Assistant Professor in Jazz Studies

The Department of Music of the University of Pittsburgh invites applications from candidates of exceptional ability for a tenure-stream faculty position, pending budgetary approval, to begin in Fall 2025. We seek a specialist in jazz studies and music of the African diaspora, whose scholarly focus complements the expertise of our current faculty. The successful applicant will be able to work across subdisciplines within the department and with colleagues elsewhere in the University to strengthen jazz research, study, and performance. We seek a highly motivated individual with scholarly promise, a strong research agenda, and demonstrated excellence in teaching.

The person in this position will teach undergraduate courses and graduate seminars in history, theory, performance, and other topics of jazz studies, plus the weekly jazz salon; direct theses and dissertations; conduct research and publish; participate actively in the profession; assist the Artistic Director of Jazz Studies with supervising jazz performance ensembles, the William Robinson Studio, and the University of Pittsburgh Jazz Seminar and outreach initiatives; expand the use of our growing archival jazz collections at the Hillman Library, manage and edit our journal, Jazz & Culture; and share in departmental administrative responsibilities. The position will involve participation in the life of the department, and the person will need to demonstrate the ability to work effectively and collegially with diverse populations of students, faculty, staff, and administrators.

Preference will be given to applicants who hold a Ph.D. or will complete a Ph.D. in music or a related field with a jazz studies focus by June 2025. As the University of Pittsburgh Jazz Studies Ph.D. has a performance component, candidates with demonstrated abilities in jazz performance are encouraged to apply.

The Department of Music offers Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in jazz studies, musicology, ethnomusicology, and composition and theory, as well as a B.A. in music. The graduate program provides students with instruction in the theories, methods, and critical theories of each of the subdisciplines. The department offers undergraduate tracks, including jazz, performance, and global & popular music that features jazz ensembles, gamelan, African music, and dance, Afro-pop, and bluegrass. Through this appointment, the Department seeks to reinforce and expand relationships across university departments, programs, and scholarly centers such as Africana Studies, Cultural Studies, the Center on Race and Social Problems, the Center for Latin American Studies, and Gender, Sexuality, and Womens Studies

Candidates should submit a letter of application describing current and future research directions, a teaching statement, a diversity statement, a curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references. Provide links to performance recordings or videos in a separate document.

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by November 15, 2024.