Assistant Professor in Environmental Humanities

University of Colorado-Boulder, Departments of French and Italian and Germanic and Slavic; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Recruitment incentive

Moving allowance

Startup funding

Job summary

The University of Colorado Boulder invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Environmental Humanities, beginning August 2027. This is a joint appointment with teaching in the Departments of French and Italian and Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures.

The tenure home will be determined by the candidate’s primary area of expertise. We seek a dynamic scholar with multilingual, transcultural perspectives on environmental questions, exploring how literature, media or

Qualifications

• PhD in relevant field by August 1, 2027.
• Native or near-native proficiency in French or Russian.
• Evidence of scholarly achievement or strong potential for scholarly contributions.

Responsibilities

• Pursue an active research agenda and contribute to undergraduate and graduate education in both departments.
• Teaching responsibilities will include interdisciplinary courses in English serving students across language programs and throughout the university.
• Contribute to departmental service and mentoring.

Skills

Multilingual perspectives

Interdisciplinary teaching

Research agenda development

Education

PhD in relevant field

Job description

Departments of French and Italian and Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Colorado Boulder invite applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Environmental Humanities, beginning August 2027. This position is a joint appointment, with teaching responsibilities in the Department of French and Italian and the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures. The tenure home will be determined by the candidate’s primary area of expertise. We seek a dynamic scholar whose research and teaching bring multilingual and transcultural perspectives to environmental questions, examining how literature, media or other cultural forms shape ecological knowledge and responses to environmental change.

The successful candidate will have a primary specialization in French and Francophone Studies or Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (REEES), focusing on the 19th, 20th, and/or 21st centuries. Candidates must also have a secondary expertise in another field in the collaborating departments: French and Francophone Studies, REEES, German or Italian studies. The combination of primary and secondary areas of expertise should support comparative scholarship and teaching that connect the two departments.

We welcome research in environmental humanities broadly conceived. Possible areas include (but are not limited to) blue humanities, environmental justice, racial epistemologies, food studies, plant studies, digital humanities, and humanistic approaches to science and technology. Candidates whose scholarship includes media or artistic practices alongside literary studies are particularly encouraged to apply.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be:

• The successful candidate will pursue an active research agenda and contribute to undergraduate and graduate education in both departments.
• Teaching responsibilities will include interdisciplinary courses in English that serve students across language programs and throughout the university. Possible offerings include:
  • An introduction to transcultural environmental humanities.
  • Advanced undergraduate topic courses.
  • Graduate seminars bringing multiple linguistic and cultural traditions into conversation.
• Candidates will also contribute to departmental service.

What You Should Know:

• The primary appointment / tenure home will be determined by the successful candidate’s primary research field.
• Teaching and service responsibilities will be coordinated across departments to reflect the equal division of the appointment.
• At the time of hire, the departments will establish clear expectations and a mentoring plan for the candidate, and articulate how contributions to both units will be evaluated in reappointment, tenure, and promotion.

What We Can Offer:

• The annual salary range for this position is $85,000 - $95,000.
• A recruitment incentive, moving allowance, and startup funding may be available to the successful candidate within department guidelines

Benefits:

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of Forbes' America's Best Large Employers, ranking #4 among large employers in Colorado and #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements:

Be ambitious. Be inspired. Be Boulder.

What We Require:

• PhD in French and Francophone Studies; Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies; Slavic Studies; Comparative Literature; or related field by August 1, 2027.
• Native or near-native proficiency in French or Russian.
• Evidence of scholarly achievement or strong potential for scholarly contributions.

What We Would Like You to Have:

Competence in an additional language of the departments.

For full consideration, please apply by November 23rd, 2026, as review of applications will begin on this date. The position will remain open until filled.

Any questions regarding the position may be directed to Beverly Weber at [e-mail] or Michela Ardizzoni at [e-mail].