Assistant Professor of Anthropology: Critical Heritage and Museum Study

Department overview

The Department of International Studies at American University of Sharjah seeks an anthropologist whose research and teaching focus on the anthropology of heritage, material culture, museums, and their intersections with archaeology. This position reflects the department’s commitment to developing an anthropology program that draws on the exceptional landscape of museums, archaeological sites, heritage initiatives, archives, and cultural institutions in Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates as rich resources for teaching, research, and student engagement.

We welcome applicants whose scholarship explores questions of heritage, material culture, museums, memory, curation, preservation, archaeology, and/or public culture from an anthropological perspective, and who can contribute to a curriculum that provides students with strong disciplinary training while encouraging critical engagement with contemporary debates in these fields. The successful candidate will contribute to the department’s core curriculum by teaching introductory courses in cultural anthropology, archaeology, and ethnographic methods, while also developing upper-level and graduate courses that reflect their research expertise and complement the department’s existing strengths.

The successful candidate will also assist in building partnerships with museums, archaeology and heritage authorities, and cultural institutions in Sharjah and across the Emirates, as well as internationally. They will also develop opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience through internships, practicum projects, exhibitions, and community-based work.

While applicants working in any world region are encouraged to apply, we are particularly interested in scholars whose primary regional expertise lies in Latin America, Southeast Asia, or Sub-Saharan Africa, as this appointment will broaden the department’s existing regional strengths and further strengthen its comparative and global orientation.

This is a full-time, rolling-track faculty position at the Assistant or Associate level, commensurate with experience, to begin in August 2027. Review of applications will begin November 15 and continue until the position is filled.

Areas of specialization may include, but are not limited to:

• Critical heritage studies, intangible cultural heritage, and heritage policy
• Archaeology, the production of heritage, and critical perspectives of the past
• Museum anthropology, collections, provenance, and exhibition practice
• Oral history and living traditions
• Digital heritage, documentation, and public engagement

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate courses in anthropology, including introductory and upper-level elective courses in heritage and museum studies within the International Studies Department. The regular teaching load is 3-3 with opportunities to secure course releases through internal grant programs that also provide faculty with support for conference and research travel.
• Develop upper-level, MA, and elective courses in heritage and museum studies, as well as other areas of the candidate’s expertise and interest that complement the existing curriculum.
• Supervise independent studies, MA theses, and other projects with heritage and museum partners.
• Maintain an active, externally visible research program with peer-reviewed publications and pursuit of external and internal funding.
• Contribute to departmental, college, and university service, and to the university’s growing graduate offerings in the humanities.

Qualifications

• PhD in anthropology or a closely related field.
• A research record or clear research trajectory commensurate with rank, with an anthropological perspective on heritage or museums.
• Demonstrated commitment to excellent teaching in an English-medium, liberal arts setting.
• Professional experience in museum, heritage, or cultural-sector work (e.g., curatorial, collections, exhibition, community or policy work) is highly desirable.
• As a university formed on the American model and with English as the language of instruction, American University of Sharjah will give priority to candidates who have substantial experience in American models of higher education.

Application materials

• Cover letter addressing research, teaching, and any relevant engagement with the heritage and museum sector.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Statement of research interests.
• Statement of teaching philosophy, including evidence of teaching effectiveness where available.
• One writing sample.
• Contact information for three referees.

About American University of Sharjah

American University of Sharjah invites applications from accomplished scholars committed to excellence in teaching, learning, and research within an American-style, globally recognized institution. Successful candidates will be offered a salary commensurate with experience, along with free housing, paid utilities, and other attractive benefits.

As a comprehensive, independent, non-profit, coeducational university, AUS is consistently ranked among the top 15 universities in the Arab region and is among the top 17 percent of ranked universities in the world (QS, 2027). The university fosters a diverse community of over 6,000 students from more than 100 nations, with English as the language of instruction and the workplace.

Located in Sharjah's University City, AUS is directly adjacent to the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, providing faculty with significant opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary research and contribute directly to the UAE’s rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem. The campus is set in a vibrant and cosmopolitan area, offering abundant opportunities for travel, entertainment, and cultural experiences, with Sharjah International Airport minutes away and Dubai International Airport only 30 minutes from campus. A number of schools aligned with various international curricula are located nearby.

AUS is licensed and its programs are accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the United Arab Emirates. AUS has been accredited in the United States of America by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education since June 2004.