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Western Washington University: Assistant Professor of Sociology, Data Science/Quantitative Methodology

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TITLE

Assistant Professor of Sociology, Data Science/Quantitative Methodology

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Department of Sociology at Western Washington University seeks candidates with emerging or established expertise in data science, management, and quantitative methodologies to fill a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor position to begin September 16, 2023. Beyond data science expertise, area of research focus is open. The individual will be responsible for directing and maintaining the Tedrow Lab for Demographic and Social Research, and assisting sociology majors, minors and faculty in learning and advancing their statistical expertise independently and on specific research projects. The standard course load is two classes each quarter for a total of six classes per year. The Tedrow Lab director has a reduced course load that is negotiated with the Department of Sociology chair.  The Department of Sociology seeks candidates who can also contribute to teaching one or more of our core courses in sociological theory, research methods, or statistics. The successful candidate will be expected to fulfill teaching and mentoring responsibilities in ways that provide equitable and inclusive learning environments for all students.

Position Responsibilities

  • Teach courses within the department’s existing curriculum.
  • Develop new courses in specialized area(s) of methodological expertise (including but not limited to courses such as introduction to R, advanced statistical methods, data visualization, and GIS).
  • Ability and willingness to consistently teach the department’s core course in statistics.
  • Direct the Tedrow Lab for Demographic and Social Research and provide statistical and methodological support to students, faculty, and staff.
  • Active engagement in scholarship, including scholarly publications.
  • Active participation in service activities within the Department, University, and discipline

Required Qualifications

  • An earned Ph.D. at time of application in Sociology or a closely related social science discipline.
  • Successful teaching experience, which could include teaching assistantships.
  • Demonstrated interest in teaching advanced statistics and ability to teach the department’s core introductory statistics course
  • Proficiency in programming with SPSS, and additional experience with Stata and R.
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively with underrepresented student populations and promoting an environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Demonstrated potential to maintain an active program of research/scholarship and publication.
  • Demonstrated interest in directing and maintaining the Tedrow Lab for Demographic and Social Research

Preferred Qualifications

  • Proficiency with data visualization and GIS software.
  • Prior experience with management or as a director.
  • Successful teaching experience in statistics or data analytics.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Interest in collaborative research with undergraduates

Required Supplemental Materials

Additionally, as part of your application, you are required to provide the names and contact information of three professional references. Please do not submit letters of recommendation; these will only be required for semi-finalists, with requests for three letters of reference addressing teaching and scholarship to be generated from the PageUp application system to the references provided.

Salary:  $66,000 – $69,500 commensurate with experience and qualifications.  Relocation assistance may be available per University guidelines.  Salary and start-up funds are to be determined upon being offered the position. 

Benefits Information:  https://hr.wwu.edu/files/2022-06/Benefits-Faculty.pdf

Bargaining Unit: United Faculty of Western Washington

Application review begins September 1, 2022; position is open until filled.  Inquiries may be directed to the search committee chair:

Dr. Cameron T. Whitley
Search Committee Chair
Department of Sociology
516 High Street, MS 9081
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA 98225-9081
Phone: 360.650.3618

Email: cameron.whitley@wwu.edu

EMPLOYER DESCRIPTION

Western Washington University (WWU) is located in Bellingham, Washington (approximate population 90,000) 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia, and 90 miles north of Seattle.  The campus is situated on the ancestral homelands of the Coast Salish Peoples who have lived in this area from time immemorial.  Approximately 16,000 students attend the WWU; about 96% of these students are undergraduates; students of color represent 27% of the campus population; 29% new first-year students enrolled are first generation students. WWU is on the quarter system (10 weeks per quarter). WWU is the highest-ranking public, master’s-granting university in the Pacific Northwest, according to the 2022 U.S. News and & World Report college rankings.  For more information, please visit the WWU website.

At this time, the university requires that all WWU students, faculty and staff are vaccinated against COVID-19 with limited exceptions. Learn more at: https://www.wwu.edu/coronavirus/vaccines

The Department of Sociology is comprised of twelve full-time faculty engaged in a wide range of research activities who often involve undergraduate students in research and teaching. The Sociology Department is one of fourteen departments in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS). The department maintains the Tedrow “Lucky” Lab for Demographic and Social Research, which was opened and directed by Lucky Tedrow from 1977-2018. It is designed to assist students and faculty in collaboration and the development of advanced quantitative research skills. The quantitative sciences/ demography lab at WWU has been responsible for launching the careers of many demographic scholars with important contributions to the field of sociology.  The Department does not offer graduate level degrees, but there are opportunities to work with graduate students as an affiliate member with other departments. For more information, please visit the Department website.

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, WWU does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policy on Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Prohibiting Discrimination and Retaliation. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 345 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (“The Clery Act”). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western’s campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services at vpsa.office@wwu.edu. The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3774 or 711 (Washington Relay).

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires.