"Associate Professor of Modern Chinese Studies"

The Faculty, in association with St Cross College, seeks to appoint an Associate Professor in the Modern Chinese Studies, available from 1st October 2026. This post, based at the China Centre, will contribute to the teaching of contemporary China at undergraduate and postgraduate level, with particular responsibility for the MPhil in Modern Chinese Studies. The postholder will be an outstanding scholar and teacher who work on the contemporary Chinese state, using Chinese texts as a central part of their research. Their research will be in one of the fields of anthropology, sociology, political science, international relations or law.

The successful candidate will have a doctorate in the field of modern or contemporary Chinese studies (the period since 1978), a strong record of research and publication in the field, and an ongoing agenda for research which combines the use of Chinese texts with experience of conducting fieldwork in China. They will be able to demonstrate the ability to teach and supervise undergraduate and graduate students across the whole field of modern or contemporary Chinese studies, using Chinese language texts as necessary. Excellent modern standard Mandarin is essential, along with excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills.

Associate Professor is the main academic career grade at Oxford with a focus on research and teaching. This post will be held in conjunction with a Governing Body Fellowship at St Cross College. The Fellowship carries no teaching duties for the College, but the Fellow will have responsibility for pastoral care of graduate students at the College, to act as College Advisor for graduate students, and to participate in the governance and administration of the College.

The University of Oxford is committed to equal opportunity, and to being a place where everyone belongs and is supported to succeed. We recognise how the diversity of our community enriches our ability to deliver on our academic mission. We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds, including those under-represented in senior academic positions at Oxford.

To make informal enquiries about the post, please contact Professor Henrietta Harrison (Henrietta.harrison@ames.ox.ac.uk).

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online and you will be required to upload a supporting statement and CV as part of your application. Your supporting statement must explain how you meet each of the selection criteria for the post. Your application will not be considered without a supporting statement.

Applications will close at 12 noon on 24th November 2025.

Interviews will be held on 12th January 2026