Assistant Professor, Political Science (Public Policy)

Job Description

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) appreciates your interest in employment at our growing institution. We want your application process to go smoothly and quickly. Final applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment.
If you need assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please contact our recruitment helpline at (775) 784-1495 or
jobs@unr.edu
.
Job Description
The Department of Political Science within the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Nevada, Reno invites applications for a
full-time tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor
in the subfield of Public Policy. An international or comparative public policy focus is welcome but not required. The successful candidate will be expected to develop a robust and teaching research program; substantive research and teaching areas may include, but are not limited to, energy, climate, environment, or related salient policy areas within the field of public policy. We welcome applicants from any theoretical or methodological tradition.
Required Qualifications
Ph.D. in Political Science, Public Policy, Public Affairs/Administration, or a related field in hand by July 1, 2027.
A developing or established research agenda in public policy.
A research agenda with emphasis in energy, climate, environment or related salient policy areas.
A record of, or potential for, publishing in top-tier journals and presses in relevant fields.
Demonstrated excellence, or demonstrated potential for excellence, in teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in energy, climate, environment or related salient public policy areas.
Demonstrated excellence, or demonstrated potential for excellence, in teaching graduate-level public policy courses (e.g. Seminar in Public Policy, Policy Analysis).
Demonstrated excellence, or demonstrated potential for excellence, in teaching undergraduate-level policy classes (e.g. Introduction to American Public Policy, Policy Analysis).
Preferred Qualifications
Evidence of or potential for strong external grant activity.
A research agenda with emphasis in energy, climate, environment, health or related salient public policy area with an international or comparative focus.
Evidence of successful teaching at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels.
Compensation Grade
Assistant Professor (9-month, B-contract)
Salary is competitive with a range of $65,000 to $80,500 and commensurate with related education and experience.
Perks of working at UNR
Health insurance options including dental and vision -
Health Insurance
Generous sick leave, life insurance, and long-term disability -
Faculty Benefits
E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center offers an annual or semester membership and family membership options.
E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center
Mountain EAP
supports employees (and eligible dependents) through life's difficult moments. Mountain EAP is located in Reno and specializes in counseling and advising services for personal or interpersonal issues.
Several Diversity Committees and Affinity Groups focusing on campus-wide diversity initiatives to ensure we are working to create a diverse and welcoming campus climate.
Diversity Groups
Faculty Senate is the principal representing body for faculty. Its membership includes representatives from each academic and administrative major unit of the University.
Faculty Senate
No state income tax!
Grants-in-aid for Faculty Employees
The University is proud to provide a reduced-rate tuition benefit to faculty and qualified dependents. Faculty can take up to six credits per semester at a reduced rate. Dependents of faculty have unlimited credits, but in order to be eligible children must be unmarried and under the age of 24 and must receive at least 50% of their financial support from the employee and/or employee's spouse or domestic partner.
Faculty Grants-in-Aid
Faculty Dual Career Assistance Program
The University of Nevada, Reno recognizes the importance of addressing dual-career couples' professional needs. We offer a dual career assistance program to newly hired faculty spouses/partners that provides resources and assists them to identify career opportunities in Northern Nevada.
Dual Career Assistance Program
Department Information
The UNR Department of Political Science is an energetic and collegial community of political scientists and public
policy and administration
scholars with a commitment to excellence in research and teaching in the Department, the University, and the diverse northern Nevada community. The Department is home to three graduate programs that confer MA, MPA and PhD degrees. It offers a BA and a BS in Political Science and coordinates the International Affairs major and various minors. Faculty participate in a variety of College and University-wide initiatives, such as the
Ozmen Institute for Global Studies
and the
Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
.
Additional information about the Department can be found at
Political Science
.
College and University Information
The
University of Nevada, Reno
is a public Research 1 land-grant institution of the Nevada System of Higher Education with a student population of approximately 21,000, including over 3,000 graduate students with a campus also at
Lake Tahoe
. We are a comprehensive, doctoral university that has been designated as a Carnegie R1 institution with very high research activity and a Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Nearly half of our students are students of color, and we are considered a Hispanic Serving Institution. In accordance with the University's land grant tier-one research institution mission, our faculty are expected to contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through research, teaching, and service in a pluralistic environment.
The University has dynamic intellectual, artistic and sports life, and a close relationship to the city of Reno. Located in one of the nation's fastest-growing innovative economies, Reno is home to a thriving technology ecosystem, attracting leading companies in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, logistics, artificial intelligence, and data infrastructure. It is a growing tech and innovation hub with a diverse population and has a rich cultural history that hosts an active art, music and festival scene. Known for its proximity to Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountains, Reno is a vibrant, diverse and growing city located on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, about 200 miles east of San Francisco, about 100 miles east of Sacramento and 30 miles north of the state capital, Carson City. Combined with the neighboring city of Sparks, the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area has a population of more than 500,000. Reno is only 30-45 minutes from Lake Tahoe and major ski resorts and is rated one of the top locations in the United States for living and outdoor recreation. It has an international airport with direct flights to many U.S. transportation hubs and to Mexico. For more information about the city and the surrounding area, please visit
www.cityofreno.com
and
www.visitrenotahoe.com
.
The
College of Liberal Arts
is home to the humanities, social sciences, and arts, offering 13 academic units and 8 additional programs, museums, and centers, including the Center for Constitutional Law and the Center for Basque Studies, that foster creativity, critical thinking, and engaged citizenship. As one of the largest academic units on campus with just under 4,000 students and 240 faculty, the College combines a strong liberal arts tradition with innovative and interdisciplinary teaching, research, and community engagement, preparing students for meaningful careers and lifelong learning in an interconnected world. The College emphasizes inquiry, discovery, and openness to new ideas and perspectives and supports major scholarly research and creative activity in the three disciplines and offers a number of programs at the
Lake Tahoe
campus. Visit
www.unr.edu/liberal-arts
for more information about the college
, faculty, and students
.
Contact Information for this position
Search Chair: Prof. Elizabeth Koebele, ekoebele@unr.edu
Search Coordinator: Karen Braun, kbraun@unr.edu
Exempt
Yes
Full-Time Equivalent
100.0%
Required Attachment(s)
Please note, once you submit your application the only attachment/s viewable to you will be the attachment/s to the resume/CV section of the application. Any additional required attachment/s to the cover letter, references, additional documents sections of the application, will not be viewable to you after you submit your application. All uploaded attachment/s will be on the application for the committee to review. To request updates to attachments, prior to the committee review of applications, please contact the candidate helpdesk at
jobs@unr.edu
.

Attach the following attachments to your application
1. Complete Curriculum Vita.

2.
Cover letter (2-3 pages) outlining qualifications and experience, research plans, teaching experience, and how you would contribute to the college's
mission
.

3.
A sample syllabus that you have constructed for a course appropriate to this position.

4.
A research-based writing sample, such as a publication, dissertation chapter, or similar.

5.
Names and Contact information for three professional references; letters will only be solicited from candidates who advance in the search.

**
Finalists will be asked to share recent teaching evaluations.
Open Until Filled
Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply immediately. This search will close without notice when a sufficient number of applications are received, or a hiring decision has been made. The search committee will begin reviewing applications on
Oct. 1, 2026.
Posting Close Date
Note to Applicant
A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.

HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR