Tenure-track Assistant Professor Position in Climate-driven Environmental Hazards

Department of Earth Science & Environmental Change

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Assistant Professor – Climate-driven Environmental Hazards

The Department of Earth Science & Environmental Change in the School of Earth, Society & Environment (SESE- https://earth.illinois.edu/) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the flagship campus of the University of Illinois System, seeks a scholar with expertise in the broad area of climate-driven environmental hazards. Possible focus areas include, but are not limited to: natural variability and climate change impacts on the water cycle including extreme events (e.g., floods and droughts); climate-driven impacts on the critical zone (e.g., soil moisture, landslides, coastal erosion, carbon and nitrogen cycles, impacts of wildfire);  cryosphere changes (ice sheet collapse, glacier loss, permafrost melt); sea level rise; paleoclimate perspectives on climate hazards; and natural variability and climate change influences on key climate modes that control natural hazards such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. This position is part of a hiring cluster on “Climate Impacts, Risk, and Inequality” within the School of Earth, Society and Environment, as well as a campus-wide interdisciplinary supercluster on the theme of “A Sustainable, Just, and Resilient Society in the Face of Environmental and Societal Change” For more information, please see: https://publish.illinois.edu/2023climatecluster/

The full-time, 9-month (academic year) tenure-track faculty appointment is at the Assistant Professor level with a target start date of August 16, 2024. Salary is competitive, commensurate with skills and experience.

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Benefits 

Living in Champaign-Urbana

The Department is committed to building and maintaining an excellent and diverse academic environment. We are dedicated to advancing inclusion and diversity through our teaching, research, and service. Qualified applications will be considered regardless of age, race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Responsibilities in Research and Teaching:  The successful candidate will establish and maintain an externally funded and independent research program in the area of climate-driven environmental hazards. The successful candidate will be expected to teach at least two courses annually within the Geology curriculum at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Synergy with Campus Excellence Themes and Strengths:  The successful candidate will benefit from existing strengths within the Department in surface environments and landscape research, tectonics, geophysics, geodynamics, geochemistry, and paleoclimate. Strengths in SESE include CyberGIS & Geography, and Atmospheric Sciences climate research. Strengths across campus include the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, data science programs in Computer Science and Electrical & Computer Engineering, and Civil and Environmental Engineering. Excellent opportunities also exist for collaborations with the United States Geological Survey and Illinois State Geological Survey.

Qualifications: Ph.D. or equivalent international degree in the Earth Sciences or a related field by mid-June 2024 for a preferred start date of Aug 16, 2024. Applicants must show evidence of a promising research agenda and commitment to undergraduate and graduate teaching effectiveness.

Candidates whose PhD may be delayed but will complete all the Ph.D. requirements within the first appointment year may be appointed at the rank of Instructor. After the Ph.D. requirement is met, the appointment will be changed to Assistant Professor.

Application Process

To apply, create your candidate profile through https://jobs.illinois.edu and submit application materials by Oct. 6, 2023. Applicants must submit the following:

·       letter of application,

·       curriculum vitae,

·       contact information for three professional references,

·       three statements of no more than two pages each:

1) statement of teaching interest and philosophy,

2) statement of research interests, and

3) statement detailing how their teaching, service and/or scholarship has contributed to the success of all students, including those from racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds that are underrepresented in their academic field. Applicants who have not yet had the opportunity for such experience should note how their work will further Illinois’ and the College of LAS’ commitment to Inclusive Excellence and the success of all students.

We ask that all documents be uploaded in a single .pdf file as an upload in the “Resume/CV” section. Letters of recommendation may be requested electronically from referees at a later date. Only applications submitted through the University of Illinois Job Board will be considered. 

Questions about the position can be directed to search committee chair Prof. Jessica Conroy- jconro@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

The University of Illinois must also comply with applicable federal export control laws and regulations and, as such, reserves the right to employ restricted party screening procedures for applicants.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, COVID-19 vaccination requirement, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.

Requisition ID: 1019083
Job Category: Faculty
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu