Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Earth, Environment, and Society

OVERVIEW

The Department of Earth, Environment, and Society in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of St. Thomas invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography, Geographic Information Science (GIS), or a closely related field, beginning Fall 2027.

We seek an interdisciplinary environmental scholar who applies geospatial analysis — including Geographic Information Science (GIS), remote sensing, spatial modeling, and/or environmental informatics visualization— to understand and address environmental challenges across human and natural systems. We seek candidates who are committed to exemplifying the teacher-scholar model and whose scholarship engages issues such as environmental change, sustainability, ecosystem resilience, climate adaptation, environmental justice, water or land systems, urban or regional sustainability, socioecological systems, conservation science, or other environmental problems at local to global scales. We are especially interested in candidates who can contribute to our growing programs in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography, and GIS while helping students develop practical and analytical skills applicable to contemporary environmental problem-solving. The individual will also show interest in Common Good Community-Engaged courses to integrate community engagement in the curriculum. 

The ideal candidate will be able to teach introductory and advanced GIS and geospatial analysis courses, along with courses serving broader environmental curricula. Possible teaching responsibilities may include introductory/advanced GIS, remote sensing, environmental problem-solving, environmental science, environmental studies, sustainability, and upper-level courses in the candidate’s area of expertise. The standard teaching load is six, four-credit courses per year; faculty with active research labs at St. Thomas currently receive a research reallocation of one course per semester to mentor undergraduate student researchers.

In addition to teaching and advising, the successful candidate will be expected to:

• maintain an active research agenda involving undergraduate collaborators and incorporating inclusive research practices;
• contribute to interdisciplinary initiatives across the department and university;
• participate in service to the department, university, and broader community, including cultivating and maintaining external partnerships; and
• support the University’s mission of educating students to think critically, act wisely, and advance the common good.

About the Department of Earth, Environment, and Society

The Department of Earth, Environment, and Society is an interdisciplinary department with programs in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography, GIS, Geology, and Sustainability. Faculty and students (approximately 80 majors) are located in O'Shaughnessy Science Hall and the new Schoenecker Center, the University’s interdisciplinary STEAM facility designed to support collaborative teaching and research across the sciences and humanities. The Department has excellent research and teaching laboratories, including new analytical instruments and a new GIS computer classroom. Learn more about the Department of Earth, Environment, and Society at the following website: Earth, Environment, and Society.

About the University of St. Thomas

The University of St. Thomas is a dynamic, mission-driven, urban university. Located in a residential neighborhood with easy access to two downtown metropolitan centers, we are Minnesota’s largest private university with eight schools and colleges, 150+ undergraduate majors/minors, and 55 graduate programs. Learn more about life as a faculty member at St. Thomas.

The University of St. Thomas embraces belonging and equal opportunity for all. Our convictions of dignity, diversity and personal attention call us to embody and champion an inclusive environment.  The University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer (EEO).  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, or other protected characteristic.  This commitment to inclusion and equal opportunity is consistent with our mission: Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, the University of St. Thomas educates students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely, and work skillfully to advance the common good.  The successful candidate will possess a commitment to the ideals of this mission. Learn more about the University of St. Thomas mission and convictions at the Office for Mission website.

Salary & Benefits

The University of St. Thomas offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits program, which includes:

• Tuition remission benefits for employees, spouses, and dependents upon eligibility
• A generous employer retirement contribution upon eligibility
• Medical, dental, and vision options
• Employer-paid disability, life, and AD&D benefits
• Paid parental leave benefits

Salary range for this position is $68,000 - $74,000.

The University of St. Thomas has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The specific salary offered will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications

A PhD (U.S. or Foreign Equivalent) in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography, Geology, Sustainability, Natural Resources or related field, or alternatively, ABD candidates nearing completion will also be considered, with an initial appointment made at the rank of instructor.

How to Apply

To be considered for this opportunity, all applicants must apply online at https://www.stthomas.edu/jobs/. 

The application process consists of several required steps, completed in the order outlined below.

Step 1.

You will first be asked to create an applicant profile. As part of creating your profile, you must upload the following materials: 

• A curriculum vitae (CV)
• A 2-page statement of teaching philosophy that includes a discussion of
  • courses the applicant would be interested in teaching in our current curriculum,
  • courses that enhance our current offerings, and
  • the potential for inclusive classroom practices to support students from varied backgrounds and with varied interests
• A 2-page statement of short- and long-term research goals that includes a discussion of
  • how the applicant will involve and mentor undergraduate collaborators in their research,
  • establishing a vibrant, high-quality and inclusive research program at a well-equipped undergraduate institution that has the potential to be competitive for external funding
• Two pieces of evidence demonstrating teaching effectiveness, which may include student reports on instruction, peer evaluations, and/or other types of teaching assessment

Please upload only the documents specifically requested in the job posting at this stage. Do not upload any additional materials into other available fields. Candidates selected for further review may be contacted later to submit additional materials.

Step 2.

After submitting your applicant profile, you will be directed to the job‑specific application. During this step, you will be asked to:

• Copy and paste a job‑specific letter of application (cover letter) that
  • describes the applicant’s interest in the position,
  • discusses opportunities for efforts to work with community partners, engage in applied projects, and broaden participation in environmental and sustainability work, and
  • relates the applicant’s professional qualifications to the expectations of the position
• Complete the voluntary EEO, Veteran, and Disability self‑identification forms 

Step 3.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide contact information for three professional references who can speak directly to your teaching experience and qualifications.

• References will not be contacted without candidate permission
• Candidates who advance in the search will be asked to submit three letters of recommendation

Questions regarding the position should be sent to the search committee chair, Dr. Susan Caplow ([email protected] ).  Review of applications will begin on December 1st, 2026. To be guaranteed full consideration, completed applications should be submitted by that date.  This position will remain open until filled.