Announcements

Dr. David Swanson, recently published a research brief, “A Statistical Margin of Error from a Geometric Perspective” in Communications in Applied Geometry (Vol 13, no. 2, pp. 185-186). The paper shows that a statistical margin of error for the mean of variable x taken from a random sample of size n from a population of interest of very large, possibly infinite, size can be presented as an extension of the Pythagorean distance between two vectors, where one vector, Vm, represents the mean of the random sample, and the other, V1, is found by summing the n values of x and letting these n summed values form the elements of V1.

The Department of Sociology and Communication at Texas A&M University-San Antonio (A&M-SA) seeks applications for a full-time tenure-track position in Sociology at the rank of Assistant Professor to begin in Fall 2024. Primary teaching responsibility will consist of 6 undergraduate courses per academic year (3/3 load), with one course release during the first year and an additional course release during the tenure-track period and the possibility for summer teaching. In addition to teaching responsibilities, the hire will participate in department and university committees and maintain an active research agenda. Specialization in demography is preferred.

Candidates for this position should have an active research agenda leading to high-quality publications. We will consider applicants with a wide range of research interests in demography and population studies. We are particularly interested in scholars focused on (a) health, (b) environmental justice, or (c) migration. Scholars with a focus on Latinx populations, community-based research, and/or critical perspectives in demography will be strongly considered. Additionally, those with GIS experience should apply. The successful candidate's teaching responsibilities may include sociology capstone, statistics, and demography, and should be interested in teaching future graduate-level courses in their areas of specialization. A highly qualified candidate will demonstrate a strong critical interdisciplinary focus and knowledge, and/or experience of student-centered learning, community engagement, and working with majority Latinx student populations. Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate an active commitment to the inclusion of underserved, underrepresented, and/or marginalized populations in their research, teaching, mentoring, and/or service.

Responsibilities:

• Teach the equivalent of 18 course credits per academic year (3/3 teaching load) in sociology capstone, statistics, demography, and/or specialty areas.

• Develop a research program at A&M-SA that results in tangible products (articles, books, grants, etc.).

• As part of an involved Sociology Program team, provide service at the program, department, college, university, community, and professional levels.

Education and Experience:

• A Ph.D. in sociology or a closely related discipline is required, as well as outstanding research potential, demonstrated excellence in teaching, and professional service. ABDs will be considered, but must have completed the Ph.D. by the time of appointment.

• Prior teaching experience in a university setting is required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to complete tasks and work cooperatively with others.

• Strong self-discipline and ability to work independently.

• Ability to communicate effectively with faculty, staff, and students.

• Ability to interact with students from all backgrounds.

Application Process:

Applicants must complete the application/faculty form as well as upload a letter of interest and their curriculum vitae on our employment system: https://tamus.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/TAMUSA_External

Please make sure to provide the following documents:

• Application

• A Curriculum vitae (CV)

• A cover letter

Overview of research experiences and current research agenda (2 pages or less)

Overview of teaching experiences and teaching philosophy (2 pages or less)

Contact information for three references that will provide letters of recommendation, if requested.

Please ensure that all required documents are uploaded prior to submitting an application. Once the application process is submitted, no changes or revisions may be made.

The position is open until filled, but review of applications will begin within one month of posting.

If selected for the position, prior to issuing a letter of appointment, the official transcripts must be received directly from each degree-granting institution. We cannot accept transcripts issued directly to the candidate. If transcripts are from an international institution, it is the responsibility of the prospective candidate to have the transcript translated, evaluated, and notarized.

Verified Electronic Copies of your Official transcript should be sent to:

alissa.meyer@tamusa.edu

If necessary, hard copies of official transcripts should be sent directly from the issuing institution to the address listed below:

Assistant Professor of Sociology

c/o Alissa Meyer (e-mail: Alissa.meyer@tamusa.edu)

Office of the Provost

Texas A&M University-San Antonio

One University Way

San Antonio, Texas 78224

Socio-Demographic Perspectives on the COVID-19 Pandemic edited by David A. Swanson (University of California Riverside) and Richard R. Verdugo (Independent Scholar) is now available to order.

