Assistant Professor of Judicial Politics - Department of Political Science

The Department of Political Science at West Virginia University seeks to hire a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor with a specialization in judicial politics, law and courts, and/or public law. The preferred start date is August 13, 2027. We welcome applications that can contribute broadly to the judicial politics curriculum.

The Department of Political Science offers a full range of academic programs (B.A., M.A., and Ph.D.) and has 14 full-time faculty, 36 graduate students, and about 400 undergraduates, many of whom are in the Pre-Law Area of Emphasis. The department faculty are active in research on American and state politics, class politics, comparative elections, computational methods, conflict analysis, congressional politics, international relations, political and economic inequality, public opinion, public policy, racial and ethnic politics, religion and politics, representation, and state courts. The department’s methodologically rigorous doctoral program offers fields in American politics, comparative politics, international politics, and public policy. Additionally, the department houses the International Studies program, which is an interdisciplinary undergraduate major focusing on national security, diplomacy, and development.

Responsibilities\:

The person hired in this position will maintain an active research agenda that advances the department’s program in the area of judicial politics. They will be expected to regularly publish in high-quality peer-reviewed journals. The teaching load is two courses per semester. The successful candidate will be expected to teach classes that complement the department’s current offerings at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, develop new course offerings, and mentor students. They must have the ability to teach effectively the department’s undergraduate judicial politics introductory course and advanced undergraduate courses on constitutional law and civil liberties. They may also be asked to develop advanced undergraduate judicial politics classes in their area(s) of expertise. The candidate will also be expected to serve the department, university, and profession.    

The Department of Political Science at West Virginia University seeks to hire a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor with a specialization in judicial politics, law and courts, and/or public law. The preferred start date is August 13, 2027. We welcome applications that can contribute broadly to the judicial politics curriculum.

The Department of Political Science offers a full range of academic programs (B.A., M.A., and Ph.D.) and has 14 full-time faculty, 36 graduate students, and about 400 undergraduates, many of whom are in the Pre-Law Area of Emphasis. The department faculty are active in research on American and state politics, class politics, comparative elections, computational methods, conflict analysis, congressional politics, international relations, political and economic inequality, public opinion, public policy, racial and ethnic politics, religion and politics, representation, and state courts. The department’s methodologically rigorous doctoral program offers fields in American politics, comparative politics, international politics, and public policy. Additionally, the department houses the International Studies program, which is an interdisciplinary undergraduate major focusing on national security, diplomacy, and development.

Responsibilities\:

The person hired in this position will maintain an active research agenda that advances the department’s program in the area of judicial politics. They will be expected to regularly publish in high-quality peer-reviewed journals. The teaching load is two courses per semester. The successful candidate will be expected to teach classes that complement the department’s current offerings at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, develop new course offerings, and mentor students. They must have the ability to teach effectively the department’s undergraduate judicial politics introductory course and advanced undergraduate courses on constitutional law and civil liberties. They may also be asked to develop advanced undergraduate judicial politics classes in their area(s) of expertise. The candidate will also be expected to serve the department, university, and profession.    

Professional Qualifications\:

The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. in Political Science, Government, or Public Policy. We will consider ABD candidates, but the Ph.D. must be conferred by the start date. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate evidence of the following\: potential to develop an active research agenda that will secure external funding; appropriate methodological skills; evidence of and commitment to establishing an excellent record of teaching and mentorship; and excellent communication skills.

To apply, please visit https\://careers.wvu.edu/career-opportunities and upload the following\:

1.    Cover letter.
2.    Curriculum vitae.
3.    Research statement\: Describes past scholarly contributions, current work, and future research directions.
4.    Teaching statement\: Describes teaching, learning, and mentoring philosophy, as well as teaching evaluations and courses that the candidate would want to teach or develop.
5.    Samples of written work.
6.    Complete contact information for three professional references. Letters of recommendation from professional references will only be requested from finalists.

For more information, please visit our website https\://politicalscience.wvu.edu. Questions regarding this position may be directed to the chair of the search committee, Dr. Matthew Jacobsmeier ([email protected]). Review of applications will begin on November 6, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.   

Professional Qualifications\:

The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. in Political Science, Government, or Public Policy. We will consider ABD candidates, but the Ph.D. must be conferred by the start date. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate evidence of the following\: potential to develop an active research agenda that will secure external funding; appropriate methodological skills; evidence of and commitment to establishing an excellent record of teaching and mentorship; and excellent communication skills.

To apply, please visit https\://careers.wvu.edu/career-opportunities and upload the following\:

1.    Cover letter.
2.    Curriculum vitae.
3.    Research statement\: Describes past scholarly contributions, current work, and future research directions.
4.    Teaching statement\: Describes teaching, learning, and mentoring philosophy, as well as teaching evaluations and courses that the candidate would want to teach or develop.
5.    Samples of written work.
6.    Complete contact information for three professional references. Letters of recommendation from professional references will only be requested from finalists.

For more information, please visit our website https\://politicalscience.wvu.edu. Questions regarding this position may be directed to the chair of the search committee, Dr. Matthew Jacobsmeier ([email protected]). Review of applications will begin on November 6, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.   

Morgantown, WV is a growing university city. The area offers abundant outdoor recreation and the cultural opportunities of a college town. It is within easy driving distance of Pittsburgh, PA (70 mi) and is within a day's driving distance to Washington DC and Columbus, OH (200 mi). West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees. From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures. At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values — service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation — unite us as Mountaineers. Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.