Assistant Professor of Sociology

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Job Category:

Faculty

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Assistant Professor

Job Summary:

The Department of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of (advanced) assistant professor in the fields of demography, sociology of population, and health beginning in August of 2027. We are particularly interested in scholars who use demographic and statistical methods of inquiry and evidence either a track record of or strong potential for leading NICHD-funded research. The successful candidate will be expected to have an active role in the Center for Demography and Ecology and align with the Center’s commitment to cooperative, multi-disciplinary research and training in population science.

The successful candidate will advance the educational mission of the College of Letters & Science that values, prioritizes, and actualizes evidence-based and student-centered teaching and (undergraduate student) mentoring. They will contribute to an environment that fosters engagement and a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students and members of the broader community.

The successful candidate, as a member of the College of L&S, will proactively contribute to, support, and advance the college’s commitment to excellence among all aspects of their teaching, mentoring, research, and service.

In the College of Letters & Science, we provide a liberal arts education that is both broad and deep through excellent, empathic teaching. We hire faculty who are interested in pursuing difficult questions, making new discoveries, and making an impact in their field. We reward excellent teaching and classroom innovation, and we are committed to shared governance. Learn more about the L&S mission on our webpage: .

This position is part of the Wisconsin Research, Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Initiative. Through accelerated and strategic faculty hiring, research infrastructure enhancement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and increased student and educational opportunities, RISE addresses complex societal challenges of importance to the state, nation and world. Building on UW–Madison’s strengths, RISE expands the University’s successful track record of connecting with communities and industry on collaborative solutions.

Candidates hired through RISE will join a community of scholars working across disciplines, schools and colleges on research, teaching and outreach endeavors. The community will engage regularly in venues such as seminar series and colloquia to share ongoing projects and identify opportunities to work together. The University will support the community, facilitating access to research infrastructure, and funding to support broad and rich collaboration.

Further information regarding RISE can be found at:

Situated at the heart of UW-Madison, the College of Letters & Science (L&S) serves as home to 39 academic departments and numerous research centers, including the Center for Demography and Ecology, the Center for Demography of Health and Aging, and the Center for Healthy Minds. By hiring up to seven faculty researchers as part of UW-Madison’s RISE-THRIVE initiative, the College seeks to further bolster its expertise and capacity to serve as a dynamic hub for interdisciplinary and collaborative health research—one that integrates quantitative, qualitative, and community-engaged forms of research and brings this mixed-methods approach to bear on the complexities of health, disease, well-being and resilience, and aging.

L&S researchers explore the social, economic, historical, environmental, and behavioral factors that shape health outcomes, while advancing knowledge in genomics, epigenetics, and demography as well as driving innovation in health policy and technology—all for the goal of fostering healthier lives and healthier communities.

Key Job Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will advance the educational mission of the College of Letters & Science that values, prioritizes, and actualizes evidence-based and student-centered teaching and (undergraduate student) mentoring. They will contribute to an environment that fosters engagement and a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students and members of the broader community.

Department:

College of Letters & Science, Department of Sociology

Compensation:

Negotiable – 9 months / ongoing / renewable

Required Qualifications:

Successful candidates will have a record of:

• Creativity and excellence in teaching and scholarly research;

• Research in the field of demography, sociology of population, and health or a related field;

• Evidence of either a history of or the potential to successfully pursue and lead NICHD-funded research;

• Demonstrated potential for interdisciplinary collaboration across departments and with various research centers (e.g. Center for Demography and Ecology);

• Evidence of either experience with or the ability to foster an inclusive and equity-centered teaching, learning, mentoring, departmental, and a research environment where all can thrive.

Education:

Required: PhD in Sociology or a similar field prior to the start of the appointment.

How to Apply:

Apply online at "Jobs at UW" () under Job Requisition JR10012194. Applications must be received through UW- Madison's online application system. Applications submitted outside of this system will not be considered. Click the "Apply Now" button to start the application process. Applicants should submit the following 4 items:

• Letter of application

• Curriculum vitae

• Teaching and mentoring statement

• A writing sample of roughly 35 pages

For full consideration, all materials must be received no later than 11:59pm on September 4th, 2026. Applications will be accepted until position is filled.

Please note that applicants will be evaluated based upon submitted application materials and therefore should speak to and include evidence of their qualifications. Application materials must clearly demonstrate the applicant’s dedication to excellence in student-centered teaching and mentoring. Additionally, materials should showcase the applicant’s ability to purposefully plan their teaching practices, evidenced through goals, action plans, reflection, and related documentation. This portion of the application materials must be created by the applicant and may include supporting letters. It cannot be only in the form of letters and testimony by others.

Applicants who move forward to the interview step of the process will receive an email requesting the names and contact information for three references; each reference will each receive an electronic link through which they can upload a signed letter of reference.

Contact Information:

Max Besbris

besbris@wisc.edu

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.