Assistant/Associate Professor of Critical Mineral Geology

The University of Texas at Arlington Portal•Arlington, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences in the College of Science, at the University of Texas at Arlington, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Critical Mineral Geology. We will also consider exceptional candidates at the rank of Associate Professor. While candidates from all sub-disciplines of geoscience are encouraged to apply, we are particularly interested in individuals with expertise in understanding the formation mechanisms as well as the petrological and geochemical attributes of sustainable critical mineral resources. Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to teach advanced field-based geology and establish an active research program in petrologic, geochemical, and mineralogical characterization. We especially welcome candidates who incorporate modern quantitative frameworks—such as transport and reactive transport modeling, thermodynamic modeling, or data-driven exploration—into sustainable critical mineral research. Our research infrastructure features exceptional analytical capabilities, including the Shimadzu Institute for Research Technologies (housing the Center for Environmental, Forensics, and Material Science) equipped with XRD, XRF, ICP-MS, and EPMA and a departmental ultraclean laboratory. Additional advanced characterization facilities, including the Characterization Center for Materials and Biology, offer access to SEM, TEM, FT-IR spectrometry, and Raman spectroscopy.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Geosciences or a closely related field.
Clear potential to establish an independent, externally funded research program in critical mineral geology, supported by a strong record of peer-reviewed publications (for Assistant Professor).
Strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate teaching and M.S. and Ph.D. students mentoring (for Assistant Professor).
Established track record of research excellence and national visibility in the discipline (for Associate Professor).
Sustained record of peer-reviewed publications (for Associate Professor).
Proven history of securing competitive external grant funding (e.g., NSF, DOE, USGS, or industry partners) (for Associate Professor).
Documented excellence in university-level teaching (for Associate Professor).
Demonstrated record of guiding M.S. and Ph.D. students through to graduation (for Associate Professor).
Active participation in university and professional service (for Associate Professor).

Nice To Haves

Postdoctoral or equivalent professional experience (strongly preferred for Assistant Professor).
Postdoctoral research, national laboratory, or relevant industry experience (strongly preferred for Assistant Professor applicants).
Demonstrated expertise in combining field geology, laboratory analysis, and data-driven techniques (such as computational modeling or artificial intelligence) to study sustainable critical mineral systems.
A track record of, or strong potential for, securing external research funding from diverse sources, including federal agencies (e.g., NSF, DOE, USGS) and industry partners.
Proven ability to build interdisciplinary research collaborations spanning geosciences, environmental science, materials science, chemistry, or engineering.
Experience designing field- or laboratory-based courses that support the Geology curriculum and create synergies with the Environmental Science degree program.
Demonstrated leadership in building collaborative research centers, managing multi-investigator grants, or mentoring early-career faculty (For Associate Professor rank).

Responsibilities

Maintain an active research agenda by publishing in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals.
Secure competitive external grants.
Mentor undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers.
Contribute to departmental committee leadership (e.g., graduate admissions, faculty search committees, colloquium series).
Participate in university governance.
Engage in community outreach.
Contribute to the broader scientific community through peer review, national grant panels, and public engagement.
Teach advanced field-based geology.
Establish an active research program in petrologic, geochemical, and mineralogical characterization.
Incorporate modern quantitative frameworks into sustainable critical mineral research.
Refine pedagogical methods through campus resources.
Guide M.S. and Ph.D. students through to graduation (for Associate Professor rank).
Build interdisciplinary research collaborations (preferred).
Design field- or laboratory-based courses (preferred).
Build collaborative research centers, manage multi-investigator grants, or mentor early-career faculty (for Associate Professor rank, preferred).