Assistant Professor of Water - Earth and Environmental Sciences

Overview

The Department of Water, Earth, and Environmental Sciences (WEES) at Utah State University invites applications for a tenure-track, academic year (9-month) Assistant Professor, anticipated to start August 2027. This is a teaching-focused position for a scientist who is passionate about engaging students through instruction and mentorship in the water, Earth and environmental sciences and developing courses that inspire curiosity and strengthen decision making within these societally important fields. Our approach intends to build evidence and demonstrate how courses in this subject matter, and the degrees they lead to, provide students an opportunity for a meaningful, high impact career.

Applications should be submitted by December 15 for full consideration; job will stay open until filled.

USU is undertaking a substantial redesign of its general education curriculum, led by the Center for Civic Excellence (https://www.usu.edu/civic-excellence/). This new curriculum includes science courses to strengthen student capacity for rigorous inquiry, respectful dialogue, and provide diverse perspectives. Students should be able to connect what they learn to real-world problems. WEES intends to help lead this transition.

Few disciplines are better matched to meet that charge than ours. Utah's most consequential problems are linked to water, Earth, and environment questions: how a growing population along the Wasatch Front prepares for the earthquakes along its active faults, how a drying region manages and allocates its limited water resources, how land and resource decisions play out across human and geologic timescales.

Responsibilities

This 9-month tenure-track position involves teaching (60%), research (30%), and service (10%). The successful candidate will:

• Design and teach outstanding general education courses in Breadth Physical Sciences within the Civics Center and University Studies Depth Science programs;
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses related to their expertise in Earth Sciences, Environmental Systems, and Hydrology and Water Resources within WEES;
• Closely collaborate with the Civic Center to help shape the physical-science curriculum and develop assessment practices within the Center and WEES Department;
• Play a central role in growing our undergraduate programs through sustained recruitment efforts;
• Help build the evidence base for the value of WEES degrees: how students find us, how they progress and complete, our retention approaches, our mentoring and experiential learning opportunities, and where our students go afterward, the record that lets the department, the college, and the university make the case for these programs;
• Build a productive scholarly enterprise that integrates teaching and research programs;
• Have opportunities to mentor undergraduate researchers and graduate students.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• By the start date, candidates must have a Ph.D. in the Earth, hydrological, environmental sciences, or a closely related field.
• Evidence of established or emerging teaching experience at the collegiate level.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Postdoctoral research or teaching experience
• Experience with undergraduate course development and assessment
• Experience with research in education or within your field of expertise
• Evidence of thoughtful engagement with generative AI in science teaching,
• Evidence of interest in shaping and expanding academic programs

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

Curriculum Vitae to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”

Three professional references with contact information to be typed at the beginning of the application 

Please upload the following documents at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”

Cover letter summarizing your motivation, qualifications, experience, and vision of the role.

Teaching Statement (up to three pages) outlining your approach to teaching and mentoring, description of courses you have taught, courses you are interested in teaching or developing, describe how you would contribute to the Civics Center and WEES curriculum.

Research Statement (two pages) describing your research, linkages to education, how it complements the existing WEES programs and opportunities for collaboration at USU.

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

Commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefits

ADA

Employees typically work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  

College/Department Highlights

WEES brings together broad strengths in hydrology and watershed science, earthquake science and geohazards, geomorphology and surface processes, geology and geophysics, sedimentary geology and paleontology, isotope and biogeochemistry, paleoclimate and environmental science. Our faculty have ready access to field settings such as the Great Salt Lake, Wasatch fault, Colorado River basin, and Colorado Plateau, opportunities few departments can match. The successful candidate will join colleagues who take undergraduate teaching seriously and will have a defining role in how USU students encounter the water, Earth, and environmental sciences.

University Highlights

As Utah’s student-centered, land-grant research university, Utah State University expands opportunity and strengthens communities across the state through learning, discovery, extension, and engagement. Founded in 1888, USU now holds two Carnegie distinctions: R1 status for very high research activity and the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Its innovative research and scholarship is grounded in reciprocal partnerships with local, regional, and global communities, advancing knowledge and serving the public good across Utah, the nation, and the world. With over 50 world-class research facilities and the nation’s second-oldest undergraduate research program, USU prepares students to become active, civically engaged leaders who can address critical societal challenges.

USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level in 16 sports, USU is a proud member of the Pac-12 Conference, which it joined July 1, 2026. The Aggies capped a historic final season in the Mountain West by capturing nine combined regular-season and tournament titles in 2025-26, with five teams advancing to postseason play. This tradition of excellence extends to the classroom, where 232 student-athletes earned academic honors, and to the community, where USU ranked second nationally in Division I service hours, with nine teams placing in the top 10 for community service.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when it named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU.

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at 435-797-0122 or [email protected].

*updated 10/26

Notice of Non-discrimination

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University does not discriminate in its housing offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, national origin, source of income, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Additionally, the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities.

In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

The following office has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Civil Rights & Title IX Office

Old Main Room 405

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan UT 84322

[email protected]

(435) 797-1266

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

303-844-5695| [email protected]

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

800-421-3481 |  [email protected]

*updated 08/2026