Professor Jobs at University of California Merced with Visa Sponsorship
Professor jobs at University of California Merced span engineering and natural sciences to humanities and social sciences across multiple disciplines. The university has a track record of supporting international faculty through the full sponsorship process, including H-1B visa petitions and permanent residence pathways for qualifying academic roles.
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The Department of Anthropology and Heritage Studies invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position in sociocultural anthropology at the rank of Assistant Professor. We seek a candidate with a research specialization in cultural approaches to health, sustainability, and/or food systems and commitment to developing and implementing a community-engaged research agenda in California’s Central Valley and its surroundings, while also maintaining a comparative transnational/global perspective. We specifically seek an applicant who will contribute to our department’s Anthropology program as well as Community Research and Service course offerings and program development. This is a full-time, permanent, tenure-track position.
Key responsibilities for this position include:
- Working with current faculty and staff to expand Community Research and Service programming and teaching
- Teaching introductory and upper-division undergraduate courses. Core courses taught by sociocultural faculty are Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology and Ethnographic Methods. Elective courses may include topics related to community-engaged research, food and health, migration, globalization, and sustainability.
- Teaching, mentoring, and advising graduate students in UC Merced’s Interdisciplinary Humanities PhD program
- Service responsibilities in the department and university commensurate with academic rank
Applications must be submitted online. Completed applications must be received no later than November 20, 2026, in order to be considered. Interested applicants are required to submit 1) a cover letter; 2) curriculum vitae; 3) statement of research; 4) statement of teaching; 5) two writing samples; and 6) a list of three references with contact information including mailing address, phone number and e-mail address.
Basic qualifications
In order to be considered, candidates must have a PhD in Anthropology or a closely related field by the position start date.
Preferred qualifications
The ideal candidate will study issues of direct relevance to communities in the Merced area which may include health, nutrition, and sustainability in contexts of migration, transnationalism, and socio-economic disparities. Candidates who bring a comparative global perspective to these local issues will be considered. We seek a candidate with a strong record of publication and demonstrable interest in obtaining extramural funding who will establish and maintain strong research programs. Strong applicants will be able to demonstrate effectiveness in teaching at the undergraduate level, as well as potential to engage undergraduate and graduate students in research. We expect this candidate to contribute to teaching Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology, ethnographic methods, and elective courses in Anthropology as well as Community Research and Service. We also seek an individual with strong organizational and interpersonal skills necessary for building up UCM’s Community Research and Service program.
Document requirements
- Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
- Cover Letter
- Statement of Research
- Authorization to Release Information Form - As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.
"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
Required Authorization of Information Release may be found at the linked page. Please complete, sign, and upload the required Authorization of Information Release to your application.
- Statement of Teaching
- Writing Sample #2
- Writing Sample #1
Reference requirements
- 3 letters of reference required
Please enter the names and contact information for three references to provide letters of recommendation.
Help contact: akhamo@ucmerced.edu
About UC Merced
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.
“Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
Please complete, sign, and upload the required Authorization of Information Release to your application: Required Authorization of Information Release Form.
Additional links: UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy, the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy, and APM 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment.
The University of California, Merced, is the newest of the University of California system’s 10 campuses. Ranked as one of the best public universities in the nation by U.S. News and World Report and recently designated as an R1 institution by Carnegie, UC Merced is committed to innovation and excellence in research. With over 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students (Center of Institutional Effectiveness), UC Merced provides outstanding, inclusive educational opportunities to highly qualified students from the heart of California, the nation, and abroad. The campus has special connections to nearby Yosemite National Park; is on the cutting edge of sustainability in construction and design; and supports the economic development of Central California.
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements. This includes the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs.
Job location
Merced, CA
Tips for Finding Professor Jobs at University of California Merced
Align your credentials to UC Merced's tenure expectations
UC Merced evaluates candidates on research output, teaching fit, and disciplinary need. Before applying, confirm your degree is in a field directly matching the posted position, as specialty occupation determinations for H-1B petitions hinge on that alignment.
Target departments with active federal research funding
Departments running NSF, NIH, or DOE-funded projects are more likely to move quickly on faculty hires and absorb sponsorship costs. Review UC Merced's faculty research pages to identify which schools are actively expanding their research footprints.
Request a faculty offer letter that confirms sponsorship intent
Before signing anything, confirm the offer letter explicitly states UC Merced will file the H-1B petition and cover associated filing fees. Some campus units handle this centrally through the International Scholar Services office, while others delegate to departmental coordinators.
Understand the PERM timeline if a Green Card is your goal
EB-2 or EB-3 PERM filings require a lengthy DOL-supervised recruitment process. For Professor roles, the outstanding researcher exemption under EB-1B can skip PERM entirely if you have at least three years of research or teaching experience and documented international recognition.
Use Migrate Mate to identify open Professor roles at UC Merced
Filter by visa sponsorship type to surface Professor openings where H-1B or permanent residence sponsorship is confirmed. This saves time compared to manually scanning the UC Merced HR portal for sponsorship details buried in position descriptions.
Plan your H-1B start date around the academic hiring calendar
UC Merced faculty searches typically conclude in spring for fall appointments. If you're cap-subject, the October 1 H-1B start date aligns well with a fall semester, but your employer must submit the petition during the April filing window months earlier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does University of California Merced sponsor H-1B visas for Professors?
Yes, UC Merced sponsors H-1B visas for Professor roles. The university's International Scholar Services office manages the petition process on behalf of the hiring department. Faculty positions typically qualify as specialty occupations because they require a doctoral degree in a specific academic discipline, which satisfies the core H-1B eligibility requirement.
How do I apply for Professor jobs at University of California Merced?
Applications are submitted through UC Merced's academic recruitment system, AP Recruit. Positions require a cover letter, curriculum vitae, research and teaching statements, and contact information for references. Shortlisted candidates typically go through a multi-round process including a job talk and meetings with faculty and deans. You can also browse open roles with confirmed visa sponsorship on Migrate Mate.
Which visa types are commonly used for Professor roles at University of California Merced?
H-1B is the most common nonimmigrant visa for incoming faculty. The TN visa is an option for Canadian and Mexican nationals in qualifying academic disciplines. F-1 OPT and CPT can cover postdoctoral or research-adjacent appointments that precede a faculty role. For permanent residence, UC Merced typically pursues EB-2 National Interest Waiver or EB-1B outstanding researcher petitions for tenured and tenure-track faculty.
What qualifications are expected for Professor positions at UC Merced?
Tenure-track Professor roles require a completed doctoral degree in the relevant field, a demonstrable research agenda with peer-reviewed publications, and evidence of or potential for external funding. Teaching experience at the university level is expected. Lecturer and teaching-focused positions may require a terminal degree plus classroom experience but place less emphasis on independent research output.
How long does the H-1B sponsorship process take for a UC Merced faculty hire?
Standard H-1B processing through USCIS takes four to six months from petition filing to approval. For new faculty starting in the fall semester, UC Merced's International Scholar Services typically needs to begin the process by late winter to meet the October 1 start date. Premium processing, which USCIS adjudicates within 15 business days, is available if the timeline is tight.