Indiana University Bloomington
Department: IU Bloomington East Asian Langs & Cultures
Location
Bloomington
Position Summary
Indiana
University-Bloomington’s Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies seeks applications for a full-time
visiting assistant professor (VAP) of Japanese domestic politics to begin January 1, 2027. The position is for up to three
consecutive teaching semesters (Spring 2027, Fall 2027, and Spring 2028), subject to campus approval.
This non-tenure-track
VAP position is based in Indiana University’s renowned multidisciplinary Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALC) and
partially funded by the Japan Foundation. The teaching load is two courses per semester-including one course each semester focusing
specifically on some aspect of contemporary Japanese politics (broadly defined).
Eligible candidates will have a PhD in
political science (or related field) in hand before January 1, 2027, and combine disciplinary rigor and area studies expertise to analyze
Japan and East Asian politics. Candidates whose research agenda extensively utilizes Japanese-language sources and who demonstrate an
interest in contributing to Hamilton Lugar’s 21st Century Japan Politics and Society Initiative (21JPSI) will be particularly competitive.
21JPSI expects to be able to provide the successful candidate with a funded manuscript workshop and a research trip to Japan in summer
2027.
This is an exciting moment to join the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies as it leads Indiana
University’s international and area studies research and teaching missions. Hamilton Lugar’s EALC department boasts a robust and
multidisciplinary Japan studies program, including faculty teaching on cinema, foreign affairs, history, language pedagogy, literature,
music, religion, society, and visual culture. It also teaches Japanese language to over 300 students each semester. Established more than
sixty years ago, the EALC department has a long history of interdisciplinarity and boasts faculty strengths in a wide array of the
humanities and social sciences. The department’s mission related to research and teaching on East Asia is complemented by Hamilton Lugar’s
East Asian Studies Center, the Institute of Korean Studies, and 21JPSI. Learn more at https://ealc.indiana.edu/ ; https://hls.indiana.edu/ ; and https://jpsi.indiana.edu/ .
Interested applicants should send a cover
letter, curriculum vitae, a brief description of four possible course offerings on Japanese and/or East Asian domestic politics (broadly
defined), and a list of at least two references who may be contacted about the application. Sample syllabi-especially for a Japanese
domestic politics course-are welcome but not required.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the
position is filled, with all applications received by August 9, 2026 being assured full consideration.
Basic
Qualifications
PhD in political science (or related field) in hand no later than December 31, 2026
Ability
to teach courses on issues related to Japanese domestic politics
Department Contact for Questions
For inquiries regarding the nature of the position, candidates may the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at
ealc@iu.edu. Questions related to the submission process through the Indiana
University job portal may be directed to Mr. Zac Muller, Assistant Director of Faculty Relations for the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and
International Studies at zmuller@iu.edu.
Additional
Qualifications
Preference will be shown to candidates expressing interest in teaching courses with a more regional
or comparative (e.g., East Asia-wide) focus and which complement existing EALC department offerings, a demonstrated track record conducting
research using Japanese-language sources, and interest in contributing to the mission of 21JPSI.
For Best Consideration
Date: 08/09/2026
Expected Start Date: 01/01/2027
Posting Number
IU-101534-2026
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