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Assistant Professor-Bioarchaeology or Biomedical Anthropology

Employer
University of Pittsburgh, Department of Anthropology
Location
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Salary
Negotiable
Closing date
Nov 4, 2023
View more categoriesView less categories
Position Type
Pre-Tenure
Hours
Full Time
Organization Type
Academic
Level of Experience
Entry-level

Job Details

Tenure Track Position in Bioarchaeology or Biomedical Anthropology

The Department of Anthropology at the University of Pittsburgh invites applications for a tenure-stream Assistant Professor position in biological anthropology with expertise in biomedical anthropology among living humans or bioarchaeology to begin Fall 2024, pending budgetary approval. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in hand by the time of appointment.

Research expertise is open, but we are particularly interested in scholars whose research explores power and coloniality, health and social inequities and adaptations, and/or life history (e.g., developmental origins of health and disease, aging, growth and development) to address the complex relationship between sociocultural processes, environmental change or multispecies with human biology. Geographic area is open but preference will be given to regions of African  and/or regions linked to indigenous and/or African diasporic populations in the Americas. Methodological and theoretical expertise are open but should add to and complement existing strengths in our bioarchaeology and/or joint PhD/MPH in the medical anthropology/public health programs. Scholars whose research is driven by collaborative partnership with descendant or local communities are encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate will teach two courses per semester, such as Human Evolution and Variation, Human Origins, Womb to Tomb and advanced undergraduate and graduate seminar/methods courses in their field of specialization. Teaching responsibilities will also include the Bioanthropology Graduate Core and introductory courses such as Introduction to Biological Anthropology and Introduction to Human Evolution on a rotational basis. New course development is also expected.

Candidates will have a demonstrated record of excellence in teaching, research and publication and will contribute to our strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusivity within our academic community and through its programs of outreach. Preference will be given to candidates with active field programs and complementary laboratory research for the integration and training of students. The successful candidate is expected to maintain an active research program and pursue external funding; attract, advise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students; and contribute to departmental, university and wider disciplinary administration and intellectual life.

The successful candidate will hold a Ph.D. in Anthropology or a related discipline by time of appointment. The online application must include a cover letter that discusses the candidate’s research expertise and teaching experience and pedagogical approaches. The application must also include a diversity statement, CV, and the names and contact information of three references (letters are not required with the initial application).

The University of Pittsburgh is committed to championing all aspects of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within our community. This commitment is a fundamental value of the University and is crucial in helping us advance our mission, which includes attracting and retaining diverse workforces. We will continue to create and maintain an environment that allows individuals to discover, belong, contribute, and grow, while honoring the experiences, perspectives, and unique identities of all.

The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity and diversity. EOE, including disability/vets. The University of Pittsburgh requires all Pitt constituents (employees and students) on all campuses to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved exemption. Visit coronavirus.pitt.edu to learn more about this requirement.

Inquiries should be sent to the Committee Chair: Margaret A. Judd mjudd@pitt.edu

 

Closing Date: October 20

 

Company

The Department of Anthropology at the University of Pittsburgh covers a wide range of geographical and topical specialties in all four subfields of anthropology (social and cultural anthropology, archaeology, physical anthropology, and anthropological linguistics). All four are embedded in a context of anthropological training of broad theoretical and geographical scope. Archaeology The Archaeology program emphasizes comparative study of the emergence and development of complex societies, from their initial foundations in hunter-gatherer behavior to their manifestation as states and empires. This theoretical approach is firmly grounded in the use of empirical archaeological data from around the world to evaluate models that offer understanding of the dynamics of change in human societies. Faculty and graduate student research most strongly emphasizes Latin America, Eurasia, and North America. Research is internationally collaborative, and an especially high priority is placed on sound relations with colleagues in regions outside the U.S. where research is carried out. Faculty specialties, and course offerings, include settlement patterns, origins of agriculture, household archaeology, comparative political economies, sources of political authority and legitimization, chiefdoms and states, the rise of cities, mortuary analysis, human ecology, maritime adaptations, pastoral societies, warfare, contact period studies, historical archaeology, cultural resource management, statistical analysis and computer applications (including Geographic Information Systems), faunal analysis, and geophysical approaches to archaeology. To further this end, department resources include: dedicated computer facilities for quantitative and GIS/spatial analysis and digital imaging; wet and dry labs for isotopic pre-treatment and sample preparation; comparative collections for the analysis of Old and New World fauna; and equipment for field-based survey, mapping, geophysical prospection and materials analysis. Biological Anthropology The Department of Anthropology supports a broad-based program in Biological Anthropology which provides students with the background to study morphology, systematics, bio-archaeology, paleopathology, anatomy, and evolution. The students then define more specific foci for their own research. The faculty share joint appointments with the School of Medicine, the School of Dental Medicine, and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Several extensive collections of casts of fossil primates and skeletal material are located within the department. A wide variety of facilities for the study of functional, comparative, and developmental anatomy are available. These include a laboratory for experimental studies of functional morphology, and image analysis equipment for structural analysis. Students are encouraged to use the resources and courses available in the School of Medicine, the School of Dental Medicine, the Graduate School of Public Health, and other health and biology-related schools and departments within the University. Close ties are also maintained with University-affiliated hospitals. Social and Cultural Anthropology The Social and Cultural Anthropology faculty conduct research and offer courses on a wide variety of methodological, theoretical, and ethnographic topics. The societies covered range from tribal and peasant societies to pluralistic nation states. Topical specializations include Medical Anthropology, STS, Health and the Environment; Labor, Precarity, Politics; Mobility, Migration, and Citizenship; Language, Media, and Circulation. Students are trained in methods of collecting and analyzing data, research design, and proposal writing. In geographical terms there is particular emphasis on South and East Asia and the Pacific and on Latin America. Cultural anthropologists collaborate with cognitive and medical scientists, linguists, historians, sociologists, political scientists, and scholars in urban, legal, and Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies (among others) in other departments and schools in the University.

The following information is provided by the employer in accordance with AAA policy. AAA is not responsible for verifying the accuracy of these statements. They are not part of the actual position description submitted for publication by the employer.

  • This employer does prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation/preference.
  • This employer does prohibit discrimination based on gender identity/expression.
  • This employer does not offer health insurance benefits to eligible partners.
  • This employer does not appear on the AAUP list of censured institutions.

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