Assistant Professor in the Politics of the Middle East and North Africa - University of Pennsylvania

THE DEPARTMENT OF Political Science, (https://www.polisci.upenn.edu/) UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA , seeks to appoint a tenure-track assistant professor in Political Science whose work focuses on the region of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Candidates will be expected to engage in and promote research and teaching related to the MENA region at Penn and beyond. The appointment will begin on July 1, 2025. A PhD or equivalent degree is expected at the start of the appointment. The hired candidate will teach 3 courses per year (2-1 load) at the undergraduate and graduate levels. They will also provide research advice to students at all levels and engage in service to the department, the School, and the University.



Political Science is housed within the School of Arts & Sciences (https://www.sas.upenn.edu/) , which comprises 28 academic departments, (https://www.sas.upenn.edu/departments/) the College of Arts and Sciences (https://www.college.upenn.edu/) , the Graduate Division (https://www.sas.upenn.edu/graduate/) , and the College of Liberal and Professional Studies (https://www.lps.upenn.edu/) . Interdisciplinary research and collaboration are supported by the breadth and depth of academic pursuits at Penn (https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/careers-at-penn/penn) as well as the proximity of resources on our contiguous green urban campus (https://facilities.upenn.edu/services/landscape) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We promote and encourage curiosity, intellectual engagement, and discovery among all our students and faculty. University, School, and departmental resources that support faculty include but are not limited to: the Offices of the Vice Provost for Faculty (https://faculty.upenn.edu/) and Vice Provost for Research (https://research.upenn.edu/) , PennGlobal (https://global.upenn.edu/) and Perry World House (https://global.upenn.edu/perryworldhouse) , Wellness at Penn (https://wellness.upenn.edu/) , the Center for Teaching and Learning (https://ctl.upenn.edu/) , the Penn Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (https://curf.upenn.edu/) , and Penn Human Resources (https://www.hr.upenn.edu/) .



With 35 tenured and tenure-track faculty, over 300 undergraduate student majors (https://www.polisci.upenn.edu/undergraduate) , and 80 graduate (https://www.polisci.upenn.edu/graduate) students, we are one of the largest departments in the School of Arts and Sciences (https://www.sas.upenn.edu/) .



Our faculty teach and conduct research in all the major fields in our discipline, including American politics, Comparative politics, International Relations, Political Theory, Political Economy, and Methods. Our faculty and students study a range of issues with real-world policy implications ranging from civil wars and ethnic conflict to environmental politics, partisan polarization, and inequality. Our PhD program has an excellent placement record: our graduates go on to jobs in premium research and teaching institutions, as well as to successful careers outside of academia.



We seek candidates who share our strong commitment to research, teaching, and mentoring, and to a scholarly community shaped by a commitment to inclusive excellence. The School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania is committed to cultivating and sustaining a community of students, scholars, researchers, and staff that reflects the diversity of our world. We nurture working and learning environments that are affirming, equitable, and inclusive. As a community, we are committed to thoughtful discussions and dynamic interactions as we strive for an environment in which everyone is supported and valued. Please see our School’s Inclusion and Antiracism Initiatives (https://www.sas.upenn.edu/office-diversity-equity-and-inclusion/news/2020-inclusion-and-anti-racism-initiatives) to learn more about our active priorities.



The successful candidate’s written materials and scholarly productivity will indicate potential for a high-impact research agenda. The successful candidate will typically plan to seek external funding to support their research, and should also be highly proficient in at least one of the four most widely spoken languages in the MENA region: Arabic, Farsi, Kurdish, and Turkish.



Candidates should submit a cover letter, a curriculum vita, a research statement, a writing sample, and three letters of recommendation to: apply.interfolio.com/152474



Review of applications will begin on September 10st, 2024, and continue until the position has been filled.




The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty and staff with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected class. Questions or concerns about this should be directed to the Executive Director of the Office of Affirmative Action (http://www.upenn.edu/affirm-action/) and Equal Opportunity Programs, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Franklin Building, 3451 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6205; or (215) 898-6993 (Voice) or (215) 898-7803 (TDD).