Assistant Professor of Trans Studies

The Gender & Sexuality Studies (GSS) Program at Northwestern University seeks a full-time, tenure-line Assistant Professor with research and teaching interests strongly rooted in transgender studies, to begin September 1, 2024. 

We conceive this field broadly so as to encompass a range of identities, concepts, politics, and lived experiences that apply to trans*, nonbinary, genderqueer, and otherwise gender-nonconforming people and communities. We invite compelling applications that reflect principally historical or largely present-focused approaches to transgender or gender nonconformity. Likewise, the work may be centered in any national or cultural contexts and may employ whatever trans* or trans-adjacent vocabularies (two-spirit, hijra, kathoey, etc.) are most apt to its subjects, environments, and findings. Candidates may engage the field through humanistic or social scientific methods or through some melding of the two, though the successful candidate must be able to articulate and teach the theoretical claims that inform their research and their understanding of “trans” to a broad, multi-disciplinary range of students and colleagues. This position will be structured as a permanent joint appointment across the GSS Program and a tenure-granting department within the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences that best reflects the new colleague’s scholarly training and ongoing investments. 

In addition to maintaining an active research agenda, the successful applicant should demonstrate excellence in teaching and a willingness to mentor undergraduate majors and minors as well as doctoral students. The applicant should be prepared to teach core undergraduate courses, including a gateway lecture course that introduces students to broad concepts and diverse lineages in the study of gender and sexuality over time, in addition to offering graduate seminars as part of our robust Certificate program. Our thriving multidisciplinary culture values overlaps, interconnections, and productive frictions among feminist studies, gender studies, and sexuality studies.

This appointment will begin on September 1, 2024, by which date the applicant must have completed all requirements for their Ph.D. and have the degree in hand.

Applications and supporting documents will be accepted only by online submission via this link. Application materials should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, article-length writing sample of no more than 25 pages, and three letters of recommendation (submitted separately). In order to ensure full consideration, applications must be received by October 23, 2023. Inquiries about the search may be sent to Nick Davis at gss-director@northwestern.edu or to the GSS program administrator Carter Caldwell at gender@northwestern.edu. 

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.