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 in the School of Social Sciences and Philosophy at Trinity College Dublin seeks to appoint an Assistant Professor in Sociology (Environmental Sociology), commencing on 1 August 2026. 

The successful candidate will contribute to the Department’s core missions of teaching, research, and academic service. They will have a strong and demonstrable record of research and teaching in sociology and will play an active role in both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including interdisciplinary teaching, supervision, and mentoring. 

The appointee will develop a new research stream in environmental sociology, while also contributing to the Department’s existing research clusters: https://www.tcd.ie/sociology/research/. The successful candidate will be expected to pursue an ambitious research agenda, engage in wider public and policy debates, and foster collaboration within the College and with external research bodies.

Context: 

Environmental Sociology examines and advances the sociological imagination in relation to a wide variety of environmental challenges, controversies and issues, at all levels, from global to local. Topics covered include climate change; biodiversity loss; radiation; genetically modified crops; environmental social movements; mobility, migration and transport; race, ethnicity and the environment; and toxic waste.

 We invite applications from candidates with a strong record in empirical research and teaching in environmental sociology, particularly those engaging with contemporary, interdisciplinary and emerging topics. Areas of interest may include, but are not limited to, the intersection of climate change and migration as well as the interface between climate change, religion and conflict. We particularly welcome scholars who bring a comparative, interdisciplinary and/or transnational perspective. 

We expect candidates to demonstrate cutting-edge methodological expertise in their research portfolio, showing both rigour and innovation in their approaches. 

The successful applicant will hold a PhD in Sociology (or cognate discipline) and have, relative to career stage, a track record of high-impact scholarship and publication in international, peer-reviewed journals and teaching and supervision at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

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 a related social science discipline.