Click HERE for an order form.

Click HERE (PDF) or HERE (website) for more information about the book.

Abstracts due by Oct 1, 2023
Full papers due by December 15, 2023

Disability and Aging
Call for Papers for the Journal of Elder Policy, 2024

Editor-in-Chief: Eva Kahana PhD
Distinguished University Professor, Case Western Reserve University

As the global population grows older, attention is often placed on the potential for rising rates of disability. While it is important to call attention to this future issue, it is also vital to focus on the obstacles faced right now by older adults with disabilities—those aging with disability and those aging into disability.

While disability can lead to challenges for many older adults, it should not be assumed that those aging with or into disability cannot live meaningful and proactive lives. The aim of this issue of the Journal of Elder Policy is to explore the complex relationships between aging, disability, and policy. We welcome both empirical and conceptual papers from diverse disciplines and have a preference for pieces that employ policy approaches. 

Topics may include but are not limited to:

• Assistive technology
• Built environment
• Attitudinal environment
• Intergenerational relationships
• Medical care for disabilities
• Cultural influences
• Disability and the labor market
• Proactive responses to living with disability
• Experiences of aging with disability
• Experiences of becoming disabled

Authors should send a 500 word abstract related to their paper by October 1 to Managing Editor, Kaitlyn Langendoerfer, PhD (kxb289@case.edu)

All articles will be peer reviewed.

More information about the aims and scope of the journal can be found here: www.journalofelderpolicy.org/about.html

The Center for Population Studies (CPS, http://cps.olemiss.edu) and State Data Center of Mississippi (SDC, http://sdc.olemiss.edu) at the University of Mississippi invite applications for an applied demographer, beginning spring of 2024. We seek an applicant to support the demographic and outreach mission of the Centers. Specifically, we invite applications from individuals with expertise and an interest in working with faculty, staff, non-profit, local, state, and federal organizations on research projects related to Mississippi's Demographic Characteristics, Population Change, Population Projections, Data Collection and Cleaning. The successful applicant will be able to access, analyze, and report on public data; produce data visualizations, including mapping; possess a working knowledge of advanced statistical software packages including R and STATA; possess a good working knowledge of ArcGIS; be able to interface with public and lay audiences; have good science communication. A successful candidate will adapt well to change, have excellent written and oral communication skills, have strong Microsoft office skills, and be very organized and detail oriented. Additionally, the successful candidate will have a 1:1 course load teaching Introductory and Applied Demography courses in the Department of Sociology & Anthropology at the University of Mississippi.

About UM Center for Population Studies and State Data Center of Mississippi

The Center for Population Studies (CPS) educates, conducts research, and engages in public outreach concerning population issues and is the lead agency for the State Data Center (SDC) of Mississippi. CPS works closely with faculty, government and non-profit agencies, and community organizations across the State and has a 40-year history of helping Mississippians access, use, and interpret public data for the purposes of local development. In this capacity, CPS distributes census and related data, provides instruction on data analysis, and serves as the liaison between the Census Bureau and the users of census and related data.
CPS also houses the Applied Policy and Community Research Laboratory, providing an avenue through which students are able to collaborate with faculty and nonprofit organizations to engage in timely and meaningful research. CPS also coordinates the Society and Health Minor in collaboration with the College of Liberal Arts. This minor is for undergraduates interested in the social, cultural, and ethical dimensions to understanding and improving population health.

The SDC exists through a collaborative agreement established in the late 1970's between UM, the State of MS, and the US Census Bureau and provides outreach, technical assistance, and dissemination of public data, particularly concerning population characteristics and change. Much of this work is conducted in partnership with the SDC Affiliates network across the state, including planning and development districts. The SDC also plays a key role in the Decennial Census in MS, providing demographic expertise to state-level and federal stakeholders on census participation, dissemination of data, and education related to accessing, using, and reporting on the data. Center Staff have participated in the 2020 Census Count Review Operation (CRO) in Mississippi, routinely engage in outreach activities with rural communities around the state, and work in partnership with state agencies, including MS State Extension specialists.
CPS is committed to building an inclusive, equitable, and supportive environment for scholars and students form historically underrepresented groups.

