Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Public Policy

Position overview

Position title:

Assistant Professor

The posted UC Salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and/or step  UC Salary Table #1 Current Academic Salary Scales | UCOP
. The salary range for this position is $120,000-$165,000.
Off-scale salaries and other components of pay, i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions. See the campus compensation page for additional information:
Box.

Open date:
August 1, 2026

Next review date:
September 18, 2026

Final date:
May 31, 2027

Open date:
August 1, 2026

Next review date:
Friday, Sep 18, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time). Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date:
Monday, May 31, 2027 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time). Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

The Department of Public Policy in the UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin School of Public Affairs seeks an Assistant Professor of Public Policy who will contribute to the Department's research and teaching missions, including a new Master of Global Public Affairs.

We seek scholars from political science, public policy, sociology, and related fields whose work relates to Global Public Affairs, broadly defined. Relevant topics include, but are not limited to economic development, innovation, and trade; comparative and international political economy, including analyses of cultural, labor, and social policies, as well as the interplay of domestic and international institutions; social movements, conflict, and human rights;

demography and immigration; and environmental sustainability. Applicants' research should have policy implications, and applicants should be prepared to teach core and elective courses to master's and undergraduate students. In addition to research and service commitments, the standard teaching load for this position is four courses across three quarters.

UCLA's Public Policy Department is multi-disciplinary and values scholarly excellence, effective teaching, and collegiality. The Public Policy Department currently includes 19 tenure-track faculty members, many of whom hold courtesy or joint appointments in other departments on campus (including in political science and sociology). The Department offers a Master of Public Policy degree, undergraduate courses, and will contribute courses to a new Master of Global Public Affairs.

The Master of Global Public Affairs (MGPA) is a two-year interdepartmental program that emphasizes rigorous training in problem formulation, policy design, and impact evaluation for students planning to work at the intersection of local and global issues across the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Public Policy faculty may advise doctoral students from other departments.

The Department sits within the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, which is home to two other top-ranked departments (Urban Planning and Social Welfare) and a number of research centers. UCLA is a leading global university and among the top-ranked public universities in the US.

The position is open until filled, but early applications are encouraged. Applications will be accepted starting on August 1, 2026, and the selection committee will begin to review completed applications starting on September 18, 2026. For questions related to the position, please contact Search Committee Chair, Darin Christensen (darinca.edu), or Department Manager, Stacey Hirose (staceya.edu).

Basic qualifications

A PhD in a relevant field (e.g., political science, public policy, sociology, or a related discipline) is required by the time of appointment.

Additional qualifications

The candidate has formal training/specialization and demonstrated expertise in a field related to Public Policy and Global Public Affairs.

Preferred qualifications

• The candidate has a research agenda and an emerging record that shows significant promise of producing high-quality, innovative…