Assistant or Associate Professor

Submitted: 11/04/2025
Submitted By: University of Georgia Department of Anthropology
Department: Anthropology
Institution: University of Georgia
Job type: Tenure-track
Apply by: 01/05/2026
Application Email:
Application URL: https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/457815

The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia (UGA) invites applications for an open faculty position to begin August 1, 2026, for a scientist who can contribute to the domain of Applied Health Innovation for Societal Impact.

We are seeking applications for an Assistant or Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology (tenure track) with a focus on Genomics, Epigenetics and Biomes. The ideal candidate will investigate gene-environment interactions to advance evolutionary and biocultural understandings of human and animal health while complementing archaeological and ecological approaches to population health. They will simultaneously contribute to cross-disciplinary research, teaching and service in health-related fields.
 
Preferred applicants will be grounded in the social sciences and be demonstrably capable of using ancient and contemporary DNA to advance evolutionary and biocultural understanding of human health, understand genomic and/or epigenomic influences on human and/or non-human primate phenotypes, and complement archaeological and ecological approaches to population health. Research applications of societal significance might include forensics, foundations for the evolution of human health across regions, demography, and societies, and genetic analysis informed by computational and bioinformatic approaches applied across species. The ideal candidate would contribute and build on existing strengths in health and medicine within Franklin College, leverage connections to the Precision One Health Initiative and the Translational Medicine Research Center, and show promise for engaging in interdisciplinary and collaborative work that is competitive for extramural funding. The position will meet robust enrollment demand in the Department of Anthropology, and the applicant will be expected to contribute to the General Education curriculum by teaching one large undergraduate course per year, as well as upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses. The Department of Anthropology has ongoing academic program developments in Forensic Science and Medical Humanities to which the applicant will be expected to contribute. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate their potential for promoting excellence in a teaching/learning environment dedicated to serving a well-prepared student body, and to foster understanding of and respect for cultural differences necessary for an enlightened and educated citizenry.
 
The applicant must possess a Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Anthropology, Evolutionary Anthropology, or a related field. This position is for a tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor. This is a full-time equivalent position with a 50% instruction (12 credit hour), 45% research, and 5% service effort expectation per academic year. The qualifications and academic expectations for ranks as well as the guidelines for promotion and tenure at the University of Georgia can be found at https://provost.uga.edu/faculty-affairs/promotion-tenure/.

To apply, visit https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/457815 and submit applications materially electronically that will include: 1) cover letter, 2) curriculum vitae, 3) a 1-2p statement of prior research accomplishments and planned research directions and 4) a 1-2p combined teaching/mentorship statement that includes relevant courses previously taught and those they plan to offer. Applicants should also provide names for three references from whom letters of recommendation will be requested later in the search process. For questions about this faculty position, please contact Dr. Laurie Reitsema (reitsema@uga.edu). Applications received by January 5, 2026, will receive full consideration and review will continue until the position is filled. Applicants should be available for travel to UGA for on-campus interviews between Feb 1st and March 30th, 2026.

UGA is a research-intensive land-grant university ranked 18th among public universities with over $600 million dollars in research expenditures in fiscal year 2024. The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences has a rich history with a strong and diverse research portfolio. In the Department of Anthropology the themes of ecology and environment connect our cultural anthropologists, anthropological archaeologists, and biological anthropologists to one another and to scholars and practitioners beyond the department and the university. The Department of Anthropology is home to the Laboratory of Archaeology (ARCHLAB) while various faculty have ongoing collaborations in research and education with the Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS), the Center for Integrative Conservation Research (CICR), Georgia Museum of Natural History (GMNH), Center for Geospatial Research (CGR). The department also is currently collaborating with the Center for Applied Isotopes Studies (CAIS) to establish a combined ancient DNA and radiocarbon dating program that would position the University of Georgia as a leader in the interdisciplinary area of ‘genotemporality’ in which genetic and temporal data are intersected to enhance our understanding of migration, kinship, and microevolutionary processes in past populations. There are outstanding opportunities for collaborations with faculty across the social and life sciences departments in Franklin College and with faculty in the Colleges of Agriculture, Engineering, Forestry, Pharmacy, Public Health and VetMed. In addition, UGA recently launched both a School of Medicine and a School of Nursing, and maintains core facilities in animal health, computation (GACRC, Institute for AI and Institute of Bioinformatics), electron microscopy, flow cytometry, genomics, glycobiology, microscopy, mass spectrometry, NMR, and x-ray crystallography among other resources. UGA is in the city of Athens in the Piedmont region of Georgia 65 miles east of Atlanta, less than two hours from the southern Appalachian Mountains and only four hours from the Atlantic coast. Athens is home to a thriving arts and music community and prides itself on its cultural diversity (http://www.visitathensga.com).

The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences is the heart of UGA’s learning environment, advancing knowledge, research, and creative activity across more than 40 departments, schools, and institutes. With a vision for high-impact research and education, Franklin College prepares students for leadership and global engagement in a sustainable future. The College has a strong commitment to multidisciplinary research, collaboration and academic innovation.
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).