Open Faculty Positions

Political Theory/Civic Thought and Practice, Senior Rank Faculty Position in Political Science

The Department of Political Science at Stanford University seeks applicants for a senior appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor. The preferred area of specialty is Political Theory. Applicants must have demonstrated ability to maintain a world-class research program and a commitment to effective teaching and mentoring. The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. in Political Science or a related field and will be expected to teach and advise students at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. The term of appointment is expected to begin on September 1, 2027.

While successful applicants will be home-based in the Department of Political Science, their teaching will be divided between Political Science and the Stanford Civics Initiative, an interdisciplinary program offering a Minor in Civic Thought and Practice. Successful applicants will teach one course yearly in Stanford’s COLLEGE program for first-year students (as part of their SCI teaching responsibilities) and should serve the student constituency in both Political Science and SCI. We seek applicants whose teaching and scholarship will support one or more of the four CTP Minor tracks (Civic History, Civic Thought, Constitution and Law, Political Economy) and whose approach to pedagogy is aligned with the Statement of Principles of the Alliance for Civics in the Academy:  "Preparing students with civic skills, knowledge, and experience relevant to understanding and exercising the rights and duties of citizenship in a self-governing republic is a basic responsibility of American colleges and universities. Faculty must intentionally engage with historically significant competing arguments on contested questions of civic life, oppose indoctrination, and model the democratic values of open inquiry and freedom of expression. Civic education should be a shared intellectual activity, grounded in texts, aimed at building a practical capacity for listening to and acting together with others, including those of differing beliefs.” 

Candidates should apply through Stanford Faculty Positions and submit

• a cover letter

• curriculum vitae (including a publication list)

• a research and teaching statement (no more than three single-spaced pages)

• Teaching evaluations 

The Department of Political Science, School of Humanities & Sciences, and Stanford University value faculty who will help foster an open and respectful academic environment for colleagues, students, and staff with a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives. Candidates may choose to include as part of their research and teaching statements a brief discussion about how their work and experience will further these values.

The salary range for this position is $186,558-$373,117 for the academic year 2026-27:

Associate Professor: $186,558 - $234,531

Professor: $266,512 - $373,117

Stanford University has provided a pay range representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for the position upon hire. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the qualifications of the selected candidate, budget availability, and internal equity.

Further information about Stanford’s Department of Political Science may be found at https://politicalscience.stanford.edu/. Inquiries may be directed to Natalie Badalov, Faculty Affairs Coordinator, nbadalov@stanford.edu.

Review of applications will begin on September 1st, 2026; later applications may be considered at the discretion of the search committee.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Stanford welcomes applications from all who would bring additional dimensions to the University’s research, teaching and clinical missions.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact disability.access@stanford.edu.