Department/Organization
204431 - Geography
Rank
Assistant Professor
Position Summary
The Department of Geography & the Environment at the University of Alabama seeks an assistant professor (9-month, tenure track) broadly trained in Environmental Science, Earth Science, or Physical Geography.
Detailed Position Information
The Department of Geography & the Environment at the University of Alabama seeks an assistant professor (9-month, tenure track) broadly trained in Environmental Science, Earth Science, or Physical Geography. The successful candidate will be expected to teach Introduction to Environmental Science (a large enrollment, natural lab science credit course) and develop courses in atmospheric, landscape, forest, and/or river systems designed to engage undergraduates in our Environmental Science and Geography degree programs through experiential-based learning. A Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Earth Science, Physical Geography, or a closely related field is required at the time of appointment.
Potential areas of expertise may include landscape ecology, soil, biogeography, geomorphology, conservation, biodiversity, natural resources, environmental pollution, climatology, water resources, and/or physical hydrology. While the position is open to a wide range of specialties, some integration of human-environmental interactions is preferred. Successful candidates will be expected to develop an externally funded research program that is nationally and internationally regarded within their area of expertise, while delivering high-quality, engaged teaching.
About the Department of Geography & the Environment (GYE): Through the efforts of 28 total faculty members, the GYE Department offers undergraduate degrees in Environmental Science (BS), Geography (BA/BS), and graduate degrees in Geography (MS and PhD). Currently, there are ~200 undergraduate majors, and ~60 graduate students. Ranked in the top15 Geography programs for research production by Academic Analytics, faculty research centers on three areas: Earth Systems and Environmental Science, Environment and Society, and Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing. The GYE Department is housed in two buildings (Bevill Energy Building and the Shelby Interdisciplinary Sciences Building), and these spaces include several wet labs and computational labs, as well as newly renovated offices and meeting spaces.
The Department of Geography and the Environment sits within the Barefield College of Arts & Sciences (BCAS). Eighty percent of the University of Alabama’s core curriculum is offered through BCAS. The College also houses several educational and research resources, including the Alabama Museum of Natural History and Moundville Archeological Park, the University of Alabama’s Arboretum, the J. Nicholene Bishop Biological Station, and the Center for Freshwater Studies, which offers aquatic chemistry services. BCAS supports faculty professional development through sabbaticals and pre-tenure leaves, as well.
UA is home to the Alabama Water Institute (AWI), which serves as a hub of water-focused research and education, for federal agencies co-located on the UA campus, including the NOAA National Water Center and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility, as well as being the home of the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH), the Global Water Security Center, and CONSERVE. Numerous members of the Department of Geography and the Environment are affiliates of the Alabama Water Institute and conduct CIROH-funded research in continental to watershed scale hydrologic modeling, non-contact water observation, geospatial analyses, and social dimensions of water hazards. Three of the AWI’s key educational programs, the Water Prediction Innovators Summer Institute, the USGS FLOW Academy, and the NSF-funded National Science Traineeship Program: Water R2O are led by faculty in the Department of Geography and the Environment. In addition to providing exceptional professional training for our students, these programs offer graduate student and postdoctoral fellow recruitment opportunities for faculty at UA.
The state of Alabama is one of the most biologically and geomorphologically diverse landscapes in North America, and it is crossed by 17 major river basins. This makes the state an incredible living laboratory, teeming with outdoor exploration opportunities to observe wildlife and nature that includes mountain foothills, large tracts of forested lands, and expansive coastline, all within short drives of the UA campus. The city of Tuscaloosa is a vibrant, college town with daily Amtrak service to New Orleans, LA and Atlanta, GA.
Minimum Qualifications
A Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Earth Science, Physical Geography, or a closely related field is required at the time of appointment.
Preferred Qualifications
Instructions and Required Materials for Application
Applicants should complete the online application at https://careers.ua.edu/jobs/search/AS . The application must include: 1. A letter of application outlining your qualifications and interest in the position. 2. A current curriculum vita. 3. A research statement. 4. A teaching statement. 5. Contact information for three professional references. Review of applications will begin November 2026, and the search will continue until the position is filled. The expected start date of the position is August 16, 2027. Questions about the position can be directed to search committee chair, Professor Lisa Davis, lisa.davis@ua.edu.
About the Division/College/School
The J. Frank Barefield Jr. College of Arts and Sciences at The University of Alabama offers an exciting and dynamic environment for faculty seeking to make an impact in their field and in the lives of the innovators and changemakers of tomorrow.
As the largest college at The University, we house over 9,000 students and 1,000 faculty and staff across our 22 departments.
With nationally recognized programs and award-winning faculty, our College has positioned itself as a leader in higher education. Our facilities and resources include state-of-the-art laboratories, research centers, and performance venues, providing students with hands-on learning experiences and opportunities for research and creative expression.
The College is committed to the liberal arts philosophy that fosters creative and critical thinking and a lifetime of learning.”
About the University
The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, named one of Travel + Leisure’s 25 Best College Towns and Cities in the U.S. As one of the nation’s premier universities, UA offers bachelor’s, master's and doctoral degrees in nearly 200 fields of study. With more than 1,400 acres of tree-lined academic core campus and over 300 state-of-the art facilities, UA has been ranked among the most beautiful and most impressive college campuses in the South, in the state of Alabama and in the nation.
In Fall 2023, the Capstone set a new enrollment record with more than 39,000 students, including more than 8,200 in the freshman class. The current enrollment includes students from every county in Alabama, every state in the nation and 92 countries around the world. More than 1,100 National Merit Scholars are currently enrolled, making UA one of the largest enrolling institutions of the scholars in the country.
UA was recently recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. students for the seventh time in nine years, as well as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the first time. UA is one of only 12 universities in the nation to receive both honors.
For reasons like this, the University made Forbes list of America’s Top Colleges for 2023 and Time magazine’s list of Top 50 Best Colleges for Future Leaders. It also made Princeton Review’s list of Top Value Colleges.
UA is also designated among the top doctoral research universities in the United States in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. One of the fastest growing major research institutions in the nation, UA saw a 21% increase in sponsored awards in the 2023 fiscal year.
Since 2015, UA has invested over $1.1 billion in the physical campus, adding more than 2.55 million gross square feet of space, over 150 new research-intensive faculty, signature research areas (e.g., “The Alabama Research Institutes”), and a growing number of partnerships with industry and with state and federal agencies.
The University employs nearly 2,100 faculty and over 4,500 staff, with 52 UA researchers included in the National Academy of Inventors. An additional 40 current faculty have received the NSF CAREER Award, the nation’s most prestigious recognition of top performing young scientists in disciplines ranging from nanoscience and engineering to biological sciences.
Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.
Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to any legally protected basis and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. More information is available in the EEOC’s Know Your Rights: Workplace (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf) discrimination is illegal poster.
The University of Alabama affirms its longstanding commitment to institutional neutrality, free speech, and academic freedom.
