Assistant/Associate Professor in Evolutionary Anthropology/Anthropology of Health

The University of California, Santa Barbara, Department of Anthropology, Integrative Anthropological Sciences (IAS) Unit, invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant or Associate Professor level, with a start date of July 1, 2025 or later. We are seeking an anthropologist using evolutionary or interdisciplinary life sciences frameworks to study human behavior and health. Candidates should have a research program that is both theoretically and empirically rigorous. Research grounded in ecological and/or evolutionary theory is preferred. Candidates with an active field site and/or cross-cultural research program will be prioritized and must demonstrate strong community engagement.

Research topics can include but are not limited to: the study of behavioral and cultural variation in diverse ecological contexts, the study of sociality and health, the effects of social organization on epidemics and infectious disease, reproductive health and behavior, biosocial studies of human health, adaptations to environmental stressors, effects of early life adversity on health and/or behavior, the evolution of culture, and inequality and health disparities. The best candidates will have expertise in both quantitative and qualitative research methods and engage in interdisciplinary research to address questions related to health and behavior. Candidates should be expected to mentor and engage with students and colleagues across sub disciplines of anthropology.

Candidates' research should complement or strengthen existing expertise in the Department and have potential to collaborate with colleagues in the Biobehavioral Lab. We anticipate this candidate will provide a network of opportunities beyond the Anthropology department, including Psychology & Brain Sciences, Geography, Global Studies, the Broom Demography Center, Sociology, and ongoing initiatives to emphasize health disparities across campus. Additionally, a candidate that can contribute to providing leadership on developing an anthropology of health track will be prioritized.

The successful candidate should be prepared to teach undergraduate classes on anthropological, ecological and evolutionary approaches to behavior and health, including (but not limited to) Behavioral Ecology, Evolutionary Medicine, and Methods for Human Sciences and broader introductory courses, such as the Introduction to Biological Anthropology. The candidate should also be prepared to teach specialized upper division courses and graduate seminars. Candidates with experience in mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, and obtaining extramural funding, will be prioritized.

The department is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through research, teaching, and service as appropriate to the position.

Applicants must have a PhD in biological anthropology or a closely related discipline at the time of application.

Applicants research primarily contributes to the anthropological study of health.

The Search Committee will us these metrics when analyzing the candidates:

-Potential (Evidence of) strong research productivity, as demonstrated by successfully applying for (and obtaining) extramural funding

-Demonstration of a research program fits broader thematics of human health and evolution as seen through select publications

-Potential (Demonstrated ability) to teach biological/evolutionary anthropology coursework to graduate and undergraduate students as explained in the teaching statement

-Demonstrated interest and/or experience in departmental leadership and service

-Evidence/promise of contributions to diversity in an academic community through research, teaching, leadership, and/or service, as explained in the diversity statement

• 3 required (contact information only)

All applicants should provide contact information only for three individuals. Applicants who advanced to the long list will have their references contacted via UC Recruit to submit reference letters.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/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, age or protected veteran status. For the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20. For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination.

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.