Assistant Professor of Statistical & Data Sciences and Government

The Department of Government (GOV) and the Program in Statistical & Data Sciences (SDS) at Smith College invite applications for a joint, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor, to begin July 1, 2026.

By time of appointment the applicant must have a Ph.D. in Political Science or a closely-related discipline (e.g., public policy) -- as well as advanced training in statistics, data science, or a closely-related field at the graduate level. Candidates specializing in American political institutions, state and local politics, and/or public policy are preferred. Statistical and Data Science specializations might include, for example, the public policy implications of data storage and mining, machine learning and public health, modeling of legislative behavior, surveillance and data privacy policy, or computer algorithms for law enforcement and sentencing.

The position has a teaching load of 2:2 -- i.e., four semester-long courses over the academic year -- and will have a joint teaching commitment to GOV and SDS, split evenly. In GOV, we anticipate that the person would teach introduction to public policy, introduction to American Government, and upper-level courses related to their area of expertise in which students analyze data. In SDS, the person would teach introductory and intermediate statistics and/or data science, as well as advanced-level courses in their area of interest, for example, machine learning, causal inference, social network analysis, or text mining. Candidates from groups underrepresented in STEM or quantitative political science are encouraged to apply.

Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is the largest women's college in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. Smith College offers opportunities to foster faculty success at every career stage, such as those listed here. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges. Details about the Government Department may be found at https://www.smith.edu/academics/government, and details about the Statistical and Data Sciences Program may be found at https://www.smith.edu/academics/statistical-data-sciences.

As set forth in our mission and values, Smith College is committed to promoting a culture of equity and inclusion among students, staff and faculty. The College will not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by law. Smith College is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination.

Submit application at https://apply.interfolio.com/172311 with a cover letter, curriculum vitae, equity and inclusion statement, research statement, teaching statement, and the contact information for three confidential references. Finalists may be asked for additional materials. Review of applications will begin on September 29, 2025.