Assistant Professor of Anthropology/College of Liberal Arts

We seek applicants who are dedicated to serving The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's student body as Assistant Professors in the Department of Anthropology beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year.

The Department of Anthropology seeks to fill two full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor positions beginning September 1, 2027, through a single collaborative search. Applicants must identify the profile for which they wish to be considered.

Profile 1: Biological Anthropology with a Forensic Anthropology Focus. Candidates should demonstrate research and teaching expertise in forensic anthropology and the capacity to support student learning in areas such as human identification, skeletal biology, search and recovery, or related analytical methods.

Profile 2: Archaeology. Candidates should demonstrate research and teaching expertise in archaeology as well as the ability to contribute to field and laboratory training in ways that develop student learning opportunities. A geographic focus in the western or southwestern United States is preferred.

The two appointments will be reviewed together, with attention to the distinctive qualifications of candidates in each profile and to the complementary contributions the two successful candidates can make to departmental programs, student opportunities, and collaborative research. Successful candidates will maintain active programs of research and scholarship; teach undergraduate and graduate courses; mentor students; and participate in departmental, university, professional, and community service. The department particularly values candidates who can create meaningful opportunities for students through field, laboratory, digital, archival, collections-based, or community-engaged work.

UTRGV's location in the Rio Grande Valley offers distinctive opportunities for anthropological research, teaching, and public engagement. The department welcomes candidates interested in developing ethical regional partnerships, connecting local questions to broader anthropological conversations, and creating applied learning and career pathways for students.

In the letter of interest, applicants must identify the profile for which they wish to be considered: (1) Biological Anthropology with a Forensic Anthropology focus or (2) Archaeology. The letter should describe the applicant's research trajectory, teaching contributions, plans for involving students in research or applied learning, and interest in the opportunities available through UTRGV and the Rio Grande Valley.

About UTRGV:

UTRGV serves the Rio Grande Valley and beyond via an innovative and unique multicultural education dedicated to student access and success. By championing leading research, healthcare, and application of university discoveries, we support sustainable development, community engagement, and well-being. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is committed to building and sustaining a highly qualified and talented faculty to pursue excellence in everything that we do, including teaching, research, and service.

Drawing on our unique identity as the leading Hispanic-Serving Institution in a bilingual and bicultural environment, UTRGV will promote student access and success by building from strength in education and creating a vibrant campus experience. By 2027, we will accelerate transformation in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond by driving meaningful advancements in research and creative works, expanding access to high-quality and affordable healthcare, and fostering authentic community engagement and integration.

UTRGV is a distributed campus, one university spanning four counties and multiple locations. Our purpose is to be a university for the entire Rio Grande Valley and beyond. Over 91% of the students enrolled at UTRGV identify as Hispanic, making UTRGV one of the top 3 universities with the highest percentage of Hispanic students. For additional information, please visit UTRGV website.

Department and College Background

The UTRGV Department of Anthropology offers a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with concentrations in Archaeology and Global Health and Migration; minors in Anthropology, Archaeology, Forensic Anthropology, and Global Health and Migration; and an anthropology concentration in the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies. The department emphasizes applied, publicly engaged anthropology and provides students with opportunities for experiential learning. Departmental and affiliated resources include the Forensic Anthropology Research Laboratory (FAR.Lab), the Anthropology Digital Visualization Lab (ADVL), the Community Historical Archaeology Project with Schools (CHAPS), and the Border Studies Archive (BSA). Faculty may also develop appropriate collaborations across the College of Liberal Arts and with units in the biological sciences, health sciences, criminal justice, public affairs, and other fields.