The Anthropology Program in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, in the Department of World Languages and Cultures invites applications for an Assistant Teaching Professor of Anthropology. The area of specialization is North American archaeology, with preference given to candidates with experience teaching courses in quantitative and spatial analyses, archaeological field and laboratory methods, and managing cultural resources such as archaeological sites and historic structures.
Iowa State’s Anthropology Program supports vibrant Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts programs. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to these programs through teaching undergraduate and graduate classes, mentoring students, and contributing to departmental and institutional service. This position involves the standard course load of six courses per year, which translates to 75% FTE for teaching faculty. The successful candidate will be expected to teach three courses in the fall and three courses in the spring.
Initial appointment length is three years starting August 16, 2026. Renewal is possible and renewal parameters are determined by performance and department need.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.
Required Minimum Qualifications:
PhD in Anthropology or related field conferred by time of appointment
Teaching experience at the university level
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with managing cultural resources
Multiple seasons of field work experience
Demonstrated ability to develop new courses relevant to North American archaeology such as resource management, geospatial statistics, statistics, or lithic analysis
Demonstrated ability to teach a wide range of courses in the Anthropology curriculum including Archaeology courses
Demonstrated ability to develop collaborative relationships off campus (State Archaeologist’s Office, etc.) and/or on campus with faculty in other departments such as Earth, Atmosphere, and Climate, Natural Resources Ecology and Management, and Evolutionary Ecology and Organismal Biology
Department/Program & College Description:
The Department of World Languages and Cultures is the central resource at Iowa State University for the teaching, research, and study of languages and cultures from a global perspective. The department offers coursework in ten languages with majors in French, German, and Spanish and minors in those languages plus Russian and Chinese. The department is also home to a robust Anthropology program that offers a major, minor, and graduate studies (MA). Other languages taught are American Sign Language, Arabic, Italian, Latin, and Portuguese. It also houses the International Studies, Classical Studies, U.S. Latino/a/x, and Middle Eastern Studies programs. The department’s award-winning term- and tenure-stream faculty engage in continuous improvement of teaching and internationally recognized research across a variety of disciplines.
Department Unit/Website: https://language.iastate.edu
To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:
1) Curriculum Vitae
2) Letter of Application/Cover Letter
3) Teaching Evaluations
4) Contact Information for Three References
For guaranteed consideration, please apply before March 23, 2026. Position is open until filled.
If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.
Why Choose ISU?
Iowa State Faculty enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:
• Retirement benefits, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous leave plans
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing program