Assistant or Associate Professor of Economics

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WKU sits on approximately 500 beautiful acres and currently enrolls about 5,500 undergraduate and graduate students, and it is now in the midst of a rapid growth that will bring enrollment to 7,000 students within the next three years. All instruction is in English, and all curriculum is provided by Kean University.

In addition to its current 18 undergraduate programs, WKU has been approved by the Ministry of Education for offering 14 Master’s and 3 doctorate programs. WKU highly values research-powered teaching and learning, and the average number of faculty publications and the Field-weighted Citation Impact are among the best of leading Chinese academic institutions. Wenzhou is also one of the most vibrant and economically advanced developed cities on China’s East Coast, located one hour by plane and three hours by high-speed train from Shanghai.

Position information The Department of Economics at Wenzhou-Kean University invites applications for a full-time, 10-month, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor of Economics, beginning in August 2027. The position carries a teaching load of 24 credits per academic year, with a 6-credit annual course release for new faculty during their first three years of appointment. Faculty typically teach two different courses per semester, with each section generally enrolling 30 students.

We seek economists with a strong commitment to scholarly research and high-quality undergraduate teaching. Applications are welcome from all fields of economics, with priority given to candidates in applied economics. Areas of particular interest include, but are not limited to, health, urban, environmental, education, public, and development economics. We especially value candidates whose research combines strong economic reasoning with rigorous empirical methods and sophisticated use of data. Relevant experience may include working with large-scale and novel datasets; integrating information from multiple sources; and constructing economically meaningful measures to address important questions in relevant fields.

The successful candidate will contribute to the department’s undergraduate economics curriculum and is expected to teach intermediate- and upper-level economics courses. Candidates should be prepared to integrate contemporary methods of data analysis and emerging computational and AI tools, where appropriate, into undergraduate instruction. The ability to teach undergraduate Applied Statistics for Business and Applied Microeconomics is particularly desirable. Candidates should also demonstrate the ability to engage students effectively in a small-class environment and to incorporate contemporary economic research, empirical evidence, and data-driven analysis into their teaching.

Candidates should demonstrate strong collaborative skills and a willingness to contribute to the intellectual life and strategic development of the department, college, and university. Contributions may include committee work, curriculum review, student advising, or professional service.

Qualifications

Candidates should meet the following qualifications:

• An earned Ph.D. in Economics or a closely related field, or anticipated completion of the Ph.D. before the contract start date. Candidates who have not completed the terminal degree by the starting date may, where appropriate, be appointed at the lecturer level.
• Applications from early career researchers with PhD degree in Economics or closely related disciplines obtained within the past 10 years from reputable universities including Carnegie R1 institutions or equivalent research institutions renowned for their academic excellence in these fields, are encouraged.
• A strong record of, or clear potential for, high-quality research and publication in well-regarded peer-reviewed economics journals.
• Evidence of, or strong potential for, excellence in undergraduate teaching.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Faculty Position at WKU offers:

• A three-year initial contract, with a course release of 6 credits each academic year for new faculty during their first three years of appointment;
• $70,000-$82,000 for Assistant Professors. Salary of extraordinary candidates or at higher rank shall be determined on a case-by-case basis;
• Start-up grants to support tenure-track faculty to start their research programs;
• 3-12 credits course release per year for faculty members successfully obtaining eligible external grants;
• A well-rounded healthcare coverage, housing options and subsidy up to $3,000, home traveling up to $6,000 (2 international round-trip airfares), a reimbursement to cover relocation expenses up to $1,000 and shuttle bus to campus for work.;
• Financial assistance for academic travel.
• WKU tuition waiver up to 50% for spouse/dependent children of faculty for undergraduate programs. A collegial environment.

Application Instructions

Applicants are required to apply online (https://apply.interfolio.com/195261). To receive full consideration from the search committee, candidates should submit the following materials through Interfolio:

• Cover letter addressing how the candidate's research and teaching would contribute to the Department's research agenda, curriculum, student research opportunities, and the broader educational mission of Wenzhou-Kean University;
• Curriculum vitae;
• Unofficial graduate transcripts;
• Research statement;
• Teaching statement with evidence of teaching effectiveness;
• Writing sample or job market paper;
• Contact information for three professional references, including, where appropriate, a current or recent direct supervisor. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Background Screening

Wenzhou-Kean University conducts background screenings on all candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background screenings.