Term Assistant Professor of Philosophy

Department: Col of Humanities and Soc Science

Classification: 9-month Instructional Faculty

Job Category: Instructional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Department of Philosophy at George Mason is a pluralistic program that offers courses and produces scholarly research and public philosophy drawing on diverse philosophical approaches and traditions, including continental, Anglo-American and applied philosophy, and with a focus on social, ethical and political thought. The program offers a Master’s degree, a major, and multiple minors including in Philosophy of Law, Ethics and AI, and Philosophy for Social Change. Our mission is to put philosophy to work to address key contemporary issues and enduring philosophical questions, to foster critically engaged citizens, and to enable students and faculty to engage with pressing matters of global and public concern.

Faculty in Philosophy are affiliated with other departments and programs across Mason, including: African and African American Studies, the Center for Advancing Human-Machine Partnership, Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center, the Center for Humanities Research, Cultural Studies, the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences, the Honors College, Philosophy, Politics and Economics; the Schar School of Policy and Government, Women and Gender Studies.

About the Position:

The George Mason University Department of Philosophy welcomes applications for a full-time Term Assistant Professor of Philosophy (non-tenure track), with specializations in Philosophy of Science and Bioethics.

We are seeking a dynamic scholar who is committed to excellence in teaching bioethics and philosophy of science courses taken by majors and non-majors at a variety of levels, including nursing, pre-med, natural sciences, the humanities, and computer science students. The successful candidate will be able to teach such courses as bioethics, introduction to ethics, ethics of AI, philosophy of natural science, or philosophy of social science, or conceptual foundations of the life sciences. The teaching load is 4 courses per semester.

We welcome applications from candidates with specialisms in any area of bioethics and general philosophy of science, as well as from those whose teaching approach addresses the societal implications of core topics in these fields, for example with reference to medicine, public and global health, artificial intelligence, gender, race, or disability.

The position will begin in the Fall 2025 term. The initial contract is for a 9 month term, with the possibility of renewal contingent on satisfactory performance and departmental and program needs. The position also includes possibilities for promotion and multi-year contracts as well as a full range of benefits. If you believe you meet the overall criteria for this position, but don’t necessarily check every box, please submit an application.

Responsibilities:

• Teaches a standard course load of 12 credits (4 courses) per semester; and
• Engages in service at the department level or beyond.

Required Qualifications:

• Terminal degree in a related field;
• Evidence of teaching experience with a commitment to diversity in the classroom;
• Doctoral degree in Philosophy or History and Philosophy of Science. Applicants must have completed the successful defense of their dissertation (or equivalent) by the time of appointment; and
• Demonstrated commitment to and evidence of excellence in teaching college-level undergraduate courses in bioethics and philosophy of science.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Evidence of experience teaching multiple modalities to non-majors at a variety of levels;
• Ability to teach courses in the Philosophy Department’s Ethics and AI minor;
• Ability to teach courses in introduction to ethics, philosophy of natural sciences, conceptual foundations of the life sciences, or philosophy of social sciences; and
• Experience teaching multiple modalities to non-majors at a variety of levels.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Term Assistant Professor of Philosophy at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a CV, a cover letter outlining the applicant’s record of teaching, and a teaching portfolio to include: a 1-page statement  of the applicant’s teaching philosophy, two sample syllabi (one in bioethics and one in philosophy of science) uploaded as one document, evidence of teaching effectiveness (such as teaching evaluations where available), and a 1-page statement addressing their approach to diversity in the classroom. Applicants should also submit the names and contact information for three references and should alert their referees that letters will be requested for candidates invited for a first-round interview. Candidates invited to interview may also be asked to provide further materials, such as a writing sample or additional syllabi.

Please direct any questions to the search coordinator, Rabia Ghani: rghani@gmu.edu.

For full consideration, applications must be received by [December 16]. Review of applications will begin after [December 17] and will continue until the position is filled.

Posting Open Date: November 12, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  December 16, 2024

Open Until Filled:  Yes