Assistant Professor (Tenure Track)

Job Summary

The Departments of French and Italian and Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Colorado Boulder invite applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Environmental Humanities, beginning August 2027. This position is a joint appointment, with teaching responsibilities in the Department of French and Italian and the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures. The tenure home will be determined by the candidate’s primary area of expertise. We seek a dynamic scholar whose research and teaching bring multilingual and transcultural perspectives to environmental questions, examining how literature, media or other cultural forms shape ecological knowledge and responses to environmental change.

The successful candidate will have a primary specialization in French and Francophone Studies or Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (REEES), focusing on the 19th, 20th, and/or 21st centuries. Candidates must also have a secondary expertise in another field in the collaborating departments: French and Francophone Studies, REEES, German or Italian studies. The combination of primary and secondary areas of expertise should support comparative scholarship and teaching that connect the two departments.

We welcome research in environmental humanities broadly conceived. Possible areas include (but are not limited to) blue humanities, environmental justice, racial epistemologies, food studies, plant studies, digital humanities, and humanistic approaches to science and technology. Candidates whose scholarship includes media or artistic practices alongside literary studies are particularly encouraged to apply.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

The College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder is the intellectual core of the university, conducting research, scholarship, creative work and education in more than 60 fields. Our research generates new knowledge, solving some of the world’s most critical problems. The college leads nationally in undergraduate and graduate education in the natural sciences, social sciences and arts and humanities, bringing extraordinary research and scholarship to our students, both in and out of the classroom.

CU Boulder is making sustainability a defining priority across research and undergraduate education, building on its established strengths in climate and environmental science. The newly developed Common Curriculum launches in Fall 2027 with a focus on sustainable futures created through fostering individual well-being, social equity, long-term economic vitality, and the health of the natural environment. The university’s sustainability research initiatives support interdisciplinary scholarship through faculty fellowships and collaborative workshops. The SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education supports curriculum development and experiential learning across disciplines. These and other efforts create opportunities for an environmental humanist to collaborate with colleagues across campus, chart new pedagogical pathways in the field, and help shape the university’s approach to sustainability.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• The successful candidate will pursue an active research agenda and contribute to undergraduate and graduate education in both departments.
• Teaching responsibilities will include interdisciplinary courses in English that serve students across language programs and throughout the university. Possible offerings include:
  • An introduction to transcultural environmental humanities.
  • Advanced undergraduate topic courses.
  • Graduate seminars bringing multiple linguistic and cultural traditions into conversation.
• Candidates will also contribute to departmental service.

What You Should Know

• The primary appointment / tenure home will be determined by the successful candidate’s primary research field.
• Teaching and service responsibilities will be coordinated across departments to reflect the equal division of the appointment.
• At the time of hire, the departments will establish clear expectations and a mentoring plan for the candidate, and articulate how contributions to both units will be evaluated in reappointment, tenure, and promotion.

What We Can Offer

• The annual salary range for this position is $85,000 - $95,000.
• A recruitment incentive, moving allowance, and startup funding may be available to the successful candidate within department guidelines

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of Forbes' America's Best Large Employers, ranking #4 among large employers in Colorado and #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be inspired. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• PhD in French and Francophone Studies; Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies; Slavic Studies; Comparative Literature; or related field by August 1, 2027.
• Native or near-native proficiency in French or Russian.
• Evidence of scholarly achievement or strong potential for scholarly contributions.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Competence in an additional language of the departments.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. Resume/CV.
2. Cover Letter.
3. Writing Sample: Article-length writing sample of no more than 30 pages.
4. Statement of Teaching Philosophy: Maximum of 2 pages.
5. Two Syllabi for proposed courses.
6. (Optional) Statement of Research Philosophy.

During the application process you will need to enter contact information for three references. Letters of recommendation will be requested immediately upon application through the CU Boulder Jobs system. This information will be kept confidential and viewable only by the search committee. Please inform your letter providers to submit their letters of recommendation by November 30th, 2026 for full consideration.

For full consideration, please apply by November 23rd, 2026, as review of applications will begin on this date. The position will remain open until filled.

Any questions regarding the position may be directed to Beverly Weber at beverly.weber@colorado.edu or Michela Ardizzoni at michela.ardizzoni@colorado.edu.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Beverly Weber, Michela Ardizzoni

Posting Contact Email: beverly.weber@colorado.edu, michela.ardizzoni@colorado.edu