"Assistant or Associate Professor in Genomics, Epigenetics, and Biomes"

Job Details

Position Summary

The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia (UGA) invites applications for an open faculty position to begin August 1, 2026, for a scientist who can contribute to the domain of Applied Health Innovation for Societal Impact. This is a full-time equivalent position with a 50% instruction (12 credit hour), 45% research, and 5% service effort expectation per academic year.

We are seeking applications for an Assistant or Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology (tenure track) with a focus on Genomics, Epigenetics and Biomes. The ideal candidate will investigate gene-environment interactions to advance evolutionary and biocultural understandings of human and animal health while complementing archaeological and ecological approaches to population health. They will simultaneously contribute to cross-disciplinary research, teaching and service in health-related fields.

The ideal candidate would contribute and build on existing strengths in health and medicine within Franklin College, leverage connections to the Precision One Health Initiative and the Translational Medicine Research Center, and show promise for engaging in interdisciplinary and collaborative work that is competitive for extramural funding. The position will meet robust enrollment demand in the Department of Anthropology, and the applicant will be expected to contribute to the General Education curriculum by teaching one large undergraduate course per year, as well as upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses. The Department of Anthropology has ongoing academic program developments in Forensic Science and Medical Humanities to which the applicant will be expected to contribute. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate their potential for promoting excellence in a teaching/learning environment dedicated to serving a well-prepared student body, and to foster understanding of and respect for cultural differences necessary for an enlightened and educated citizenry.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please submit the following: 1) cover letter, 2) curriculum vitae, 3) a 1-2p statement of prior research accomplishments and planned research directions and 4) a 1-2p combined teaching/mentorship statement that includes relevant courses previously taught and those they plan to offer. Applicants should also provide names for three references from whom letters of recommendation will be requested later in the search process.

For questions about this faculty position, please contact Dr. Laurie Reitsema (reitsema@uga.edu).

Applications received by January 5, 2026, will receive full consideration and review will continue until the position is filled. Applicants should be available for travel to UGA for on-campus interviews between Feb 1st and March 30th, 2026.

Posting Details

Posting Number F2542P

Working Title Assistant or Associate Professor in Genomics, Epigenetics, and Biomes

Department Franklin-Anthropology

About the University of Georgia

Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

About the College/Unit/Department

UGA is a research-intensive land-grant university ranked 18th among public universities with over $600 million dollars in research expenditures in fiscal year 2024. The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences has a rich history with a strong and diverse research portfolio. In the Department of Anthropology the themes of ecology and environment connect our cultural anthropologists, anthropological archaeologists, and biological anthropologists to one another and to scholars and practitioners beyond the department and the university. The Department of Anthropology is home to the Laboratory of Archaeology (ARCHLAB) while various faculty have ongoing collaborations in research and education with the Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS), the Center for Integrative Conservation Research (CICR), Georgia Museum of Natural History (GMNH), Center for Geospatial Research (CGR). The department also is currently collaborating with the Center for Applied Isotopes Studies (CAIS) to establish a combined ancient DNA and radiocarbon dating program that would position the University of Georgia as a leader in the interdisciplinary area of ‘genotemporality’ in which genetic and temporal data are intersected to enhance our understanding of migration, kinship, and microevolutionary processes in past populations. There are outstanding opportunities for collaborations with faculty across the social and life sciences departments in Franklin College and with faculty in the Colleges of Agriculture, Engineering, Forestry, Pharmacy, Public Health and VetMed. In addition, UGA recently launched both a School of Medicine and a School of Nursing, and maintains core facilities in animal health, computation (GACRC, Institute for AI and Institute of Bioinformatics), electron microscopy, flow cytometry, genomics, glycobiology, microscopy, mass spectrometry, NMR, and x-ray crystallography among other resources. UGA is in the city of Athens in the Piedmont region of Georgia 65 miles east of Atlanta, less than two hours from the southern Appalachian Mountains and only four hours from the Atlantic coast. Athens is home to a thriving arts and music community and prides itself on its cultural diversity (http://www.visitathensga.com).

The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences is the heart of UGA’s learning environment, advancing knowledge, research, and creative activity across more than 40 departments, schools, and institutes. With a vision for high-impact research and education, Franklin College prepares students for leadership and global engagement in a sustainable future. The College has a strong commitment to multidisciplinary research, collaboration and academic innovation.

College/Unit/Department website https://anthropology.uga.edu/

Posting Type External

Retirement Plan

Employment Type Employee

Benefits Eligibility Benefits Eligible

Underutilization

Advertised Salary

Anticipated Start Date 08/01/2026

Effective End Date (for Limited-Term postings)

Job Posting Date 11/04/2025

Job Closing Date

Open until filled Yes

Location of Vacancy Athens Area

EEO Statement

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Position Details

Position Information

Classification Title Open Rank

FLSA

Faculty Rank Open Rank (Tenure Track)

Contract Type Academic (9 mo.)

Tenure Status Tenure Track

Minimum Qualifications

The applicant must possess a Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Anthropology, Evolutionary Anthropology, or a related field.

Additional Requirements

The qualifications and academic expectations for ranks as well as the guidelines for promotion and tenure at the University of Georgia can be found at https://provost.uga.edu/faculty-affairs/promotion-tenure/

Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, and/or Certification

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

Preferred applicants will be grounded in the social sciences and be demonstrably capable of using ancient and contemporary DNA to advance evolutionary and biocultural understanding of human health, understand genomic and/or epigenomic influences on human and/or non-human primate phenotypes, and complement archaeological and ecological approaches to population health. Research applications of societal significance might include forensics, foundations for the evolution of human health across regions, demography, and societies, and genetic analysis informed by computational and bioinformatic approaches applied across species.

Physical Demands

Is this a Position of Trust? No

Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources? No

Does this position require a P-Card? No

Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? No

Is driving a responsibility of this position? No

Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care? No

Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications) No

Credit and P-Card policy

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Background Investigation Policy

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Duties/Responsibilities

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Resume/CV
2. Cover Letter
3. List of References with Contact Information
4. Teaching Portfolio/Philosophy
5. Research Portfolio/Philosophy

Optional Documents