Assistant Professor of Digital Anthropology

The University of Vermont’s Department of Anthropology in The College of Arts and Sciences invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty member at the rank of Assistant Professor in the subfield of Digital Anthropology. The position will start with the Fall 2025 semester.

We seek a digital anthropologist whose research and teaching focus on cultural dimensions of online social and knowledge networks; artificial intelligence; blended algorithms; the metaverse; computational anthropology; techno-anthropology; computer-mediated communication; and/or “big data” (ethnographic methods and ethics of data mining, “thick” data, and big data analytics). All geographic specialties will be considered.

The successful candidate will be invited to contribute to an ongoing NSF-funded interdisciplinary project called the Science of Online Corpora, Knowledge, and Stories, which deploys high-performance computing tools and environments to engage in research at the intersection of computer science, the social sciences, and the humanities (https://www.uvm.edu/socks/), as well as a planned graduate program in Computational Studies of Culture and Society.

Qualifications:

The successful candidate should:

• Hold a Ph.D. degree in Anthropology, Digital Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, or Linguistic Anthropology at the time of appointment.
• Show promise toward developing a competitively-funded research program.
• Demonstrate commitment to collaborative interdisciplinary research.
• Have the capacity to teach a range of undergraduate and graduate courses in digital anthropology, topics in cultural and/or linguistic anthropology, and in areas of the candidate’s expertise.
• Be able to successfully mentor and advise undergraduate and graduate students, in addition to providing professional contributions and service.

Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will assume a range of responsibilities that include:

• Maintaining an active research agenda, securing external funding, and publishing peer-reviewed journal articles and/or books.
• Teaching and advising undergraduate students in Anthropology as well as graduate students in a planned Ph.D. program in Computational Studies of Culture and Society. Opportunities also exist to participate in a range of interdisciplinary programs.
• Collaborating with Department faculty in governance, program development, scholarship, and service. Serving as an active member of relevant scholarly societies and/or professional associations.
• Engaging in service and outreach activities beyond the Department at the college, university, regional, state, national and international levels.

Application Process:

Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2024 and continue until the position is filled. For more detailed information about us, visit the Anthropology Department’s website, https://www.uvm.edu/cas/anthropology; the College of Arts & Sciences’ website, www.uvm.edu/cas; and the University of Vermont’s website, www.uvm.edu. 

Anticipated start date is August 18, 2025. The hire must have completed the Ph.D. degree before the hire date. Please apply online at www.uvmjobs.com.
 

Applicants are asked to include:

• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Two representative publications
• A statement of research focus
• A teaching statement describing approach, philosophy and interests
• A statement about how they plan to contribute to the diversity, inclusion, and equity work of the University and the College of Arts and Sciences
• Contact information for three professional references. The reference providers will be emailed information to upload their letters if candidacy moves forward beyond initial review.

Questions about the position should be directed to Prof. Teresa Mares (Teresa.Mares@uvm.edu), who is chair of the search committee.

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The University
Established in 1791, the University of Vermont is considered a public-ivy and consistently ranked as one of the top public universities in the United States. Our academic programs combine faculty-student relationships most commonly found in a small liberal arts college with the resources of a land-grant research institution. UVM’s tradition of equity and social justice extends not only to faculty, staff, and students, but also is reflected in a commitment to environmentally sound and sustainable practices. 

The College
In the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), students experience the connectedness and accessibility of a small liberal arts college within a high caliber public research institution. Whether students are pursuing the Fine Arts, the Humanities, Natural Science and Mathematics or Social Sciences, they have a place here, in the College of Arts and Sciences' academic ecosystem.

The College of Arts and Sciences highly values the excellence that results when people from different backgrounds and perspectives work, interact, and learn together. In this way, commitment to diversity fosters our educational mission. For our students, it prepares them for life and work ahead: it recognizes that we are a culturally, ethnically, and racially diverse nation, one that is also situated in an increasingly global environment. For our faculty, scholarship and research are increasingly cooperative activities-often crossing national borders-requiring the abilities and skills to work with others often from very different backgrounds. For both our students and faculty, diversity enhances our curriculum, enriches the classroom experience, and fosters the exchange of ideas. As our society, economy, politics, and global interactions become increasingly diverse, so too must our intellectual community of students, faculty, and staff.

The Department

The Anthropology Department is a vibrant community of teacher-scholars that strives to balance high-level research and scholarship, excellence in undergraduate teaching and mentorship, and anthropologically-informed engagement in the public sphere.

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Establishing a diverse and inclusive culture is a priority at the University of Vermont. In fact, UVM holds that diversity and academic excellence are inseparable. Read UVM's Why Diversity Statement and Our Common Ground values.  The University of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category legally protected by federal or state law. The University encourages applications from all individuals who will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the institution. 
 

UVM is especially interested in scholars who can contribute to the College of Arts and Sciences diversity plan, which was designed in part to ensure faculty, students, and staff members from underrepresented and marginalized populations are an integral part of the life and governance of the institution. Applicants are requested to include in their cover letter information about how they will further this goal.  

Burlington, Vermont is located in the beautiful Lake Champlain region, surrounded by the Green and Adirondack Mountains. It is a great place for families, with excellent public schools and year-round recreational opportunities. It is home to the University of Vermont and three independent colleges that provide an academically stimulating and culturally rich environment. Montreal, Canada and Boston are within easy driving distances.