Assistant Professor of Sociology

UMS • Orono, ME

74d • Onsite

About The Position

The University of Maine’s Department of Sociology seeks a dynamic, innovative scholar and teacher to join our small, collegial, undergraduate-only department at Maine’s flagship land, and sea, and space-grant institution. This is a tenure-track, academic-year position at the assistant professor level who will offer courses in the department’s new Criminal Justice major. The anticipated start date is September 1, 2026.
We invite applicants for a nine-month, tenure-track position as assistant professor with expertise in issues related to restorative justice, race/ethnicity, and the criminal justice system. Candidates should be able to teach courses in the criminal justice core curriculum, including Survey of Criminal Justice, Introduction to Criminology, and Research Methods; as well as electives in criminal justice and criminology, such as Police and Society, Corrections, Criminal Courts, Race and Crime, and White-Collar Crime. Preference will be given to candidates able to teach Introduction to Sociology and Social Inequality. Quantitative expertise is strongly preferred. Our standard teaching load is 3-2. This is an in-person position.
Consistent with the department’s emphasis on public sociology and the university’s vision as a community engaged campus, the candidate will be a publicly engaged scholar. The candidate must demonstrate an interest in, and preferably successful experience in, collaborative interdisciplinary research, teaching, and grantsmanship.

Requirements

• Ph.D. required by date of hire.
• Specialization in criminal justice/criminology or closely related field.
• Expertise in issues related to restorative justice and race/ethnicity.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver successful courses at the undergraduate level with expertise appropriate to teaching courses as listed above.
• Evidence of ability to develop and pursue a productive research agenda, including peer-reviewed publications, in the candidate’s area of expertise.
• Demonstrated commitment to public/engaged scholarship
• Evidence of ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

Nice To Haves

• Ph.D. in Criminal Justice/Criminology preferred (candidates with a Ph.D. in Sociology with a strong background in criminology and criminal justice are encouraged to apply).
• Demonstrated ability to seek and/or obtain extramural funding for research.
• Experience collaborating on research projects with undergraduate students.
• Experience and interest in interdisciplinary pedagogy that would support both the sociology and criminal justice/criminology majors.

Responsibilities

• Teach criminal justice courses at the undergraduate level, including core and special topics.
• Advise and mentor students on academic progress, careers, and research opportunities.
• Develop inclusive, effective instructional materials and assessments to support student learning.
• Conduct and maintain an active program of scholarly research in criminal justice.
• Seek opportunities for external funding and involve students in research when appropriate.
• Contribute to departmental, college, and university committees and initiatives.

Benefits

• The University of Maine offers a wide range of benefits for employees including, but not limited to, tuition benefits (employee and dependent), comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short and long term disability as well as retirement plan options.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees