Position Overview
The Department of Slavic, German, and Eurasian Studies (SGES) at the University of Kansas invites applications for a non-tenure track appointment at the rank of Visiting Assistant Professor. The position is for one academic year, beginning on August 18, 2027. Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Slavic Studies or a closely related field with a specialization in Russian literature and culture (expected by the start date of the appointment). Preference will be given to critical approaches to…
literature and culture of the Russian empire, from the end of the 18th century onward. Additional expertise in Instructed Second Language Acquisition and/or one or several of the colonized/indigenous cultures of the region, including, but not limited to Central Asia, the Caucasus, or Siberia, would be welcome. The successful candidate should demonstrate excellence in teaching as well as a strong record of research in Slavic Studies. The teaching load is two courses in the fall and two courses in the spring. The position also includes coordination of the Russian undergraduate program and supervision of graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) in beginning and intermediate Russian language courses.
The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the time of appointment.
The University of Kansas is located in the beautiful, historic, and culturally vibrant city of Lawrence, a thriving community 40 minutes from the Kansas City metropolitan area and 30 minutes from the state capital, Topeka. Lawrence, a progressive college town of 95,000, boasts a lively downtown with many music venues, award-winning restaurants, and a nationally celebrated independent bookstore among its many independently owned small businesses. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the largest school within the campus and plays a central role within the University. Founded in 1865, KU is a designated Carnegie comprehensive doctoral and research university and is one of only 34 public members of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). The University enrolls more than 28,000 students and offers students and faculty opportunities to collaborate in its graduate and professional programs, which include education, public health, medicine, law, and several allied social science and humanities disciplines.
The SGES Department maintains an excellent undergraduate program and one of the top graduate programs in Slavic Studies in the country. It enjoys close collaborative relationships with KU’s Center for Russian, East European, & Eurasian Studies, Hall Center for the Humanities, and all Humanities departments.
KU’s excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other’s success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things.
The Visiting Professor position is subject to a collective bargaining agreement between The University of Kansas and United Academics. UAKU is the exclusive representative for the bargaining unit, and it is the candidate’s right to be a member or not be a member of a union without fear of personal or professional repercussions.
Job Description
Research: (30%): Establish and maintain an active and productive program of research within area of specialization.
Teaching/Advising/Program Coordination: (50%): Teach two courses in the fall and two courses in the spring at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including (primarily advanced) Russian language courses and content courses in English and Russian. Teaching duties include developing syllabi, preparing and teaching lectures, creating, administering, and grading homework assignments and exams, and holding regular office hours. Advising duties may include mentoring graduate students in the Department and serving on undergraduate and graduate thesis and exam committees, as appropriate. Russian program coordination includes curriculum development and supervision of GTAs teaching Russian language courses.
Service: (20%): Visiting faculty members are expected to participate in departmental events and actively contribute to the workings of the University community. They are expected to perform service to the Department, College, University, and/or the profession at large.
Required Qualifications
Evaluation of the following requirements will be made through (1) descriptions of educational and professional experiences in letter of application, (2) record of accomplishments and productivity addressed in CV, (3) writing sample, (4) teaching statement and syllabi, and (5) information provided from professional references:
- Ph.D. in Slavic Studies or closely related field (expected by the start date of the appointment), with a specialization in Russian literature and culture.
- Potential for high-quality teaching and a commitment to teaching excellence at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
- A strong record of research in Slavic Studies.
- Native or near-native proficiency in Russian and English.
This position requires a PhD degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have the foundational knowledge and skill set required to perform the duties of the position. The level of degree is based on accreditation requirements, institutional standards of academic and professional excellence, alignment with peer institution benchmarks, and contributes to the credibility and effectiveness of the role within the university community.
Additional Candidate Instructions
A complete application will include the following documents with your on-line application profile:
- letter of application outlining interest in and qualifications for the position
- curriculum vitae
- writing sample of 20-30 pages (either a dissertation chapter or a published article or book chapter)
- teaching philosophy statement (describing approach to teaching both language and literature/culture)
- syllabus for an undergraduate-level literature and culture class
- syllabus for a graduate-level seminar with the focus on a 19th-century literature topic
- contact information for three references
Review of applications will begin on November 13th and continues until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.
Contact Information to Applicants
Dr. Nina Vyatkina | vyatkina@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
Commensurate with experience
Application Review Begins
Friday November 13, 2026
Anticipated Start Date
Wednesday August 18, 2027