Title Information
Faculty Title: Assistant Professor
Job Class Code: 10031
FLSA: Exempt
Position Information
Posting Number: FRGV2053
Working Title: Assistant Professor of Anthropology/College of Liberal Arts
Number of Vacancies: 2
Location: Rio Grande Valley, Texas
Division/Organization: Provost - Academic Affairs
Tenure Status: Tenure Track
FTE: 1.0
Scope of Job
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.
Minimum Qualifications
A Ph.D. in Anthropology or a closely related field from an accredited institution is required no later than August 31, 2027. Applicants must demonstrate evidence of, or strong potential for, excellence in teaching; an active and sustainable program of research and scholarship; and effective service appropriate to a tenure-track appointment.
Discipline Specific Required Qualifications
Candidates must have completed at least 18 graduate credit hours in anthropology. Applicants must demonstrate doctoral preparation and a research agenda appropriate to the profile for which they are applying, as well as the ability to teach anthropology courses at the undergraduate level and contribute, as appropriate, to graduate instruction and student mentoring. Candidates whose work involves human remains, animal remains, human participants, community knowledge, collections, or sensitive data must demonstrate knowledge of applicable professional, legal, and ethical standards.
Preferred Qualifications
Preference will be given to candidates whose records demonstrate the potential to involve students in research, develop applied or experiential learning opportunities, pursue appropriate external support and collaborative projects, contribute to upper-division and graduate instruction, and build ethical and mutually beneficial professional or community partnerships.
License or Certification Required? No
Salary: Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience
Desired Start Date: 09/01/2027
EEO Statement
It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to promote and ensure equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or protected veteran status. In accordance with the requirements of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, our University is committed to comply with all government requirements and ensures non-discrimination in its education programs and activities, including employment. We encourage women, minorities and differently abled persons to apply for employment positions of interest.
Open Date: 10/01/2026
Close Date: 11/06/2026
Additional Information
UTRGV is a distributed institution. As such and as assigned, the position may require presence at multiple locations throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Work is performed primarily in a general office environment. This position is security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215. The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Complete all sections on the application. If you are applying for the first time, please complete all biographical information including address, email and phone number. You may update this at any time by selecting to edit your profile in the application. Security sensitive; All UTRGV employees are required to have a criminal background check (CBC). CBCs will be conducted for all candidates invited for an on-campus interview.
Please Note
Texas law requires faculty members whose primary language is not English to demonstrate proficiency in English as determined by a satisfactory paper-based test score of 500 (computer-based of 173 or internet-based of 61) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a satisfactory test score of 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Incomplete applications will not be considered. All positions are subject to budget approval.
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
- Writing / Publication Sample
- Curriculum Vitae
- Unofficial Transcripts
- List of 3 References
- Letter of Interest
Optional Documents
- Teaching Philosophy
- Certifications and Licenses
