AssistantAssociate Professor, Bringing Research & Innovation into the Debate on Guns in Society (BRIDGS Initiative)

The Initiative to Bring Research & Innovation into the Debate on Guns in Society (BRIDGS Initiative) housed in the T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics (SSFD) at Arizona State University (ASU) invites applications for an Assistant or Associate Professor. This full-time benefits-eligible academic-year (9-month) faculty position will begin in August will consider any candidate eligible for appointment as a tenure-track assistant or associate professor in August 2026 (e.g. current ABDs recently completed Ph.D. postdoctoral scholars current assistant or associate professors). This position is part of a cluster hire for the BRIDGS Initiative in SSFD with potential for a joint appointment; the successful candidate will be invited to join one or more units within ASU.

Applications are encouraged from scholars across social science (broadly defined) with research expertise on guns which may include but is not limited to the culture and politics of armed self-defense; gun violence; cultural representations of guns; guns and social stratification; gun markets the gun industry and gun trade; social movement mobilization surrounding gun rights and/or gun control; comparative/transnational approaches to guns in society including the relationship between migration and guns; the intersection of guns conservation and the environment; and related topics grounded in social science approaches. Preference will be given to applicants whose research is oriented toward bridging divides within the gun debate unearthing new opportunities for conversation and (re)framing the terms of the gun debate in ways that serve the interests of the broader public especially in that this is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in developing infrastructure uniquely focused on social science approaches to guns in a state with a dynamic and trend-setting terrain with respect to guns in society.

Inquiries can be directed to Dr. Jennifer Carlson at

About the BRIDGS Initiative

The BRIDGS Initiative is a new initiative at ASU that engages the topic of guns in society by drawing on the methodological and analytical expertise in the social sciences and adjacent disciplinary and interdisciplinary spaces. The BRIDGS mission includes building data infrastructure necessary for more productive civic engagement surrounding guns in society; engaging underappreciated voices across the gun debate; and building scholarly community within the area of gun studies including mentorship opportunities for scholars at all career stages. Key BRIDGS activities include the Guns Unpacked podcast the BRIDGS Emergent Scholar Fellowship the Annual Symposium as well as the American Gun Experience a longitudinal qualitative study of gun attitudes in the US. Drawing on ASUs charter of inclusivity public values and community impact BRIDGS imagines a different kind of space for the gun debateone that brings rigorous and thoughtful data and evidenceto understand where we are in the gun debate and where we might go next. See for more details.

About The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of Arizona State University committed to improving communities on a local national and global scale. We support the professional development and growth of our faculty and staff in their cutting-edge research to advance these aims. Within The College our faculty engage with a large multicultural and curious student body guiding them as they grow into socially aware critical thinkers and writers able to succeed in a wide range of careers and to address the challenges of the twenty-first century. Advancing the success of our students remains our top priority. To learn more about The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences please visit .

About Arizona State University

ASU exemplifies a new prototype for the American public research university. As articulated in the ASU Charter ASU is a comprehensive public research university measured not by whom it excludes but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic social cultural and overall health of the communities it serves.

Essential Functions

• Maintain and strengthen a record of scholarly productivity as demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications and/or books external funding presentations at national conferences and other translational scholarly activities
• Teach undergraduate graduate and doctoral courses in person online and hybrid and contribute to the BRIDGS Guns Studies Certificate (in development)
• Advise and mentor students.
• Support BRIDGS programming and activities
• Provide service contributions to the school college university and profession

Required Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in a social-scientific or related field (e.g. sociology criminology political science anthropology economics communications geography history empirical legal studies public health and other related fields) by time of appointment.
• Strong evidence of a novel research agenda and demonstrated potential for excellence in research teaching and service commensurate with rank.
• Potential or demonstrated excellence in teaching and mentoring at the undergraduate or graduate level commensurate with rank.

Desired Qualifications

• Potential or demonstrated excellence in developing a nationally recognized research profile in gun scholarship commensurate with rank.
• Potential or demonstrated excellence in conducting research that will contribute to and enhance the national and international reputation of the BRIDGS Initiative commensurate with rank.
• Potential or demonstrated ability to secure external funding to support research commensurate with rank.
• Demonstrated commitment to working with faculty staff students and communities to advance the principles of the ASU Charter.