Job Description

Position Details

Title Roger E. Covey Professorship in Silk Road Studies (Open Rank, Tenure Track) Appointment Status Tenure Department IU Bloomington Central Eurasian Studies Location Bloomington Position Summary

The Department of Central Eurasian Studies in the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies at Indiana University Bloomington seeks to make a tenure-track or tenured hire (open rank) to fill the Roger E. Covey Professorship in Silk Road Studies. The successful candidate will contribute to the Department’s mission in the study of Central Eurasia and play a leading role in advancing Silk Road Studies across the Hamilton Lugar School and beyond.

Applicants should have an established or emerging record of innovative research on the overland and/or maritime Silk Roads (2nd century BCE through 15th century CE) and their relevance to the contemporary world. We welcome applications from scholars whose research advances understanding of one or more aspects of the histories, societies, religions, languages, politics, diplomacy, material worlds, and interconnections of the overland and/or maritime Silk Roads. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in one or more major languages necessary to conduct original research in their area of specialization, including the use of primary sources. Proficiency in one or more languages taught in or closely affiliated with the Department is also highly desirable.

Additionally, applicants should demonstrate excellence in teaching in Silk Road-related Studies, and a commitment to public engagement and program development of Silk Road Studies within the Department as well as within the Hamilton Lugar School. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to teach classes appealing to a broad range of students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Teaching will be conducted in English.

Review of applications will begin immediately, with all applications received by September 30, 2026 being guaranteed full consideration.

The appointment begins August 1, 2027.

Required Application Materials:

Application materials must include a cover letter, curriculum vitae/resume, career statement describing research, service, teaching experiences and contact information of three academic referees, samples of published, in-press, and forthcoming research works, and previous teaching materials and course evaluations.

Applicant referees will receive an email link to submit their letters of reference directly to the search committee through the PeopleAdmin interface.

Application materials may be submitted via the PeopleAdmin applicant portal at: https://indiana.peopleadmin.com/postings/34008

Basic Qualifications

Candidates must have a PhD degree by the starting date of the appointment. Proficiency in one or more languages necessary to conduct original research in their area of specialization, including the use of primary sources (e.g., Turkic, Iranian, Central Asian, Sino-Tibetan languages) is required.

Department Contact for Questions

For questions regarding the Department of Central Eurasian Studies, please contact Ms. Jessica Smith, CEUS department manager at jsmith23@iu.edu or visit the departmental website at ceus.indiana.edu. For questions regarding the application submission process, please contact Mr. Zac Muller, Assistant Director of Faculty Relations, Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, at zmuller@iu.edu.

Additional Qualifications

Proficiency in one or more languages taught in or closely affiliated with the Department is also highly desirable.

For applicants seeking appointment with tenure:

Before a conditional offer of employment with tenure is finalized, candidates will be asked to disclose any pending investigations or previous findings of sexual or professional misconduct. They will also be required to authorize an inquiry by Indiana University Bloomington with all current and former employers along these lines. The relevance of information disclosed or ascertained in the context of this process to a candidate’s eligibility for hire will be evaluated by Indiana University Bloomington on a case-by-case basis. Applicants should be aware, however, that Indiana University Bloomington takes the matters of sexual and professional misconduct very seriously.

Salary and Rank Special Instructions

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services, and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information

For Best Consideration Date 09/30/2026 Expected Start Date 08/01/2027 Posting Number IU-101630-2026