Job Description (Assistant Professor):
The Department of Earth, Environmental, & Atmospheric Sciences (EEAS) at Western Kentucky University is seeking highly qualified applicants for a 9-month tenure-track Assistant Professor of Environmental & Geospatial Sciences position beginning August 2023.
The successful candidate is expected to contribute toward teaching and research in support of the B.S. degree in Environmental, Sustainability, and Geographic Studies (ESGS), M.S. in Geoscience, and undergraduate certificate program in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The desired candidate’s area of specialization in the environmental sciences is open. However, preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate an added dimension to existing expertise that helps expand the mission and goals of the department and programs. Expertise for this position may include but not be limited to natural resource management and technical assessment, renewable energies, remote sensing, sustainability science, brownfield restoration, green development and environmental planning, applied statistics, artificial intelligence, and environmental technologies. In short, the candidate is expected to contribute to the Department’s growing applied environmental and sustainability focus areas, integrating innovation through the use of GIS, statistics, modeling, or other pedagogical and research skills to expand the current growth trajectory.
The WKU Environmental, Sustainability, and Geographic Studies program (ESGS) is centered on innovative applied learning and research, with a strong reputation for excellence and robust student success. The ESGS program is experiencing a period of rapid growth in majors; with over 80 declared undergraduate majors at present, and program faculty contribute to the foundational coursework across many of EEAS programs. There is a diverse group of majors in EEAS (geological sciences, meteorology, and environment, sustainability, and geographic studies) and students outside of EEAS that complete the GIS undergraduate certificate. Additionally, EEAS has a growing interdisciplinary graduate program that broadly encompasses the Geosciences, with an emphasis on applied research. The Geosciences MS also recruits from the Department’s other programs through the JUMP (Joint Undergraduate Master Program), wherein exceptional students can complete both the undergraduate and graduate degrees within five years. The successful candidate will build upon the successes of these programs and expand existing curriculum to prepare students for jobs and research sectors of the future.
EEAS maintains modern research facilities, outfitted with industry-standard hardware and software technologies in multiple research centers. Through these collective centers, the ESGS program has cultivated a number of contemporary initiatives and services that support multi-disciplinary collaborations across the university and its community and industry partners.
EEAS Center for Human GeoEnvironmental Studies (CHNGES) serves as an applied research and student engagement center and is founded in the environmental geosciences with its focus at the nexus of water, sustainability, climate, and human-environmental interactions. CHNGES houses multiple labs, including, HydroAnalytical, a commercial water quality analysis lab, and an environmental education/eye-tracking studio. Through the center, students work on grant-funded and contracted work for the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Environmental Protection, US Department of Agriculture, and local and international governmental agencies and private industries, among others.
The Crawford Hydrology Laboratory (CHL) is a nationally leading laboratory for groundwater flow investigations with an emphasis on, karst landscapes and aquifer systems. Originally established in 1979, the center provides a range of technical, field, and laboratory services to a diverse, national and international clientele, including federal, state and local agencies, environmental consulting firms, and other academic institutions. CHL faculty and staff maintain close connections with Mammoth Cave National Park and serve on the board of the UNESCO Mammoth Cave Area Biosphere Reserve.
The Kentucky Climate Center and Kentucky Mesonet infrastructure, housed in EEAS, offers state wide environmental monitoring for weather and climate data. The Kentucky Climate Center maintains active affiliations with the National Centers for Environmental Information, the National Weather Service, the Midwestern Regional Climate Center, and other non-federal organizations, and is actively engaged with the Midwest Drought Early Warning System. The EEAS Center for GIS offers student training in GIS and provides geospatial services to support EEAS programs, ARTP centers, and WKU needs, along with community-based GIS projects.
Requirements:
- Earned Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography, Geographic Information Science, or a closely related field.
- Must demonstrate a commitment to excellence in teaching and research at the undergraduate and master’s levels.
- Will be expected to develop a strong externally funded research program to support student success.
- Must demonstrate excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
Additional Information:
Kentucky state law requires all public institutions of postsecondary education to conduct pre-employment criminal background checks to determine suitability for employment.
Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to a policy and practice of providing equal employment and educational opportunities to all individuals. In accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Revised 1992, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, no form of discrimination or harassment will be tolerated at WKU on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, age, uniformed services, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, or physical or mental disability in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities, or employment practices.
Persons with disabilities, who need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application and/or selection process, should notify the office of Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action/University ADA Services (EEO). To request an accommodation, report/express a complaint, or ask questions regarding WKU”s Discrimination and Harassment Policy (#0.2040), please contact Mr. Joshua Hayes, EEO Director/Title IX Investigator/University ADA Coordinator, via email at [email protected] or by phone at (270) 745-5121.
The University is also required to investigate complaints of sex and gender-based harassment, also a form of discrimination, and has designated the Title IX Coordinator as the individual responsible for coordinating the investigation and response to such complaints. The Title IX Coordinator for the University is Ms. Ena Demir, who can be contacted via email at [email protected] or by phone at (270) 745-6867. Additional information regarding Title IX is accessible via WKU’s https://www.wku.edu/titleix/ website.
Information concerning educational programs offered by WKU are provided at: http://www.wku.edu/atwku/academics.php
Application Instructions:
The following items must be submitted through this electronic talent management system by January 2, 2023, although expressions of interest may be considered until the position is filled.
- Succinct cover letter that describes how the applicant is suitable for the position, particularly as it relates to qualifications, experience, and vision/strategy
- Current Curriculum Vita
- Unofficial transcripts
- Pedagogical statement of teaching experience and approach (no more than two pages)
- Statement of research expertise and trajectory (no more than two pages)
- Statement of service, addressing the applicant’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (no more than two pages)
Names and contact information of three reference providers. (The Search Committee, through an online process, may request reference letters later).
You will receive email confirmation once you have successfully completed the application process.
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| Job Category | Environmental Science, Geo-informatics, Geography, RS and GIS |