human engagement with environments, locally, regionally and globally. Archaeological data can illuminate how people have responded to past climate changes, provide insight into modes of cultural and socioecological resilience of communities past and present, and supply a wide range of scenarios to consider as we plan for the future.
Community vulnerability and resilience are consequences of intersecting and often reinforcing climatic, social, political and economic structures and actions. In contexts of social and political inequality, structures of marginalization often amplify climate vulnerability with consequences for community health and wellness and social, political, or economic inequality. Research on these topics has the potential to inform contemporary issues of socio-ecological vulnerability and environmental justice. Positive factors for consideration include, but are not limited to, candidates with a record of research on past human-climate interactions that is made relevant to the challenges faced by many Black, Indigenous, or other communities.
The successful candidate will be expected to complement our existing strengths by engaging in new methods, skills, and theoretical directions in our undergraduate tracks in Indigenous Archaeology and Archaeological Science, our Masters program in archaeological heritage and our PhD program; for example, anti-racist or decolonial approaches growing out of global Black experiences, Black studies, diasporic or Africana studies, Indigenous studies, or food & climate justice. The successful candidate will be expected to teach archaeological methods that are complementary to existing faculty. Examples include, but are not limited to the following: data science and/or computational archaeology, faunal analysis, archaeobotany, isotopic geochemistry, materials analysis, paleogenomics, or geomorphology. The successful candidate will be expected to support the department's commitment to integrity, equity, access, and inclusion in their research, teaching, and service. The successful applicant will provide critical support for our PhD, MA and BA/BS students, and develop or expand partnerships with other efforts and centers of expertise at UW, such as those identified below.
The department of anthropology is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. In the Archaeology program, this commitment has led us to develop a unique undergraduate track in Indigenous Archaeology and to expand our long-standing investments in diversity and decolonial archaeology including community archaeology and community-based participatory research practices. Several members of the faculty have pursued decolonial and community-engaged research throughout their careers, and many of our students are deeply committed to expanding these approaches in their own work. Even so, we acknowledge the need for ongoing work to broaden and deepen these engagements, work that we are committed to advancing in the years to come.
UW Anthropology faculty engage in research, teaching, and service. Tenure-track faculty in Anthropology have an annual service period of nine months (September 16-June 15). The position is expected to begin September 16, 2023 with the start of the autumn quarter. Professional duties include maintaining an active research program, teaching, and contributing service to the Department and University. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community. Members of the Department of Anthropology maintain strong connections to a variety of other units on campus including American Indian Studies, Burke Museum, Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies, Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, Center for Social Science Computation and Research, Center for Statistics and the Social Sciences, Department of Global Health, eScience Institute, Indigenous Wellness Research Institute, Jackson School for International Studies, the Quaternary Research Center, Schools of Public Health and Medicine, the Science Studies Network, and the Simpson Center for the Humanities. The University of Washington serves a diverse population of 80,000 students, faculty and staff, including 34% first-generation college students and over 27% Pell Grant students. A recipient of the Alfred P. Sloan award for Faculty Career Flexibility, the UW supports career development and work-life balance for faculty.
The base salary range for this position will be $9,400 - 11,670 per month, commensurate with experience and qualifications, or as mandated by a U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination.
Qualifications
Applicants must have earned a doctorate — or foreign equivalent — in anthropology/archaeology, or related field, by the date of appointment; however, applicants who have not completed their PhD at the time of application will be considered.
Instructions
To apply, use Interfolio and include the following items: (1) cover letter; (2) curriculum vitae; (3) teaching statement (addressing teaching philosophy and approaches to both large lecture courses and lab/methods classes, and discussion of teaching challenges and their solutions); (4) a list of courses prepared to teach including at least one large lecture course and one method or lab class with one paragraph abstract for each; (5) research statement (explication of research activities and accomplishments as well as future plans); (6) diversity statement (statement on how your teaching, research and/or service contribute to diversity through scholarship and/or by improving access to higher education for underrepresented individuals or groups); and (7) the names and contacts for three referees. As a guideline, we are looking for 1-2 pages (single spaced) for each of the statements on teaching, research, and diversity. Please see https://anthropology.washington.edu/guidance-faculty-job-materials for additional guidelines on the requested documents and how they will be evaluated. The cover letter should be addressed to Dr. Sara Gonzalez, search committee chair, Department of Anthropology (gonzalsa@uw.edu). Priority will be given to applications received by 5 PM PST, Dec. 1, 2022.
A number of applicants have experienced a problem completing their application submissions. Interfolio is aware of this problem and has recommended that if you are not able to finish your application that you delete all of your files, upload them again, and then complete you submission. We apologize for his inconvenience should you experience. If you have any technical issues with the application process, please contact Interfolio's support team directly as they will have more immediate knowledge of any problems impacting their system.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.
Benefits Information
A summary of benefits associated with this title/rank can be found at https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/benefits-orientation/benefit-summary-pdfs/. Appointees solely employed and paid directly by a non-UW entity are not UW employees and are not eligible for UW or Washington State employee benefits.
Commitment to Diversity
The University of Washington is committed to building diversity among its faculty, librarian, staff, and student communities, and articulates that commitment in the UW Diversity Blueprint (http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). Additionally, the University’s Faculty Code recognizes faculty efforts in research, teaching and/or service that address diversity and equal opportunity as important contributions to a faculty member’s academic profile and responsibilities (https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html#2432).
Privacy Notice
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Disability Services
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.