Full Professor, Department of Political Science

About the role

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

• Job Category: Faculty
• Employment Type: Regular
• Job Profile: Professor

Job Summary

The Political Science department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks to hire a distinguished scholar whose work advances the university's priorities in American elections research. Candidates should be at the rank of Full Professor, have an internationally recognized research program in elections and electoral politics, and have an established track record of securing external funding.

Key Job Responsibilities

Successful applicants will teach graduate and undergraduate classes, mentor students, conduct scholarly research, and provide service to the department, college, university, and academic community nationally or internationally.

The successful candidate will advance the educational mission of the College of Letters & Science that values, prioritizes, and actualizes evidence-based and student-centered teaching and (undergraduate student) mentoring. They will contribute to an environment that fosters engagement and a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students and members of the broader community.

The successful candidate, as a member of the College of L&S, will proactively contribute to, support, and advance the college's commitment to all aspects of their teaching, mentoring, research, and service.

• In the College of Letters & Science, we provide a liberal arts education that is both broad and deep through excellent, empathic teaching.
• We hire faculty who are interested in pursuing difficult questions, making new discoveries, and making an impact in their field.
• We reward excellent teaching and classroom innovation, and we are committed to shared governance.

The Department of Political Science at UW-Madison is highly rated and is a leader in its field. Our department is multidisciplinary and has a highly collaborative environment. Madison as a city is consistently ranked at the top of the best places to live in the U.S. It offers an ideal combination of natural beauty, stimulating cultural events, outstanding schools, and outdoor recreation.

• Department: College of Letters & Science, Department of Political Science
• Compensation: Negotiable

Required Qualifications

Ph.D. in Political Science or related disciplines. Ph.D. required by start of appointment.

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates who have the rank of Full Professor whose work advances the university's priorities in American elections research are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates should have an internationally recognized research program in elections and electoral politics, have an established track record of securing external funding, and the ability to foster a teaching, learning, mentoring, departmental, and a research environment where all can thrive.

Candidates who have the rank of Full Professor whose work advances the university's priorities in American elections research. Candidates should have an internationally recognized research program in elections and electoral politics and have an established track record of securing external funding.

How to Apply

• Applications must be received through UW-Madison's online application system.
• Applications submitted outside the system will not be considered.
• To begin the application process please click on the 'Apply Now' button.

You will be asked to create a profile and upload the following 4 documents:

• a C.V.,
• a cover letter,
• a research statement and a teaching statement (please upload these 2 as one document), and
• A list of 3 references

Additional information

For full consideration, all materials must be received no later than 11:59pm on May 12, 2026. Applications will be accepted until position is filled.

Please note that applicants will be evaluated based upon submitted application materials and therefore should speak to and include evidence of their qualifications. Application materials must clearly demonstrate the applicant's dedication to excellence in student-centered teaching and mentoring.

Additionally, materials should showcase the applicant's ability to purposefully plan their teaching practices, evidenced through goals, action plans, reflection, and related documentation. This portion of the application materials must be created by the applicant and may include supporting letters. It cannot be only in the form of letters and testimony by others.

Contact Information: Faye Lux / Department Administrator

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information

Institutional Statement on Diversity

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.