Assistant Professor of Instruction in American Politics

About the Role

The Department of Political Science at Northwestern University invites applications for a full-time, teaching-track Assistant Professor of Instruction in American Politics to begin Fall 2027. The committee seeks an excellent teacher-scholar who is motivated to innovate political science teaching, learning, and advising at the undergraduate level.

Responsibilities

• Teach core and elective undergraduate courses in American Politics and other subfields
• Collaborate with faculty and students on programs and initiatives to enhance the undergraduate experience
• Opportunity to lead workshops and trainings on political science pedagogy for faculty and graduate instructors in the social sciences
• Standard teaching load is six courses annually; this load may include service as Director of the Political Science Honors Program
• Course releases in exchange for specific service roles may be available

Requirements

• Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree required; ABD applicants who anticipate completion of the doctorate by Fall 2027 will be considered

Qualifications

• Excellent teaching and scholarly record in American Politics
• Ability to expand research, teaching, and advising in quantitative or qualitative research methods
• Ability to teach core American Politics courses, including POLI_SCI 210 Introduction to Empirical Methods in the Social Sciences, POLI_SCI 220 American Government and Politics, and POLI_SCI 230 Introduction to Law in the Political Arena

Application Materials

• Curriculum vitae
• Cover letter
• Writing sample
• Research statement
• Teaching statement
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness
• Three letters of recommendation
• Optional: additional writing samples

Application Process

• Applications and supporting documents accepted only by online submission using Northwestern University's Faculty Recruiting Portal
• Consideration of files will begin on November 1 and will continue until the position is filled
• All applications received by November 15 will be given priority
• Apply here: http://polisci.northwestern.edu/about/faculty-searches.html
• Prepare all documents in advance as Adobe PDF files
• Ensure all information is entered correctly and accurately; no opportunity for online revision after submission
• Prepare a list of names and email addresses for external academic references; references will be contacted directly by the online system
• All required fields in the application form are marked with an asterisk and must be filled before submitting
• Incomplete applications cannot be saved

Contact

For inquiries about job advertisements or the application process, please contact Stephen Monteiro, Business Administrator in the Political Science Department: stephen.monteiro@northwestern.edu.

Pay

The expected base pay range for this position is $80,000 - $100,000 for a nine-month academic appointment, not including summer salary, and is subject to negotiation. The pay offered will be determined based on factors including experience and qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal comparators, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Benefits

Northwestern provides meaningful and competitive benefits including health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview, visit Northwestern Benefits.