Visiting Professor / Lecturer of Social Research and Public Policy (Open Rank)

InsideHigherEd; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in the UAE is seeking a Visiting Professor / Lecturer to enhance their Social Research and Public Policy program. This role involves teaching courses such as Sociological Theory and requires a Ph.D. in a related field. Candidates should have a strong record in scholarship and teaching. Applications will be reviewed starting immediately, with an application deadline of January 15, 2026.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. required in Sociology, Policy, Anthropology, Demography, or Middle East Studies.
• Proven scholarship and teaching history are essential.
• Interest in non-Western-centric pedagogy is valued.

Responsibilities

• Teach four courses per academic year as a Professor.
• Teach six courses per academic year as a Lecturer.
• Supervise smaller class sizes to enhance student engagement.

Skills

Strong record of scholarship

Teaching experience

Mentoring skills

Active research portfolio

Education

Ph.D. in Sociology or related discipline

Job description

Description

The Division of Social Science at New York University (NYU) Abu Dhabi invites applications for a visiting faculty position to complement its areas of strength. You are invited to apply for a Visiting Professor / Lecturer (open rank) for the program in Social Research and Public Policy, for appointment on September 1, 2026, subject to final budget approval. We will primarily consider two types of applicants: i) scholars who can contribute to teaching required courses such as Sociological Theory, Modern Social Theory, and Modern Social Thought in Comparative Perspective; ii) scholars with strong expertise in thematic areas, such as gender, education, social mobility, technology, policy, and environment. Also, expertise / interest in the MENA region and / or a globally focused and non-Western-centric teaching pedagogy are particularly valued and welcome at NYU-AD.

The visiting position is for one academic year. The expected teaching load for a Professor (irrespective of rank) is four courses (two courses per semester), and for a Lecturer is six courses (three courses per semester), with relatively small class sizes. Scholars who have not held any Assistant Professor position before are only eligible for Lecturer positions.

Qualifications

This position requires a Ph.D. in Sociology or a related discipline (e.g., Policy, Anthropology, Demography, Middle East Studies, etc.). We seek individuals who have a strong record of scholarship, teaching, and mentoring, and seek to maintain an active research portfolio.

Application Instructions

To apply for this position, please submit the following items:

• CV
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Teaching Interests and Recent Teaching Evaluations (if available)
• Sample Course Syllabus (optional)
• Contact information of 2 references for recommendation letters to be solicited at a later stage of the search process. Do not include the letters in the uploaded documents.

We will begin reviewing applications as soon as possible. Shortlisted candidates are expected to interview around end of January / early February 2026, subject to budget approval.

Visiting faculty (if not retired) must be able to obtain a leave of absence and a letter of no objection from their home institution.

Equal Opportunity Statement

NYUAD is an equal-opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and seek individuals who will contribute to the excellence and vibrancy of our academic community.

Contact

For questions about this position, please email [e-mail]

Deadline

Jan 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time