Assistant Professor in Medical Anthropology

Submitted: 08/19/2026
Submitted By: Darryl de Ruiter
Department: Anthropology
Institution: Texas A&M University
Job type: Tenure-track
Apply by: 10/19/2026
Application Email:
Application URL: https://apply.interfolio.com/188831

The Department of Anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences at Texas A&M University invites applications for an Assistant Professor position in the area of Medical Anthropology. This is a full time, 9 month, tenure-track faculty appointment with an anticipated start date of August 1, 2027. We are seeking a scholar whose research examines how social, cultural, and environmental influences affect human health and health outcomes. The successful candidate will conduct research, mentor PhD and undergraduate students, teach a 2-2 course load including undergraduate and graduate courses, and participate in service at the department, college, and university levels.

Required Qualifications: PhD in Anthropology or an appropriate, related discipline. Candidates must have an active research program focused on human health from a biocultural perspective. Candidates must have peer-reviewed research publications and demonstrated success in obtaining competitive external funding for research and teaching experience at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.

Preferred Qualifications: We especially welcome scholars whose work addresses domains such as cardiovascular disease, cognitive aging, neurodegenerative conditions, infectious disease, chronic inflammation, reproductive health, metabolic disorders, human growth and development, environmental exposures, or trauma and resilience, as well as those who integrate multiple systems, evolutionary, or life course perspectives. Candidates who employ biomarker-based, mixed-method, and/or longitudinal approaches to investigate how social environments shape stress, immune function, and physiological pathways will be particularly competitive. Scholars whose work engages with diverse cultural contexts, health disparities, social determinants of health, or community-based research are especially well positioned to contribute to the department’s scientific strengths and interdisciplinary collaborations. Preference will be given to applicants whose field- or lab-based agenda provides innovative opportunities for graduate and undergraduate student training. Demonstrated evidence of teaching excellence is preferred, especially with the potential to contribute and expand course offerings for the department’s emerging pre-health pathway.

Application Instructions: Applications received by October 19, 2026 will receive full consideration, and review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Application materials include (1) a cover letter; (2) a current CV; (3) personal statement to include philosophy and plans for teaching, research and service as applicable (no more than 3 pages); and (4) contact information for three references. All application materials must be submitted through Interfolio using the following link: apply.interfolio.com/188831. Questions about the position should be directed to Dr. Allison Hopkins, Chair of the Medical Anthropology Search Committee at hopkins@tamu.edu.

About the department: The Department of Anthropology includes 29 full-time faculty across four programs: cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, nautical archaeology, and terrestrial archaeology. Cultural anthropology faculty lead research on migration, reproduction, prosociality, ethnobotany, and body image with particular strengths in examining cultural practices, social systems, and lived experience shape health and wellbeing. Faculty in biological anthropology bring expertise in human evolution, skeletal biology, and primate anatomy, and are expanding into medical-adjacent areas that support a growing pre-health pathway. Together, cultural and biological anthropology provide integrated biocultural perspectives on human variation, adaptation, and resilience, and prepare students to address both the biological and cultural complexities of health and healthcare.
The department also features internationally recognized centers, including the Center for the Study of the First Americans and the Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation, and maintains close affiliation with the Institute of Nautical Archaeology. Advanced research laboratories support cutting-edge work in areas such as zooarchaeology, archaeobotany, palynology, proteomics, archaeogenetics, radiocarbon and isotope analysis, conservation, and analytical archaeology, offering students and faculty exceptional opportunities for high-impact research and training.

About the college: With its 18 departments, 34 centers and institutes, 868 faculty, and 19,000+ current students, the College of Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of Texas A&M University. Home to Nobel laureates, National Academy members, AAAS Fellows, and more than half of the university’s Distinguished Professors, Arts and Sciences is central to
Texas A&M's mission to develop and transfer new knowledge through research.

About the university: The main campus of Texas A&M University in College Station is a public land-grant institution with nearly 75,000 students. It serves undergraduate students who are primarily from the State of Texas, along with a graduate student and faculty body from around the world. It is a member of the Association of American Universities, and its tenure- track faculty are evaluated on their research, teaching, and service records.

Texas A&M University is located in Bryan-College Station, a vibrant, dynamic community that features a multicultural environment, arts and entertainment, job opportunities, and overall quality of life. The community's cost of living is generally below national averages, contributing to its appeal as a place to live and work.