Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment:
California State University (CSU), Chico is a comprehensive and residential public university, holding Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation. Chico State operates as part of the 22-campus CSU system, which educates the most ethnically, economically, and academically diverse student body in the nation. The University enrolls over 14,000 students, with over half identifying as first-generation college students.
Chico State is committed to recruiting outstanding candidates. The ideal candidate will embrace our values predicated on the primacy of student success and the elimination of equity gaps, have demonstrated experience working with diverse populations, and will contribute to policies, programs, and practices that support an inclusive, accessible, and equitable learning and working environment.
The Position: Assistant Tenure-Track Professor
Position Starts: Fall 2026
College: Behavioral and Social Sciences
Department/School: Anthropology
Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience. (Anticipated hiring range: $89,772 - $91,284 per year).
Initial Review Date: 04/02/2026; complete applications received after that date may be considered.
Minimum Qualifications:
The minimum education requirement for appointment to this position is a Ph.D. (by time of appointment) in Anthropology with specialization in biological anthropology. Research grounded in forensic anthropology with a history of grant writing and success in acquiring external funding. College teaching experience and a strong record of professional and scholarly activities and expertise complementing those of current faculty. At least 5 years of experience in a medico-legal setting, such as a medical examiner office or forensic anthropology lab. Involvement in forensic anthropology case work and progress toward ABFA board certification.
Responsibilities:
The primary responsibilities of this tenure-track position involve supervision of the Chico State Human Identification Lab including maintaining law enforcement contracts, chain of custody, and curation of human remains that are part of active law enforcement cases, casework, and field recovery of human remains. Ensuring confidentiality and security for each case. Participation in forensic anthropological laboratory analyses and field responses, including scheduling and coordinating lab teams for search and recovery efforts for law enforcement agencies. Coordination of these efforts occurs during regularly scheduled work week hours but also includes weekends, evenings, and holidays.
Additionally, the successful candidate carries responsibilities in the areas of teaching, scholarship, and service. The candidate is expected to intermittently teach general education courses and major courses in Anthropology at the undergraduate level as well as teach graduate level seminars and serve on MA thesis committees, as well as department and university-level committees, as deemed appropriate. Teaching assignments are based on qualifications of the individual and the needs of the department. The candidate will also collaborate with current faculty on developing training programs for first responders and law enforcement, as well as participate in curriculum development and public outreach. The successful candidate should demonstrate commitment to and/or experience promoting and fostering a learning environment that is supportive of individuals from diverse backgrounds.
How to Apply:
Applicants must provide a current cover letter (including how you have addressed, or plan to address, teaching to diverse student groups), a CV, and contact information of three professional references. Additional information may be requested at a later time. All applicants must apply online; applications submitted via email or in-person to the department will not be considered.
The Department:
The Anthropology Department adheres to the four-field approach to anthropology. We currently have 175 undergraduate and 25 graduate students enrolled in program. For additional information about our mission statement and curriculum, please visit https://www.csuchico.edu/anth/. Chico State is committed to recruiting, developing and retaining the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.
Job-related questions should be directed to:
Ashley Kendell, Search Committee Chair
California State University, Chico
Department of Anthropology
400 West 1st St.
Chico, CA 95929-0400
[email protected]
This position qualifies for benefits including tuition fee waiver (if eligible). California State University, Chico offers a number of benefits to its employees (e.g., sick leave, vacation, health insurance). For more information, please visit https://www.csuchico.edu/hr/benefits/index.shtml.
Out of State Employment: All work must be performed within the State of California. Faculty assignments include in-person duties that require an on-campus presence.
Background Check and Disclosures: A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.
Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.
Authorization to Work: Employment is contingent upon proof of eligibility to work in the United States. Chico State is not currently sponsoring faculty for H-1B work status if they are subject to the $100,000 fee established by the “Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” issued on September 19, 2025. For faculty already in the United States who hold a valid nonimmigrant visa (such as F-1, J-1, or O-1), Chico State may consider filing a petition to change their status to H-1B if the fee does not apply.
Mandated Reporter: The person holding this position is considered a “mandated reporter” under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 (revised July 21, 2017) as a condition of employment. The person also will have a duty to report to the campus Title IX coordinator information pertaining to discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct or exploitation, dating or domestic violence, stalking, and/or retaliation under CSU policy.
Clery Act: Chico State's Annual Security Report includes summaries of institutional policy relating to campus safety, drug and alcohol use, sexual assault, and other matters. The report is published in compliance with the Clery Act and includes three years of certain crime statistics that occurred in Clery Act defined geography. A copy of the report may be requested in person at the Chico State Police Department or by calling 530-898-5555. It is also available online at Annual Security & Fire Safety Report.
EEO Statement: Chico State is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, or protected veteran status and only employ individuals authorized to work in the U.S.
For disability-related accommodations, please call the ADA Coordinator at (530) 898-5959.
All positions are contingent on funding.
Graduate and undergraduate programs boast high-quality research experiences, exceptional faculty mentoring, and civic and global engagement opportunities. The campus motto, “Today Decides Tomorrow,” is brought to life by inclusive pedagogy, experiential learning, and co-curricular programming. The Chico Experience prepares students to be critical thinkers, engaged citizens, and inspired stewards of environmental, social, and economic resources. Together, they will become leaders solving the challenges of the 21st century.
The campus is located in Northern California, 90 minutes from the state capital, Sacramento, and a three-hour drive from the San Francisco Bay Area. Chico offers year-round natural beauty, outdoor leisure activities, and a thriving arts, music, and events scene. We acknowledge and are mindful that Chico State stands on lands that were originally occupied by the first people of this area, the Mechoopda, and we recognize their distinctive spiritual relationship with this land, the flora, the fauna, and the waters that run through campus. We are humbled that our campus resides upon sacred lands that since time immemorial have sustained the Mechoopda people and continue to do so today.
