Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Mass Behavior

Position overview

Position title : Assistant Professor

Salary range :

Annual salary range for Assistant Professor appointments is $80,800 to $104,700 commensurate with education and experience

Anticipated start : July 1, 2026

Review timeline :

January 21, 2026 until filled

Application Window

Open date : November 18, 2025

Next review date : Wednesday, Jan 21, 2026 at 11 : 59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date : Wednesday, Apr 1, 2026 at 11 : 59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Department of Political Science at the University of California, Riverside, invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the field of Mass Political Behavior. We seek a scholar with an active research agenda and teaching interests. While we are open to all substantive areas of mass political behavior, we especially encourage applications from candidates whose research addresses Race and Ethnic Politics (REP), public opinion, and / or mass behavior in comparative contexts including but not limited to Asia or the Middle East.

The successful candidate should be committed to excellence in undergraduate and graduate education and have a record or promise of research publications. The candidate should also be committed to teaching and mentoring that will enhance the work of the department and support a diverse student body. Faculty in the University of California are expected to engage in research, teaching, and service. The typical course load is four classes over the academic year. A PhD in Political Science or related field will be required by the start of appointment; 7 / 1 / 26, candidates who are ABD at the time of application will be considered.

Complete applications must include : a cover letter of interest, an updated CV, a research statement, a writing sample, teaching evidence or evaluations, and 3 letters of recommendation. Review of applications will commence on January 21, 2026 and may continue until filled. Applications received on or before January 21 will receive full consideration. Only complete applications will be reviewed by the committee.

Applicants who use Interfolio may utilize a feature provided by the Interfolio Service to allow Interfolio to upload their letters directly into AP Recruit. Applicants can input an Interfolio-generated email address in place of their letter writer's email address. Interfolio refers to this as Online Application Deliveries. The following link on the Interfolio website shows how to set this up http : / / www.interfolio.com / help-center / .

The University of California values salary transparency and reports salaries annually in the UC Annual Wage Database. The posted UC salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and / or step at appointment. See Table(s) https : / / www.ucop.edu / academic-personnel-programs / _files / 2025-26 / policy-covered-october-2025-scales / t1.pdf . Salary ranges for this position are $80,800 - $104,700. "Off-scale salaries" and other components of pay, i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive condition.

Advancement through the faculty ranks at the University of California is through a series of structured, merit-based evaluations, occurring every 2-3 years, each of which includes substantial peer input.

Questions should be directed to Search Committee Chair Jennifer Merolla jennifer.merolla@ucr.edu

Department : https : / / politicalscience.ucr.edu /

Qualifications

Basic qualifications

(required at time of application)

A PhD in Political Science or related field will be required by the start of appointment; 7 / 1 / 26, candidates who are ABD at the time of application will be considered.

Preferred qualifications

The University of California, Riverside is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. UCR is a member institution of the American Association of Universities (AAU) and the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities (HSRU). A commitment to the UCR mission (https : / / apro.ucr.edu / mission-statement ) is a preferred qualification.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

Cover Letter

Statement of Research

Teaching evidence or evaluations

Writing sample

Misc / Additional (Optional)

Misc / Additional (Optional)

Misc / Additional (Optional)

Reference requirements

• 3-5 letters of reference required

Confidential Letters are solicited via the AP Recruit System Only - Applicant inserts reference names and solicits references from within AP Recruit at time of application.

Apply link :

https : / / aprecruit.ucr.edu / JPF02196

Help contact : christina.gnuschke@ucr.edu

About UC Riverside

The University of California, Riverside is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. UCR is a member institution of the American Association of Universities (AAU) and the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities (HSRU). A commitment to the UCR mission (https : / / apro.ucr.edu / mission-statement ) is a preferred qualification.

We seek to hire scholars who will both advance our research directions and effectively educate our undergraduate and graduate students, while also engaging with University and Professional service activities. Research and teaching statements that are included with application materials are opportunities for candidates to share knowledge, experience, and goals that support the mission of UCR. For more information on UC's criteria for successful faculty, refer to the Academic Personnel Manual (APM) 210 - Criteria for Appointment, Promotion, and Appraisal (https : / / www.ucop.edu / academic-personnel-programs / _files / apm / apm-210.pdf ).

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under state or federal law. It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and / or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, State, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer. A Misconduct Disclosure Survey will be completed through Truescreen, which is the vendor that administers this process for the campus.

For the University of California's Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy please visit :

https : / / policy.ucop.edu / doc / 4000385 / SVSH .

For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students, and Third Parties, please visit : https : / / policy.ucop.edu / doc / 1001004 / Anti-Discrimination .

For the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy, please visit : https : / / www.ucop.edu / academic-personnel-programs / _files / apm / apm-035.pdf .

Job location

Riverside, CA