Assistant Professor in Geographic Information Science
Department of Geography, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
The Department of Geography at Virginia Tech is seeking applicants for a tenure-track position in Geographic Information Science at the Assistant Professor level. The department values diversity and continually strives to maintain and promote an inclusive learning and research environment that embraces all students, faculty, and staff. We encourage applications from persons identifying with populations currently underrepresented in geography, including but not limited to Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, people of color, and underrepresented genders.
We seek a geographically-trained candidate specializing in the theory and application of Geographic Information Science (GIS) to complement existing departmental strengths in geospatial science. We are considering applications in all areas of GIS. However, preference will be given to candidates who can strengthen our teaching and research portfolio within one or more of the following areas: spatio-temporal modeling and/or simulation, geospatial data science, GeoAI, Cyber GIS, machine learning, and geographic quantitative methods. Applications from individuals engaged in interdisciplinary and applied research that would contribute to existing department strengths in atmospheric science, environmental geography, biogeography, hazards, human-environment interactions, land change science, water, and/or coastal geography are strongly encouraged.
This is a full-time, tenure-track, 9-month appointment with primary responsibilities in teaching, research, and service. The successful individual will teach undergraduate and graduate courses in GIS and supervise graduate students in our M.S. program and our college’s interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Geospatial and Environmental Analysis. Participation in departmental, college, and university affairs and collaboration with faculty both within and across the university is strongly encouraged and expected. Information concerning the department, college, and university can be found at geography.vt.edu, cnre.vt.edu, and vt.edu. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to engage in transdisciplinary research, curriculum and outreach initiatives with other university faculty working on Destination Area related projects: https://www.provost.vt.edu/destination_areas.html
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Geography, Geospatial Science, or in a closely related discipline from an accredited university by the time of appointment (August 2024).
- Demonstrated ability and interest in developing and teaching courses in GIS and the candidate’s specific area of expertise.
- Demonstrated ability and desire to advance the discipline through impactful, peer-reviewed publications.
- Demonstrated potential to attract research funding adequate to support an active research program, including graduate students.
- Demonstrated commitment to the principles and practices of nurturing a diverse and inclusive community.
Preferred Qualifications
- Ability and willingness to teach courses related to geospatial programming, geovisualization, and/or terrain analysis.
- Demonstrated teaching effectiveness at the university level.
- Research expertise that complements existing program strengths.
- Record of attracting research funding to support an active research program.
- Demonstrated record of research and/or teaching addressing needs of under represented communities.
- Experience developing or working in interdisciplinary research teams.
Recognizing the critical importance of diverse teams, Virginia Tech is working to diversify its faculty by actively recruiting from groups that historically have been marginalized. Virginia Tech is a public land‐grant university, committed to teaching and learning, research, and outreach within the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world. Building on its motto of Ut Prosim (that I may serve), the University is dedicated to serving in the spirit of community, diversity, and excellence – InclusiveVT. We seek candidates who adopt and practice efforts to increase access and inclusion to create a community that nurtures learning and growth for all.
Interested persons must apply at https://jobs.vt.edu posting# 527341, where they will submit (1) a cover letter, (2) a current curriculum vitae, (3) a two-page research statement, (4) a two-page teaching statement, (5) a one-page statement describing candidates’ commitments to promoting diversity and working in a multicultural environment, (6) teaching evaluations or other evidence of teaching effectiveness (if available), and (7) contact information for three references.
Review of applications will begin November 1, 2023 and continue until the position is filled. Inquiries can be made to Dr. Yang Shao, Search Committee Chair, Department of Geography, 217 Wallace Hall, Blacksburg, VA 20061. Email:yshao@vt.edu. Phone: (540) 231-1867.
