Assistant Professor of Politics

Position description

The Politics Department at Bates College invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position in Political Economy, to begin July 2026. We seek an outstanding scholar with strong commitments to excellent undergraduate teaching and mentorship in a liberal arts context. The successful candidate will have demonstrated excellence in either international political economy or comparative political economy. We encourage applications from candidates whose areas of expertise include emerging economies, democracy and capitalism, and the effects of regime types on economic development. We are open to a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches. Candidates should have received or successfully defended a Ph.D. in Political Science or related field by July 1, 2026.

The position carries a standard five-course annual teaching load. The duties of the position include the three main areas of faculty work: teaching, research, and service to the profession and the college. The standards of excellence for faculty at Bates are articulated in Article II of the faculty handbook, and include a commitment to inclusive and evidence-based pedagogy, impactful professional work, and contributions to the broader Bates community. We are interested in applicants who will add to the current perspectives in the department, contribute to the college’s ongoing commitment to social and cultural inclusion, connect with other disciplinary and interdisciplinary work at the College, and be attentive to the design of inclusive pedagogy. The successful applicant will offer courses in quantitative methods and in introductory and advanced political economy each year, contribute to the general education curriculum, provide academic advising, and mentor student theses. We also expect the candidate to take part in our system of shared governance.

Review of applications will begin on September 19, 2025. Applications should include a cover letter and a curriculum vitae. A teaching statement that describes how the applicant meets Bates’ standards of excellence in terms of inclusive and evidence-based pedagogy, and a research plan that speaks to the current and future promise of a candidate’s professional work, are required.

Given the wide range of backgrounds of Bates students, we seek candidates who are committed to each student’s success. As part of the submitted statements, we ask that candidates share plans for helping all students succeed, and share evidence of relevant preparation or experience. This can be either in a separate, additional document or integrated into the teaching and research statements. We encourage applications from individuals from historically marginalized groups and from those who may have followed non-traditional pathways to higher education due to societal, economic, or academic circumstances. The search committee will request letters of recommendation from three referees for short-listed candidates. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check and verification of degree.

Bates College is a residential liberal arts college in Lewiston, Maine—a diverse and growing community roughly 45 minutes from the state’s largest city (Portland), 2 ½ hours north of Boston, and 4 ½ hours south of Montreal. Faculty scholarship and creative work at Bates are robustly supported by start-up packages, internal grants, and a well-staffed external grants office. Community-engaged learning and study abroad are both broadly encouraged and supported; pedagogical development and innovation is further buttressed by the Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning

Educational access and racial justice are central to Bates’ history and mission and ourfaculty-led initiatives reflect this commitment.

Bates College is committed to equal opportunity and to providing an educational and work environment free from discrimination. The college prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and other legally protected statuses in the recruitment and admission of its students, in the administration of its education policies and programs, or in the recruitment of its faculty and staff. Bates College adheres to all applicable state and federal equal opportunity laws and regulations. All college faculty, staff, students, contractors, visitors, and volunteers are responsible for understanding and complying with the Non-Discrimination Policy.

Application instructions

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