Assistant Professor in Sociology

School/Department:             School of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Department of Sociology 

Job category & level:           Academic; Assistant Professor (Full-time, 5 Year Fixed Term Tenure-Track)

The Purpose of the Role: 

The Department of Sociology, School of Social Sciences and Philosophy, invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor in Sociology (Gender and Sexuality), commencing on 1 August 2026. The successful candidate will develop a new research stream on gender and sexuality and contribute to the Department’s existing areas of excellence, which can be explored at TCD Sociology Research. 

The appointee will teach and supervise at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, engage in public and policy debates, and collaborate with other departments and external research partners. 

Research on gender and sexuality in sociology explores how gendered and sexual identities, relationships, and hierarchies are socially constructed across institutions such as labour markets, the state, education, family, culture, law, and medicine. It examines how gender and sexual norms operate through power and inequality, and how these intersect with class, race, ethnicity, migration, and other axes of stratification. 

We welcome applications from candidates with strong records of empirical research and teaching in gender and sexuality, particularly those addressing contemporary or emerging issues. Areas of interest include gendered institutions and policy, embodiment and identity, sexuality and citizenship, intersectional inequalities, cultural and digital representations, social movements, and transformations in gender regimes. Comparative or crosscultural perspectives are especially encouraged. 

Candidates should demonstrate methodological expertise that is both rigorous and innovative. Applicants must hold a PhD in Sociology or a closely related discipline and, relative to career stage, show evidence of high-impact scholarship in international, peer-reviewed journals as well as experience in teaching and supervision.

Context: 

As part of the School of Social Sciences and Philosophy the Department of Sociology is seeking applicants with vision and enthusiasm, a genuine commitment to the vital roles of research and teaching, with an established record of research and clear potential for future research accomplishment, and flair for innovation in module design and teaching methods. 

The School of Social Sciences and Philosophy was formed in 2005 and comprises the Departments of Economics, Philosophy, Political Science and Sociology. With over 100 staff, the School has an international reputation in research and is committed to the dissemination of its knowledge and expertise to the benefit of the wider community. The School has a long-standing record of research scholarship and funding, housing significant research projects including ERC, IRC Laureate and Horizon Awards. 

The School, the third largest in the University, is also dedicated to excellence in teaching, being home to the undergraduate degree in PPES (Philosophy, Political Science, Economics and Sociology), the highly demanded Bachelor in Economic and Social Sciences (BESS) and offering undergraduate degrees via the Trinity Joint Honours Programmes in Economics, Philosophy, Political Science and Sociology. The School also offers eight taught postgraduate programmes across its disciplines, a suite of CPD modules, and has vibrant postgraduate research programmes with over 80 graduate students across the School undertaking structured PhD programmes. 

Our graduates are highly employable and much sought after; they populate leadership roles in Business, Industry, and the Public Sector, both in Ireland and abroad. Each of the Departments in the School is the top ranked in Ireland, with Philosophy and Political Science ranked in the top 100 and Economics and Sociology in the top 150 worldwide (QS rankings 2023). The School of Social Sciences and Philosophy has a strong tradition of internationalisation both in terms of international exchanges for its own students and the admission of non-EU students into its full-time programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. The School also has a long history of outreach and engagement with Irish society. The distinguishing feature of the research undertaken in the School of Social Sciences and Philosophy is the combination of important real-world questions, state of the art conceptual models and cutting-edge methods and analytical tools.

Person Requirements 

The role-holder will require the following knowledge, skills and attributes for successful performance in the role. 

Qualifications: 

• Excellent academic record and have completed a Ph.D. in Sociology or cognate discipline