Assistant Professor, Southeast Asian History

Assistant Professor, Southeast Asian History

The Department of History invites applications for a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor in the history of Southeast Asia to begin August 2027, pending position clearance and availability of funds.

The area and period of research in Southeast Asian history are open. Candidates specializing in the early modern period, Mainland Southeast Asia, or Islamic Southeast Asia are especially encouraged to apply. We also welcome applications from scholars whose research transcends conventional approaches to Southeast Asian history, including transnational or transregional scholarship on themes such as (im)mobility, the environmental and digital humanities, comparative colonialism, and religion. The successful candidate will be expected to publish peer reviewed research and teach Southeast Asia survey courses, as well as general and advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in their areas of expertise. We will prioritize candidates who are well suited to our department’s needs.

Southeast Asian History and Studies at UHM is a leading program in the United States and the world. Its reputable faculty have produced groundbreaking scholarship and graduates who are now academics in prominent universities and successful individuals in the public and private sectors. Because of the strength of this program, UHM is consistently a top destination for students and scholars in Southeast Asian Studies, offering many Southeast Asian languages and financial support to hundreds of students.

The new faculty member in Southeast Asian history is expected to facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue and transregional collaboration with other academic departments and area studies centers. Moreover, the successful candidate will help strengthen UHM’s ties with Southeast Asian communities in Hawai‘i, meet the evolving demands of the growing Southeast Asian student body, and enrich historical understandings of the greater Asia-Pacific region.

Our campus welcomes all students but given our responsibilities to the community in which we operate, as part of our strategic mission, we strive to become a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning, a place that is committed to integrating Native Hawaiian language, culture and/or values into its academic and campus environment.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Teach lower-division undergraduate survey courses in Southeast Asian history;
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in area(s) of specialization and in general areas based on the needs of the department. ;
• Supervise MA and PhD students;
• Participate in graduate committees;
• Conduct research and publish in areas of specialization;
• Perform department, college and university service work;
• Other duties as assigned by the department chair.

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD or equivalent degree in History, or a related discipline (e.g., Asian Studies, Anthropology, Religion) from a college or university of recognized standing (ABD will be considered; all requirements for degree must be completed by August 2027)
• Demonstrated expertise in Southeast Asian studies or interdisciplinary Asian studies as evidenced by scholarly research and publications,
• Evidence of relevant teaching experience or demonstrated ability or potential to teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels;
• Research proficiency in at least one Southeast Asian language;
• Evidence of strong research capabilities;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collegially with students, faculty, staff and administrators.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Specialization in the early modern period in Southeast Asian history, mainland Southeast Asia or Islamic Southeast Asia;
• Demonstrated ability to teach other history survey courses such as World History;
• Ability to work in or understand at least two languages other than English.
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching, training, and supervision of graduate and/or undergraduate students.

Review of applications will begin on January 5, 2027 and will continue until filled.

For more information and to apply, follow this link: https://go.hawaii.edu/UGS