Minimum Education/Experience

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

• Work closely with State officials around Census data collection, outreach, and reporting, including but not limited to participating in the Census CRO.
• Respond to ongoing public data requests from Mississippi constituents
• Work closely with Planning and Development Districts regarding public data and mapping
• Produce demographic research, reports, or policy papers on relevant population trends to MS
• Teach Introductory and Applied Demography courses in the Department of Sociology & Anthropology at the University of Mississippi.

Minimum Education/Experience

Education:
Masters degree in Demography, Applied Demography, Sociology, or a closely related discipline. A Ph.D is preferred.

Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Experience in demographic theory and methods
• Experience in writing peer-reviewed publications
• Experience or interest in grant writing is preferred but not mandatory
• Proficiency in data collection and data analysis (your choice of statistical packages, Excel, and ArcGIS)
• Excellent oral, written, and presentation skills (both technical and non-technical)
• Ability to communicate with lay and professional audiences
• Previous teaching experience is preferred but not mandatory.

Application Procedures
For full consideration, candidates will submit the following documents: (1) a cover letter outlining your technical qualifications and related experience for the advertised position, (2) a C.V. or resume, (3) a work sample, (4) a diversity statement, with specific reference to your approach to working with public audiences. Review of applications will begin October 15th and will continue until the position is filled. Candidates who are selected for further review will be asked to provide a writing sample and letters of reference (to be submitted by the candidate's referees through the online application website). If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Jamiko Deleveaux, Interim Director of CPS at jvdeleve@olemiss.edu or (662) 915-7295.

The Sociology Department at the University of Memphis invites applications for a tenure track faculty position to be filled at the Assistant Professor rank beginning in Fall 2024. Applicants must have completed a Ph.D. in Sociology or a related field no later than August 2024.  Area of specialization is open, although we seek a scholar who can teach core classes in sociological theory.  Preference will be given to a scholar who will be active in the pursuit of grant funding.  The Center for Community Research and Evaluation, an on-campus Center that is externally funded and connected with the Sociology Department, provides opportunities for collaboration on externally funded work.  

The University of Memphis has recently been designated as a Carnegie R1 institution.  The University is committed to maintaining this status and there is strong support for new faculty developing their scholarly agendas.  Faculty in the department teach a 2-2 load.  The Sociology Department offers the B.S. and M.A. degrees and is a partner in the Ph.D. program in Urban Affairs so faculty teach at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and work with graduate research assistants.  The successful candidate will join an exciting and collaborative department in a dynamic urban university.   

Applications must be made on-line at https://workforum.memphis.edu/postings/37728.  Please upload a letter of application, a curriculum vita, a research statement highlighting the potential for grant funding, a statement of teaching philosophy or interests, and the names of three professional references. Review of applications will begin October 2, 2023 and may continue until the position is filled. The University of Memphis is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We urge all qualified applicants to apply for this position. Appointment will be based on qualifications as they relate to position requirements without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other legally protected class.

The Department of Sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) invites applications for an advanced Assistant or Associate Professor position with a start date of August 2024. We seek a candidate with demonstrated scholarship in medical sociology, specifically around women, gender, and health. Using funds from a gift to the department, the occupant of this position will play a leadership role in developing programing devoted to raising awareness for gender and women’s health issues. This programing can be related to the candidate’s specific program of research or more broadly related to gender and women’s health.

The department offers a B.A. and M.A. in Sociology and a B.S. and Ph.D. in Medical Sociology. Research in the department focuses on medical sociology and health-related topics. Currently, the department has about 75 undergraduate majors, 25 Ph.D. students, 75 professional master’s students, and 15 full-time faculty members. See the department website for more information: http://www.uab.edu/cas/sociology/.

Interdisciplinary scholarship and teaching are prominent, and the Department of Sociology collaborates closely with multiple units across campus. For example, interdisciplinary research centers on campus include the Center for the Study of Community Health, the Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center, the Center for Women’s Reproductive Health, the Lister Hill Center for Health Policy, the Institute for Human Rights, the Center for Social Science and Justice Research, and the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences.

