The Department of Religious Studies at The University of Texas at Austin seeks a Professor or advanced Associate Professor in the study of religion to fill the Ronald Nelson Smith Chair in Classics and Christian Origins. The Ronald Nelson Smith endowment supports research and teaching in the area of Antiquity and Christian Origins and in broader areas of Biblical Studies, history, and archaeology, in affiliation with the Institute for the Study of Antiquity & Christian Origins. We are interested in scholars who study early Christianity in the context of ancient Mediterranean religions in the Roman imperial period and/or Late Antiquity, and whose theoretical, methodological, or interdisciplinary approaches will contribute to the mission and intellectual life of the Department of Religious Studies.

The successful candidate will have a distinguished record of research and publication, a dedication to graduate and undergraduate teaching and mentorship, a commitment to service to the department, college, and university levels and a willingness to contribute to the continued development of a vibrant and collaborative department. A Ph.D. or the equivalent is required. A hire at the full Professor level will be named as a holder of the Smith Chair; an advanced Associate Professor hire would be named a fellow. The position is subject to budget availability.