Assistant Professor of Economics

Job no: 497553
Position type: Faculty Full-Time
Location: Denver, CO
Division/Equivalent: Arts & Humanities/Social Sciences
School/Unit: Social Sciences
Department/Office: SS-Economics
Categories: Faculty

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As the University’s largest and most varied academic unit, the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) is comprised of artists, learners, performers, scholars, scientists, and teachers across 21+ departments, programs, schools, and centers and acts as a central hub where many of the University's disciplines intersect. Nearly all 6,000 undergraduates at the University take liberal arts courses with us, and about one-third of these students declare a first major in a CAHSS program. Many of our departments, programs, and schools offer master's or doctoral programs. CAHSS scholars, artists, instructors, staff, and students collaborate in a shared quest for knowledge about the human condition and the development of skills to improve our local and global communities. The diverse scope of CAHSS allows our students to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed at nearly any career in today’s global society. 

The Economics Department at the University of Denver (DU) currently has seven tenure-line faculty and three teaching-line faculty. It is strongly committed to building a diverse and inclusive educational environment, which is in full accord with the value that DU places on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). As reflected in both their teaching and research, our faculty have a broader view of what economics is about than is found in the many other Economics programs in the US. We encourage students not to take in received knowledge as the truth but to examine it and question it. The Department thus offers a curriculum that emphasizes the understanding of the social apparatus that governs the production and distribution of goods and services, and an appreciation for how economic theories and ideas have developed over time. We present alternative perspectives on the historical and present-day relevance of our material, employing more primary sources and larger reading assignments than one finds in the typical US economics curriculum. Our approach naturally emphasizes the importance of writing and critical thinking, and goes beyond the rote acquisition of quantitative skills.

Position Summary

The Department of Economics seeks to fill a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor starting September 2025. We are seeking a heterodox economist doing research in the areas of economic development and / or international trade who approaches these topics from a feminist perspective. Candidates must show promise of distinction in research and publications in these fields, and must also show promise of excellent teaching ability in these areas as well as in our introductory courses “Economics: A Critical Introduction” (ECON 1020) and/or “Introduction to Micro- and Macroeconomics” (ECON 1030). Teaching courses in our department requires familiarity with economic history, the history of economic thought, philosophy of social science, and heterodox as well as mainstream perspectives on economic theory and policy. The teaching load is five 4-credit-hour courses per academic year spread over three quarters.

Essential Functions

  • Teach five 4-credit-hour courses per academic year over three 10-week quarters (autumn, winter and spring), including courses that reflect the candidate’s area(s) of specialization in economic development and / or international trade, and reflect a knowledge of Economics commensurate with someone who has studied the subject at the doctoral level.
  • Teach courses that will range from undergraduate to graduate (MA) level and may include courses contributing to DU’s common curriculum.
  • Supervise some MA theses, and advise both graduate and undergraduate students.
  • Conduct economic research resulting in publications in refereed journals, books, and/or monographs. The primary research areas should be economic development and / or international trade approached from a feminist perspective.
  • Serve as a good academic citizen within the Department, the College, the Economics profession, DU and the community (e.g., through committee service, etc.).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The person we hire to fill this position will:

  • Conduct research in economic development and / or international trade approached from a feminist perspective with the aim of making contributions to knowledge and producing scholarly publications.
  • Incorporate economic history, the history of economic thought, philosophy of social science, and heterodox as well as mainstream perspectives on economic theory and policy into their scholarship and teaching.
  • Demonstrate excellence in teaching and teach required and/or elective courses for undergraduate and MA students as well as courses in the University’s common curriculum.
  • Demonstrate excellence in teaching our introductory undergraduate courses “Economics: A Critical Introduction” and/or “Introduction to Micro and Macroeconomics.”
  • Integrate content into their courses that addresses different experiences across diverse populations, and integrate pedagogical practices that foster equity and inclusion of students from a wide variety of historically excluded intersecting identities.
  • Contribute to the intellectual diversity of our department, and to the advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion through teaching, research and service.
  • Contribute to the life and operation of the Department through participation in faculty meetings and service to the Department, College, and University.

Required Qualifications

  • ABD in Economics or a related discipline at the time of application. If ABD, the candidate will be employed at the rank of instructor until the Ph.D. degree is completed. The Ph.D. must be completed no later than August 2026.
  • Teaching experience of at least one academic term teaching college level economics as a graduate teaching or primary instructor. This should be commensurate with 20 hours of teaching-related activities per week for a full term (10 week quarter or 15 week semester).
  • Evidence of an emerging research agenda on economic development and / or international trade approached from a feminist perspective that shows promise for resulting in scholarly publications.
  • A commitment to promoting DEI and to using inclusive pedagogies.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Ph.D. in Economics completed prior to start date (September 1, 2025).
  • Experience in teaching economics as the primary instructor at the college level.
  • Evidence of an established research agenda focused on economic development and / or international trade approached from a feminist perspective, including one scholarly publication or more.
  • Evidence of ability to secure funding / grants for scholarly research.
  • Evidence of experience in directed student learning activities such as supervision of undergraduate and/or graduate theses or dissertations.
  • A demonstrated commitment to and experience in promoting DEI and in using inclusive pedagogies.
  • Relevant experience (teaching, research) of one year or more after completion of the PhD will also be considered.

Working Environment

1. Standard office environment.
2. Unexpected interruptions occur often, and stress level is moderate to high.
3. Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

1. Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period of time.
2. Ability to sit or stand in front of a classroom for an extended period of time.
3. Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.

Work Schedule
While the University's administrative offices are open Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, faculty schedules vary from term to term and are based on courses taught, service commitments, and research agendas. The University's academic calendars are posted on the registrar's website (the law school is on a semester system and has a different academic calendar).

Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) December 2, 2024.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade:
The salary grade for this position is UC.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $82,000-$90,000

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:

1. CV
2. Cover Letter
3. Job Market Paper / Writing Sample
4. Research Statement outlining candidate’s research program
5. Teaching Statement covering both teaching philosophy and experience
6. Statement on the candidate’s connection to and knowledge of heterodox economics, and how that connection is reflected in their scholarly work and teaching
7. Statement on how the candidate supports Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion through their scholarly work and teaching
8. Letters of Recommendation will be collected for candidates who advance to the first interview stage. References will be contacted through the system and will be invited to upload a letter of recommendation via a link provided by the system.

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers' Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver’s Non-Discrimination Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.

Advertised: Mountain Daylight Time
Application close: Mountain Standard Time

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