Assistant Professor in Legal Decision Making

Job No: 537168

Work Type: Full Time

Location: Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)

Categories: Education/Training/Instructional Design, Legal/Audit Services/Compliance

Department: 16920000 - LS-SOCIOLOGY CRIMINOLOGY&LAW

The Department of Sociology and Criminology & Law at the University of Florida, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences invites applications for a full-time, nine-month, tenure-accruing position beginning August 16, 2026 at the rank of Assistant Professor with research and teaching interests related to legal decision-making. This position supports the Law & Society component of our program in Criminology & Law by emphasizing the study of the social context of law. Specifically, this position focuses on legal and extra-legal factors affecting decision-making in the legal system decision patterns that emerge across cases, and the impacts of those patterns on individuals, communities, and policies. Applicant research programs can emphasize theory development, methodological applications (quantitative, qualitative and/or mixed), and/or policy analysis. Those who incorporate legal expertise into their research and teaching are encouraged to apply, as are those who focus on criminal and/or civil administration of law.

Candidate research should address debates implicating legal decision-making, including longstanding concerns (e.g., racial profiling or use of force) or emerging challenges (e.g., the use of AI to identify suspects) or assess case law or statutes. Also of interest are candidates who conduct research on enforcement, including by traditional police officers, administrative law enforcers (e.g., EPA or FDA enforcement) or hybrid enforcers of criminal and civil law enforcement (e.g., ICE). Candidates can also focus on judicial processes, whether pretrial (e.g., prosecutorial discretion or trial strategies, plea bargaining in criminal cases or negotiated settlements in civil cases), during administrative hearing procedures or trials (including aspects of jury selection, admissibility of evidence, jury decision-making), administrative rulings and trial judgments (criminal sentencing, assessing civil damages, or issuing administrative remedies), and/or post-trial (appellate processes). Candidate research can also focus on decisions about interventions after a hearing or trial (corrections in the case of criminal law, collection strategies for those owing damages, monitoring decisions for cease-and-desist orders or corrective measures imposed under administrative law).

We seek applicants whose records show commitment to rigorous scholarship with the promise of external funding, as well as excellence in teaching. The ability to contribute significantly to graduate education and the mentoring of graduate students is highly desirable.

The Department of Sociology and Criminology & Law is a large and dynamic department with nearly 700 undergraduate Criminology majors and roughly 20 Criminology, Law and Society graduate students. The Department has two undergraduate programs, both offered via in-person and online courses, and new minors in Sociology of Social Justice & Policy and Environmental Justice & Policy. Faculty conduct research in diverse areas, including criminology and criminal justice; psychology and law; families and gender; health, aging, and the life course; environment and resources; and race and ethnicity. Many faculty are affiliated with other academic programs at UF, including the School of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Center for Latin American Studies, the Center for European Studies, the Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies, and the Health Science Center. More information about the Department is available at https://soccrim.clas.ufl.edu/.

UF is the state's oldest, largest, and most comprehensive land grant university with an enrollment of over 50,000 students and was ranked Number 1 public university in the United States by Wall Street Journal in its “2024 Best Colleges in the U.S.” report with exceptional research and teaching. UF is located in Gainesville, a city of approximately 150,000 residents in North-Central Florida, 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, and 67 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, and within a 2-hour drive to large metropolitan areas (Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville). The beautiful climate and extensive nearby parks and recreational areas afford year-round outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, and nature photography. UF's large college sports programs, museums, and performing arts center support a range of activities and cultural events for residents to enjoy. Alachua County schools are highly rated and offer a variety of programs including magnet schools and an international baccalaureate program. Learn more about what Gainesville has to offer at https://www.visitgainesville.com/.

Expected Salary: The salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience and includes a full benefits package.

Required Qualifications: Ph.D. in Criminology or Criminal Justice, Sociology or a relevant social science field by date of hire. A law degree by itself is not sufficient.

Preferred: Evidence of rigorous scholarship and the potential to obtain external funding; Evidence of excellence in teaching and the ability to mentor graduate students; Ability to contribute to diverse theoretical viewpoints and open academic exchanges through scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service.

Special Instructions to Applicants: For full consideration, applications must be submitted online at jobs.ufl.edu.