The Department of Anthropology at the University of Oklahoma (OU) invites applications for a 9-month tenure-track appointment at the rank of assistant professor with a start date of Fall 2025. 

The department seeks a broadly trained medical anthropologist able to contribute to both teaching and research within our Human Health and Biology and Sociocultural Anthropology programs. The successful candidate will play a role in our undergraduate (B.A and B.S) and graduate programs (M.A and Ph.D) in these areas, as well as our recently launched Masters in Applied Medical Anthropology. The position is open to any regional or topical specialization within medical anthropology, but we are especially interested in candidates who work on bioethics, critical medical anthropology, and the social determinants of health.

The successful candidate will have a 2/2 teaching load, but we expect the faculty member to buy out of some teaching through grant support. The department’s faculty represent the four fields of the discipline, and this new hire will ideally help to integrate teaching and research across the sub-disciplines, while contributing to existing strengths in applied medical anthropology, Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS), and collaborative community-based research.

OU invests in its faculty by providing support and resources through the Center for Faculty Excellence and Vice President for Research and Partnerships Office. The Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences supports faculty development through mentoring, new faculty orientation series, and access to research and educational initiatives. Additionally, OU’s Health Sciences campus is located in Oklahoma City, roughly 30 minutes from Norman, which provides additional opportunities for collaborative research for interested applicants.   

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in anthropology or other related field in hand by start date. 
• Established record of high-quality research and publications. 
• Familiarity with effective teaching practices and mentoring approaches that support students from a wide range of backgrounds. 
• Commitment to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses that engage students.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated evidence of or potential for securing extramural funding. Demonstrated teaching record. 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS 

Applicants are invited to submit a comprehensive cover letter, current C.V., writing sample, and names and contact information for three individuals who will be asked to provide confidential recommendations to Interfolio. The cover letter may address examples of the candidate’s approach to teaching, research, service, and graduate student mentorship. Additional materials may be requested at a later date. The search will remain open until filled. Applications should be submitted online via Interfolio.

Screening of candidates will begin October 20 and will continue until the positions are filled.  

Inquiries should be directed to the search committee chair: 

Paul Spicer, Professor of Anthropology 

University of Oklahoma 

paul.spicer@ou.edu 

University of Oklahoma 

The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a Carnegie-R1 comprehensive public research university known for excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement, serving the educational, cultural, economic, and healthcare needs of the state, region, and nation from three campuses: Norman, Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City and the Schusterman Center in Tulsa. OU enrolls over 32,000 students and has more than 2,700 full-time faculty members in 21 colleges. 

The Norman Community 

Norman is a vibrant university town of more than 130,000 inhabitants with a growing entertainment and art scene. With outstanding schools, amenities, and a low cost of living, Norman is a perennial contender in “best place to live” rankings. Visit http://soonerway.ou.edu for more information. Within an easy commute, Oklahoma City features a dynamic economy and outstanding cultural venues adding to the region’s growing appeal.