"Assistant Professor"

Position Description

The Department of Anthropology at Texas State University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Cultural Anthropology with a focus on Medical Anthropology, beginning Fall 2026. We seek a broadly trained cultural or linguistic anthropologist whose expertise focuses on the study of health, illness, and the institutional and social forces that shape them.

The Department of Anthropology has 23 full-time faculty working in archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. The department includes two major centers, the Center for Archaeological Studies and the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State and the Innovative Anthropologies Laboratory that support sustained and innovative research by faculty and students. Our cultural and linguistic faculty work across a range of interconnected research areas—including the study of language and socio-cultural processes, history of anthropology, social movements, justice, and health and the study of innovation, design, and technology. Cross-cutting these areas, our faculty contribute to research that focuses on applied, public, and actionable anthropologies.

We pride ourselves on a collegial and supportive environment that encourages creativity, intellectual exchange, and meaningful real-world impact. The ideal candidate will build on and extend these strengths in research, teaching, and student mentorship. We are particularly interested in candidates whose research demonstrates collaborative, community-engaged, participatory, and applied approaches. Research foci may include, but are not limited to, reproductive or maternal health, family planning, disability studies, biotechnology/biomedicine, and international borders or migration.

The successful candidate will contribute to the department’s baccalaureate degrees in anthropology, M.A. in anthropology, and Ph.D. in applied anthropology. For information about the Department, please visit https://www.txst.edu/anthropology.html.

Position Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses on medical anthropology and other topics in cultural or linguistic anthropology, which may include introductory, advanced, method, and theory courses at all degree levels.
• Provide practical training for undergraduate and graduate students in the use of ethnographic and other qualitative methodologies in applied anthropological research.
• Mentor undergraduate, M.A., and Ph.D. students in applied anthropological research, fostering methodological and theoretical rigor and social impact.
• Maintain an externally funded research program in medical anthropology that results in peer-reviewed publications and, as applicable, other scholarly works including public, creative, and applied products.
• Contribute to service activities in the department, college, university, and profession. Faculty are expected to help advance the mission of the department as an applied program that bridges theory and practice.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in anthropology awarded by the time of hire.
• Research agenda focused on medical anthropology from a cultural or linguistic anthropology perspective.
• A clear trajectory of publication potential leading to tenure—including peer-reviewed publications and, as applicable, other scholarly works including public, creative, and applied products.
• Experience in teaching or demonstrated ability to teach courses in medical anthropology, as well as other core introductory and advanced courses in cultural or linguistic anthropology theory, methods, and topics.

Preferred Qualifications

• A master’s degree or other qualification in public health or global health.
• Research aligned with current high-interest areas such as reproductive or maternal health, family planning, disability studies, biotechnology/biomedicine, and international borders or migration, especially as they intersect with applied anthropological concerns.
• Experience or expertise in areas that complement existing departmental strengths, as described in the job description.
• Evidence of external research funding or a clear plan to obtain future funding to support research and/or teaching initiatives.
• Evidence of scholarly publication appropriate to career stage.
• Experience mentoring undergraduate and graduate students and supervising applied research projects in medical anthropology.

Application Procedures

For full consideration all application materials must be received by Oct. 15, 2025. Only applications submitted online will be considered at https://jobs.hr.txstate.edu/postings/52914. Interested applicants should submit the following materials: A cover letter highlighting experience and qualifications regarding (a) the position’s responsibilities and (b) the required and preferred qualifications. A statement detailing the candidate’s research experience and future trajectories. (Maximum 500-750 words.) A statement detailing the candidate’s teaching and mentorship philosophy. (Maximum 500-750 words.) A detailed curriculum vita. The names and email addresses of three references who will be asked to provide written letters of recommendation if the candidate is chosen for further consideration. Unofficial transcripts (all in one document). The selected candidate will be required to provide official transcripts from all degree-granting universities. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Nicole Taylor at ntaylor@txstate.edu, search committee chair.

Proposed Start Date

August 15, 2026