Assistant Professor, Comparative Security Studies

The Opportunity

The School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs (SPSIA) in the College of Sciences (COS) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) invites applications for a nine-month, tenure-earning assistant professor in comparative security studies anticipated to begin August 2026.

The ideal candidate will have a well-developed research agenda that focuses on areas such as contentious political behavior, political violence, regime instability, democratic backsliding, authoritarian regimes, human security, civil wars, civil-military relations, or other security studies subfields. The ideal candidate will have an ability to teach courses in security studies at the undergraduate and graduate levels and will be expected to contribute to the Security Studies Ph.D. program. The instructional duties and service assignments are in accordance with the department's equitable workload policy.

The School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs (SPSIA) offers a Ph.D. in Security Studies, a Master's in Political Science, and Bachelor's degrees in Political Science and in International & Global Studies. It is ranked as the #1 Best Online Political Science Bachelors Programs by Best Colleges. SPSIA's faculty and centers cultivate cutting-edge research and provide expertise that address society's biggest challenges.

For more information about SPSIA, see https://sciences.ucf.edu/politics.

The UCF College of Sciences (COS) is the largest college at the university and a powerhouse for the regional and national STEM workforce, spanning the natural, computational, physical, and social sciences and housing centers, institutes and initiatives that serve as hubs for research and innovation. Through sharing and applying knowledge, COS is cultivating pathways for students to solve our world's most pressing and complex problems. With a mission to provide a world-class education in an environment where faculty, staff, and students thrive, research flourishes, and our community prospers; a number of COS academic programs are among those nationally ranked by U.S. News and World Report, Princeton Review, and others.

For more information, please visit https://sciences.ucf.edu.

UCF, located in Orlando, Florida, is classified as a Very High Research Activity university by the Carnegie Foundation. With a diverse student body of more than 70,000 students, UCF is one of the largest universities in the country. The university offers more than 240 degree programs. UCF is designated a Hispanic Serving Institution. For more information, visit http://www.ucf.edu.

Minimum qualifications:

A doctorate in Political Science, Security Studies, or International Affairs (or a closely related field) from an accredited institution at the time of appointment is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Have a demonstrated record of high-quality publications in security studies

• Have a promising research agenda that reflects theoretical creativity and empirical sophistication

• Have a record of, or potential for, external research funding as appropriate for the discipline

• Can teach courses related to comparative security at the undergraduate and graduate levels

• Can teach qualitative and/or quantitative research methods at the graduate and undergraduate levels

• Can contribute to the Security Studies PhD program through doctoral student supervision

Additional Application Materials Required:

UCF requires all applications and supporting documents be submitted electronically through the Human Resources employment opportunities website, https://www.ucf.edu/jobs/.In addition to the online application, interested candidates should upload the following materials: (1) a current curriculum vitae, (2) a letter detailing your interest in the position; (3) a teaching statement (one to two pages); and (4) the names, phone numbers, and email addresses for three professional references (please do not submit reference letters).

NOTE: Please have all documents ready when applying so they can be simultaneously uploaded. Once the online submission process is finalized, the system does not allow applicants to submit additional documents later.

The selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and, as applicable, U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.

Questions regarding the position should be directed to Mehmet Gurses, Search Committee Chair, at Mehmet.Gurses@ucf.edu

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

N/A

Job Close Date:

All application materials must be submitted before the October 17, 2025 deadline.

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you'll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You'll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you'll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and you'll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks!UCF offers:

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program.

• Paid time off, including annual (12-month faculty) and sick time off and paid holidays.

• Retirement savings options.

• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions.

• Education assistance.

• Flexible work environment.

• And more...For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide click here.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF's expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions:

Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela.

The additional screening requirements only apply to research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty, graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, post-doctoral positions, undergraduate positions, visiting assistant professors, and visiting research associates.

Department

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Type of Appointment

Expected Salary

As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.

UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 407-823-1336 or email onac@ucf.edu.

For general application or posting questions, please email talent@ucf.edu.