Assistant Professor of Sociology. WVPU

Assistant Professor of Sociology (f/m)
Webster Vienna Private University

For over 35 years Webster Vienna Private University (WVPU) has provided its students with an internationally competitive, American-based liberal arts education in the heart of Europe. Accredited in both Austria and the United States, WVPU offers an individualized, student-centered American education within the framework of a European research university. As part of a global network of campuses based in St. Louis, USA, WVPU is dedicated to preparing its students for an increasingly globalized world through academic programs that cultivate critical thinking and intercultural understanding.

Webster Vienna Private University is committed to excellence in teaching and research. WVPU offers innovative programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level, awarding Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MSc) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees. At the undergraduate level, the departments of Business and Management, International Relations, Media Communications, and Psychology are complemented by the Center for Liberal Arts’ multidisciplinary curriculum in the human, social and natural sciences.

WVPU is an equal opportunity employer. At present, we are looking to make a research faculty appointment at the rank of:

Assistant Professor of Sociology

Half-time (20 hours/week), preferred starting date: January 2019

The Assistant Professor of Sociology will be responsible for teaching seminar-style courses at the undergraduate level, maintaining an active research agenda and scholarly profile, as well as participating in departmental and university service activities.

As a member of WVPU’s multidisciplinary Center for Liberal Arts, the successful applicant will join a faculty of status-track researchers and external lecturers from the fields of anthropology, history, philosophy, sociology, literature, languages and the arts committed to developing a critical history of contemporary society.

The university welcomes applications that broadly conceive of the focus, geography and methodologies appropriate to the study of contemporary society. Possible areas of specialization could include, but are not limited to, social movements, race, class and gender, migration and immigration, political economy of the world-system, social control, labor and work, cultural sociology, as well as inequality, stratification and poverty. Preference will be given to candidates whose areas of specialization focus on the comparative and/or transnational dimensions of contemporary social problems.

The successful candidate is expected to teach broadly in the field, concentrating especially on courses related to the applicant’s own research focus, as well as reading courses for advanced students. The successful candidate will also teach in the university’s general education curriculum (sociology-specific seminars for bachelor’s students, i.e. First-Year Seminars, Keystone Seminars).

The Assistant Professor of Sociology is expected to develop a research program that addresses the social, political and economic problems of contemporary society by setting them within their proper sociological context. In addition to traditional scholarly activities (publication, conference participation, service to the field), the successful applicant is also expected to provide key student services, such as student advising and thesis supervision, and pursue research projects aimed at securing external funding and increasing international scholarly cooperation.

The successful applicant is expected to have:

• a PhD in sociology or related fields (ABD candidates will only be considered if all PhD requirements are completed by the date of appointment)
• experience teaching undergraduate students
• career-stage appropriate record of scholarly publications in the field
• a short- and-medium term plan for developing research projects aimed at attracting external funding
• an interest in engaging with non-academic communities about contemporary research in sociology
• Full professional fluency in English

The annual salary on a half-time basis (20 hours) for this position is a minimum of € 21.000 gross, negotiable on the basis of qualifications and experience.

Candidates are initially employed on a three-year all-in contract, in which annual performance agreements orientate the assistant professor’s teaching, research and service goals. After three years and a successful review, the employment relationship is then based on an unlimited contract.

Applications are to be submitted online via the university’s website: http://webster.ac.at/faculty-vacancies. Please include:

1) cover letter, 2) curriculum vitae, 3) statement of teaching philosophy, 4) article-size writing sample 5) names of three referees who will provide letters of recommendation upon request

Deadline for applications: September 15, 2018. Review of applications will begin immediately following the deadline and will continue until the position is filled.

For questions related to your application, please contact the HR Department: hrdepartment@webster.ac.at at WVPU, Praterstraße 23, A – 1020 Vienna. All other inquiries can be addressed to Dr. Ryan Crawford, chair of the search committee (ryan.crawford@webster.ac.at).

Your privacy is important to us and we take the General Data Protection Regulation seriously. It is our goal to be sensitive and respectful of your personal information and to adhere to all facets of the GDPR regulation. Please be aware that all personal data you provide are subject to our privacy notice which can be found at: http://webster.ac.at/employee-and-employee-applicant-privacy-notice.

Convocatoria pdf>>