Assistant Professor-Tenure System
About The Position
Michigan State University’s Department of Teacher Education seeks a tenure-system scholar in Early/Elementary Literacy to contribute to research, teaching, teacher preparation, and service. The successful candidate will join a department with established strengths in literacy education and opportunities for collaboration across the College of Education and the broader university. The position supports the development of a sustained, nationally significant program of scholarship focused on literacy learning and instruction in early childhood and elementary settings. The candidate is expected to maintain a strong research program focused on early/elementary literacy assessment, development, and/or instruction; pursue external research funding; and develop research collaborations within and beyond the department. The department has particular interest in scholars specializing in quantitative or mixed methods and foundational reading and writing skills. The successful candidate will teach and mentor preservice teachers, practicing educators, master’s students, and doctoral students, advise graduate students, and contribute to program or instructional leadership and partnerships. The position is remote-friendly, meaning some or all duties may be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon. Review of applications begins November 30, 2026, and continues until the position is filled.
Requirements
- Earned doctoral degree in literacy/reading education or a related field.
- Classroom experience teaching early childhood or elementary reading/literacy.
- Record of publications in highly ranked journals and/or presentations at refereed national or international conferences.
- Record of successful teaching of preservice and/or in-service teachers.
- Potential to seek external funding.
- Evidence of accomplishment in research, teaching, and service.
Nice To Haves
- Research with diverse populations of learners in early childhood or elementary school settings.
- Prior experience as an assistant professor.
- Ability to teach and lead across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs.
- Potential for local, state, and national service or outreach.
- Research on foundational reading and writing skills, literacy interventions, technology/AI in literacy education, teacher preparation for literacy, or policy issues in literacy focused on early childhood or elementary levels.
- Specialization in quantitative or mixed methods.
Responsibilities
- Conduct innovative, rigorous research related to early/elementary reading and writing.
- Secure external grants for research and development work.
- Teach undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral courses.
- Advise graduate students.
- Participate in program or instructional leadership.
- Contribute to intra-university or school-university partnerships.
- Develop research collaborations within and beyond the Department of Teacher Education.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
