Assistant Professor of Government and Legal Studies (AI)

at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, United States

Job Description

Assistant Professor of Government and Legal Studies (AI)

Bowdoin College’s Department of Government and Legal Studies invites applications for a full-time tenure-track faculty appointment in comparative public policy or governance at the Assistant Professor level, beginning July 1, 2027. We seek candidates whose research involves the law or regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) or the use of AI in policy-making; comparative research across countries or policy areas is a plus. The successful candidate will teach two courses per semester across a range of offerings, including participation in the rotation of the department’s introductory course in comparative politics or international relations. Bowdoin is particularly interested in candidates dedicated to undergraduate teaching and with a promise of long-term successful research. A Ph.D. in political science or related fields is expected by the date of the appointment.

Bowdoin’s Hastings Initiative for AI and Humanity (https://www.bowdoin.edu/hastings-ai-initiative/index.html) 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 – including this position – across disciplines; 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: https://www.bowdoin.edu/accessibility/index.html. In addition, visa sponsorships for faculty hires are available.

Bowdoin College accepts only electronic submissions. Please submit: 1) a cover letter that includes a description of your research; 2) a curriculum vitae; 3) a statement that describes your teaching philosophy and practice, including how you create inclusive learning environments that prepare students to interact constructively with a diversity of people, spaces, situations, and ideas; 4) a writing sample; and 5) 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 21, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. 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 people, history, and natural beauty of Maine. Bowdoin’s campus is situated in a beautiful natural setting. Located in Brunswick, Maine, a town of approximately 20,000, the College is a short drive from the Maine coast, twenty-five miles from Portland and 120 miles from Boston. Bowdoin College complies with applicable provisions of federal and state laws that prohibit unlawful discrimination in employment, admission, or access to its educational or extracurricular programs, activities, or facilities based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry and national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, marital status, place of birth, genetic predisposition, veteran status, or against qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities on the basis of disability, or any other legally protected statuses. For further information about the College and our department, please visit our website: http://www.bowdoin.edu.

You will not be able to view the reference letters but will be able to see how many have been submitted on your behalf.