The Department of Political Science at Virginia Tech invites applications for a two-year, full time, renewable Instructor position in the areas of research methods and comparative politics. The teaching requirement for this position will be eight courses per year (4/4), with the appointment beginning on August 10, 2026.

The position will support the majors and minors offered by the Department of Political Science. We are seeking faculty specifically interested in undergraduate teaching and curriculum initiatives revolving around empirical political science methods, in addition to areas such as comparative politics, and/or Latin American politics, global development, international conflict management or related areas of study within these specialties. Applicants with empirically based approaches are especially encouraged to apply, as are those who would benefit from working in an intellectually diverse environment and are committed to excellence in the classroom. Successful applicants will engage in teaching and consultation with students to foster proficiency in political science research methods and comparative politics, as well as in meetings with departmental leadership to enhance and improve curriculum development.

For further information on our academic programs, see https://liberalarts.vt.edu/departments-and-schools/department-of-political-science.html.

The Department of Political Science seeks broadly trained applicants with an expertise in empirical methodology.

• M.A./M.S. degree in Government, Political Science, or related field by the time of appointment
• Candidates must have adequate evidence of teaching effectiveness to meet the Department’s key teaching needs

• Ph.D. in degree in Government, Political Science, or related field by the time of appointment
• Prior experience with and/or training in at least some of the above noted substantive areas

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Restricted

The starting salary for this position is $50,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

April 27, 2026

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

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