The University of Virginia: Tenure-Track Open Rank Position in Democracy and Judicial Politics

With the support of the John L. Nau Foundation, the Department of Politics at the University of Virginia invites applications for an open-rank tenure-line position for scholars who study democracy and judicial politics. The colleague appointed to this position will join the core lab of the interdisciplinary Democracy Initiative (see below description), so the program seeks a scholar primarily focused on the history and principles of democracy. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in political science by the time of the appointment. Candidates should have an active research agenda, strong commitment to excellent teaching at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, and a willingness to contribute to the scholarly life of the Department of Politics. Scholars with a background in quantitative methods and interest in teaching courses in the department’s methods sequences are also encouraged to apply.

In the fall of 2020, with the generous support of the John L. Nau Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the University of Virginia’s Democracy Initiative and College of Arts & Sciences are launching a multiyear faculty hiring project. Over the next four years, they will hire a dozen or more new faculty members at all ranks in the departments of Classics, History, Philosophy, Politics, and elsewhere.

As part of this hiring program the Department of Politics will fill four tenure-track positions. This year, the Department of Politics is launching two of those searches. Across all the searches, the Department seeks to appoint scholars whose primary research is focused on the study of the principles of democracy, democratic accountability and representation, either to advance the work of the core lab on the history and principles of democracy or to contribute to one of the Initiative’s other projects.

Review of applications will begin January 11, 2021 and the position will remain open until filled. The appointment begins with the fall semester of 2021.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in political science by the time of the appointment.

To Apply

Apply online at https://uva.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UVAJobs: search for posting #R0020023 complete the application, and attach the following:

A cover letter of application describing (1) areas of research and teaching interest, (2) potential research collaborations, (3) your demonstrated past experience working on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and/or working with diverse populations;
a current curriculum vitae;
a research statement (not to exceed five pages);
a teaching philosophy (not to exceed one page);
one article-length writing sample;
and three letters of recommendation, which must be submitted directly to: pol-judicial-search2020@virginia.edu.

Please note that all required documents MUST be uploaded in the “resume” box. Applications that do not contain all the required documents will not receive full consideration.

Questions about this position should be directed to: Jennifer Lawless, Professor and Chair, Department of Politics, at jll9jx@virginia.edu. Questions regarding the application process should be directed to: Nicole Robinson, Faculty Search Advisor at nr7f@virginia.edu.

For more information and to apply, click here >>

Review of applications will begin January 11, 2021 and the position will remain open until filled.

About the program:

The mission of the Democracy Initiative is to promote excellence in research, teaching, and public engagement on democracy at a global scale —bringing together a diverse range of scholars, government leaders, and practitioners to study and advance the prospects of democracy around the world. The Democracy Initiative is interdisciplinary. It supports and advances the work of faculty, as well as graduate and undergraduate students, in the humanities, the arts, and the social sciences. To that end, the Initiative supports a variety of labs built on models of collaborative work. The Democracy Labs will consist of the John Nau III History and Principles of Democracy Lab (the Core Lab) and a group of rotating labs. In addition to holding appointments in their home departments, each new faculty member hired under this initiative will also be a member either of the core lab—an interdisciplinary hub of research, teaching, and outreach devoted to the study of the history and principles of democracy—or one of the Initiative’s other research labs or projects

With the generous support of the John L. Nau Foundation, nine of these new faculty members will hold positions in the core lab on the history, principles, and philosophy of democracy. The core lab will serve as the nerve center of the entire Initiative, catalyzing key questions, research agendas, and forums for debate. It will find opportunities for cross-lab collaboration by identifying broader concerns that transcend those investigated by any single lab. It will gather philosophers, artists, and scholars of the ancient, modern, and post-modern worlds to research fundamental questions and possibilities of the democratic experiment in its varied global forms.

In addition to the Core Lab, the Democracy Initiative sponsors a series of rotating labs (current labs are focused on corruption and the rule of law, democracy and new media, democratic statecraft, and race, religion, and democracy) and a range of other research projects (including initiatives on Democracy and Public Memory and Race and Democracy). Three or more of the faculty hired through this initiative will be invited to contribute to those projects and/or help develop new programs for the broader Initiative.

Learn more about the Democracy Initiative >>

About the school:

The University of Virginia was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson. The school was designed as a public university meant to advance human knowledge, educate leaders, and cultivate an informed citizenry.

The University boasts nationally ranked schools and programs, diverse and distinguished faculty, a major academic medical center and proud history as a renowned research university. The community and culture of the University are enriched by active student self-governance, sustained commitment to the arts and a robust NCAA Division I Athletics program.

Learn more about the University of Virginia >>

View JMC’s entire list of academic opportunities on the Academic Opportunities page >>

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