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Full Professor, Department of Political Science

University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI · Full time

Posted Apr 10, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Walk us through your record of external funding. Which grants shaped your research, and what are you planning to pursue next?

What they are checking: Whether they can sustain the external funding that the department names as a requirement for this hire.

Tell us about a graduate student you mentored from start to placement. What did you do that made a difference?

What they are checking: Whether they invest in mentoring students, which is a key expectation at the full professor rank.

What service roles have you held in the discipline nationally or internationally, and which one had the most impact?

What they are checking: Whether they contribute to the field beyond their own research, as senior faculty are expected to.

How have you helped build a sense of belonging among students and colleagues in your past departments?

What they are checking: Whether they have actually done the community work the college asks for, not just endorsed it.

What would you do

How would your elections research connect with existing strengths in our department and across UW-Madison?

What they are checking: Whether they have looked closely at the department and see real collaborations rather than working alone.

How do you teach a large undergraduate class on elections when students arrive with strong and opposing political views?

What they are checking: Whether they can keep a classroom evidence-based and fair when the topic is politically charged.

How do you share elections research with the public, especially during a contested election cycle?

What they are checking: Whether they can speak publicly about elections with care for accuracy and the university's reputation.

About the work

Tell us about the core questions in your elections research and why they matter for American politics right now.

What they are checking: Whether their research program is distinctive and important enough to be called internationally recognized.

What data infrastructure do you rely on for elections research, and how do you handle access and data quality problems?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the practical side of running large election studies and keeping them credible.

Describe what evidence-based, student-centered teaching looks like in one of your courses.

What they are checking: Whether they can show concrete teaching practice that matches the college's stated teaching values.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at University of Wisconsin-Madison from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process. Job Category: Faculty Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Professor Job Summary: The Political Science department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks to hire a distinguished scholar whose work advances the university’s priorities in American elections research. Candidates should be at the rank of Full Professor, have an internationally recognized research program in elections and electoral politics, and have an established track record of securing external funding. Key Job Responsibilities: Successful applicants will teach graduate and undergraduate classes, mentor students, conduct scholarly research, and provide service to the department, college, university, and academic community nationally or internationally. The successful candidate will advance the educational mission of the College of Letters & Science that values, prioritizes, and actualizes evidence-based and student-centered teaching and (undergraduate student) mentoring. They will contribute to an environment that fosters engagement and a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students and members of the broader community. The successful candidate, as a member of the College of L&S, will proactively contribute to, support, and advance the college's commitment to all aspects of their teaching, mentoring, research, and service. In the College of Letters & Science, we provide a liberal arts education that is both broad and deep through excellent, empathic teaching. We hire faculty who are interested in pursuing difficult questions, making new discoveries, and making an impact in their field. We reward excellent teaching and classroom innovation, and we are committed to shared governance. Learn more about the L&S mission on our webpage: https://ls.wisc.edu/about/mission . The Department of Political Science at UW-Madison is highly rated and is a leader in its field. Our department is multidisciplinary and has a highly collaborative environment. Madison as a city is consistently ranked at the top of the best places to live in the U.S. It offers an ideal combination of natural beauty, stimulating cultural events, outstanding schools, and outdoor recreation. Department: College of Letters & Science, Department of Political Science Compensation: Negotiable Required Qualifications: Ph.D. in Political Science or related disciplines . Ph.D. required by start of appointment. Preferred Qualifications: Candidates who have the rank of Full Professor whose work advances the university’s priorities in American elections research are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates should have an internationally recognized research program in elections and electoral politics, have an established track record of securing external funding, and the ability to foster a teaching, learning, mentoring, departmental, and a research environment where all can thrive. Candidates who have the rank of Full Professor whose work advances the university’s priorities in American elections research. Candidates should have an internationally recognized research program in elections and electoral politics and have an established track record of securing external funding. Education: Ph.D. in Political Science or related disciplines . Ph.D. required by start of appointment. How to Apply: Apply online at “Jobs at UW” ( http://jobs.wisc.edu ) under Job Requisition JR10010036 . Applications must be received through UW-Madison’s online application system . Applications submitted outside the system will not be considered . To begin the application process please click on the ‘Apply Now’ button . You will be asked to create a profile and upload the following 4 documents: 1) a C.V., 2) a cover letter, 3) a research statement and a teaching statement (please upload these 2 as one document) , and 4) A list of 3 references For full consideration, all materials must be received no later than 11:59pm on May 12, 2026. Applications will be accepted until position is filled. Please note that applicants will be evaluated based upon submitted application materials and therefore should speak to and include evidence of their qualifications. Application materials must clearly demonstrate the applicant’s dedication to excellence in student-centered teaching and mentoring. Additionally, materials should showcase the applicant’s ability to purposefully plan their teaching practices, evidenced through goals, action plans, reflection, and related documentation. This portion of the application materials must be created by the applicant and may include supporting letters. It cannot be only in the form of letters and testimony by others. Contact Information: Faye Lux / Department Administrator flux@wisc.edu Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information Institutional Statement on Diversity: Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website . To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you. Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department .

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