Assistant Professor of Cinema Studies

Assistant Professor of Cinema Studies

Bowdoin College's Cinema Studies Program invites applications for a full-time tenure-track faculty appointment in Cinema Studies at the Assistant Professor level, beginning July 1, 2027. We seek candidates working at the intersection of artificial intelligence and either documentary studies or television studies. Applicants to the documentary track may be scholar-practitioners; applicants to the television track may have a primarily scholarly focus.

In either case, we welcome research examining AI's social, political, aesthetic, economic, or ethical dimensions within the relevant field. The teaching load is two courses per semester. Bowdoin is particularly interested in candidates dedicated to undergraduate teaching and with a promise of long-term successful research or creative work. A Ph.D. is expected by the date of the appointment.

Bowdoin's Hastings Initiative for AI and Humanity aims to critically examine, thoughtfully utilize, and ethically guide AI's trajectory. A $50 million dollar gift by Reed Hastings funds ten new faculty positions across disciplines, including this position; supports faculty in AI-related teaching, research, and creative work; sponsors workshops, symposia, and student research; and prepares the next generation of leaders to engage responsibly with the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence.

Bowdoin College offers opportunities for professional development, a fully-funded, year-long pre-tenure sabbatical leave (after three years of teaching and successful reappointment), and regular, generously funded, post-tenure sabbaticals. Support for teaching, grant submission, computing software, and community partnerships in courses is available. The College also offers robust programming and resources for establishing and enhancing mentoring networks. At Bowdoin, we are committed to inclusive excellence, an ongoing collective practice that honors our institutional commitment to provide an outstanding liberal arts education and serve the common good.

The College is home to talented students, faculty, and staff and we encourage applications from candidates committed to the inclusive instruction and support of a diverse student population, and those who will enrich and contribute to the College's multifaceted diversity.

Accessibility during the application and interview stages, as well as once employed, is a priority of the College. Visa sponsor ships for faculty hires are available. Bowdoin College accepts only electronic submissions. Please visit to submit:
1) a cover letter;
2) a curriculum vitae;
3) a description of your plans for research or creative work;
4) a statement that describes your teaching philosophy and practice, including how you create learning environments that prepare students to interact constructively with a diversity of people, spaces, situations, and ideas;
5) a sample of scholarly work no longer than 20 pages;
6) if relevant, a film or other creative work of no more than 20 minutes' duration accompanied by a creator's statement of no more than 500 words, made accessible via a link (including a password, if desired) embedded in the candidate's cover letter; and
7) the names and contact information for three references who have agreed to provide letters of recommendation. Letter writers will be automatically contacted upon submission of your application.

Review of applications will begin September 4, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. The anticipated hiring range for this appointment at the assistant professor rank without prior tenure-track experience is $92,000 – $98,000 annually; the salary offered will be commensurate with the successful candidate's experience and with internal peer equity. All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a satisfactory background check.

Founded in 1794, Bowdoin has maintained its commitment to the liberal arts for well over 200 years. Bowdoin's reputation as a preeminent liberal arts college rests on the excellence of its faculty, students, and staff; intimate size; strong sense of community; and connections to the…