Known for its innovative and interdisciplinary approach to education at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a part of the University of Alabama System, is an internationally renowned research university and academic medical center with over $600 million in research awards annually, as well as Alabama’s largest single employer, with some 26,000 employees, and has an annual economic impact exceeding more than $7.15 billion on the state. The pillars of UAB’s mission include education, research, innovation and economic development, community engagement, and patient care. Learn more at www.uab.edu.

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) treasures the rich diversity of our student body and we are committed to their success. Members of the CAS community are expected to reflect our value for inclusive excellence in both our work and learning environment as well as in our efforts to serve and engage the community.

Applicants are required to upload a cover letter; current CV; a writing sample; a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statement; (optional) evidence of teaching effectiveness; and (optional) evidence of programming experience. The cover letter should address research, teaching philosophy and experience, and programming goals. Also provide names of three professional references, who may be contacted later in the search process for letters.

Review of applications will begin on October 15, 2023 and will continue until the position is filled.

Questions may be directed to Mieke Beth Thomeer, Search Committee Chair. More info can be found here (as well as link to apply): https://uab.peopleadmin.com/postings/19215

Assistant Professor in Sociology
Washington State University
Pullman, WA

The Department of Sociology, within the College of Arts and Sciences at Washington State University invites applications for a permanent, full-time, nine-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Pullman, WA, with a specialty in food and environmental justice. We seek applicants who have a central research focus in the study of food or environmental justice, or on the ways food and environment overlap. This could include, but is not limited to: environmental racism; long-term health impacts on minoritized communities who face food and/or environmental inequities; food deserts/swamps; farm labor/food industry labor; indigenous approaches to environmental and food sustainability. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will begin the appointment on August 16, 2024. 

This position is part of a faculty cluster hire initiative in the scholarship and teaching about racism and social inequality in the Americas. Please note that food and environment are intentionally broadly defined. Scholars working in areas as diverse as environmental racism, racial health disparities related to food and/or the environment, food production and sustainability, food workers, food deserts, and health disparities related to food access, as just a few examples, are encouraged to apply. Feel free to direct any and all inquiries to either Erik Johnson (johnsone@wsu.edu), Search Committee Chair, or Justin Denney (justin.denney@wsu.edu), Search Committee member.

Review of applications begins September 17, 2023.

See the full job ad and apply here: https://wsu.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/WSU_Jobs/details/Assistant-Professor_R-9960.

PDF of announcement: PDF

Socio-Demographic Perspectives on the COVID-19 Pandemic 

Edited by David A. Swanson (University of California Riverside, Emeritus Professor) and Richard R. Verdugo (National Education Association, Retired)

Published by INFORMATION AGE PUBLISHING  
Charlotte, NC.

Summary

The 15 chapters in this book are focused on the United States. The book's socio-demographic perspective has been informed not only by  sociologists and demographers, but by authors representing a wide range of fields, including gender studies, geography, mathematics, political science, public health, Information technology, and statistics. It is focused on research and policy questions and organized into four parts: (1) data quality; (2) modeling; (3) analysis, and (4) policy issues.  

The book makes clear that to better deal with future pandemics we need to; (1)  incorporate "lessons-learned" into our institutional structures and planning efforts; (2) harness social activism efforts to improve health outcomes for all, (3) modernize our data systems to increase transparency; and (4) build trust not only between institutions and the general public but among individuals.

Expected release date: September 1, 2023

Congratulations, Dr. Swanson!

"WSAS is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established by the Washington State Legislature to respond to scientific and technical questions to inform public policy. WSAS is uniquely poised to help Washington confront challenges in areas benefiting from our 375+ members’ expertise in physical sciences and mathematics, engineering and technology, biological sciences, health sciences, and social and behavioral sciences. WSAS directs member expertise toward solving some of the most complex scientific and technical problems facing our state by connecting experts to state agencies and non-governmental organizations. Acceptance of membership entails a commitment to serve in and contribute to the goals of WSAS as a working body. More information about WSAS and our activities is available at www.washacad.org."