Assistant Professor (Geology) (0082686)

University of Hawaii • Hilo, HI

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Geology at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo (UH Hilo) invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level. We are seeking broadly-trained applicants who will integrate place-based teaching and research expertise in surface processes, hydrogeology, or environmental geology. The University of Hawai'i at Hilo (UH Hilo) is a public liberal arts and sciences university on the Island of Hawai'i, recognized for its integration of cultural immersion and place-based research that leverages the island’s extraordinary geological, biological, and cultural diversity. A comprehensive, regional campus within the ten-campus University of Hawai'i system, UH Hilo offers high-quality undergraduate and select postgraduate education, with distinctive strengths in areas such as marine science, geology, astronomy, and Hawaiian language revitalization, while advancing research, scholarship, and creative activity that support community needs, environmental stewardship, Indigenous knowledge systems, and workforce development priorities for the State of Hawai'i. The College of Natural and Health Sciences (CNHS) is one of the two largest colleges at UH Hilo, home to 9 departments, 14 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and over 60 full-time faculty. CNHS provides an innovative, career-focused scientific education based in the culture, rich diversity, and natural environment of Hawai‘i. The college prepares students for success in local, state, regional, and global careers. It teaches basic scientific and mathematical principles and applications that inform future citizens, scientists, managers, and leaders using modern methods and Hawai‘i Island’s living laboratory. The UH Hilo Geology Department offers bachelor’s degrees in geology (BS and BA). In addition, the Geology Department serves as the home department for the BA degree in Natural Sciences. We have small class sizes that range from 10-25 students. The department houses a microscopy teaching laboratory and a geoarchaeology lab with a ThermoNoran Quant’X EDXRF, a Hitachi S-3400N SEM with an Oxford EDS & WAVE, and a Thermo Nicolet iN10 FT-IR Microscope. Faculty also have access to facilities elsewhere on campus, including an ICP and other instruments housed in the UH Hilo Analytical Laboratory, the UH Hilo Spatial Data and Analysis Laboratory, and a PulseEKKO ground penetrating radar. We have existing collaborations with the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) and the Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes (CSAV). Faculty are encouraged to develop collaborative relationships at UH Hilo, including the Master’s Programs in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science and Heritage Management, departments that teach environmental science, chemistry, marine science, data science, agriculture, and aquaculture, as well as other local collaborators outside of the University. More information about the Department of Geology can be found at https://hilo.hawaii.edu/depts/geology . The successful candidate should demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching and research at the undergraduate level, including working with individuals from the numerous backgrounds that are present within our student population. The successful candidate should be a collaborative investigator who will develop a research program that involves undergraduate students and augments the current expertise within the department. The ideal applicant will also be able to teach a broad range of courses throughout our curriculum, including introductory and upper level courses in Geomorphology, Surface Water Hydrology, Coastal Geology, Groundwater, Sedimentology/Stratigraphy, and/or Environmental Geology.

Requirements

• Doctorate in geology or a related field from an accredited university at the time of appointment.
• Teaching experience at the college level (TA or instructor of record).
• Active research activities as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications within the last five years.
• High-quality communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated record of high-quality undergraduate instruction.
• Evidence of the ability to teach introductory geology courses in geology.
• Evidence of the ability to teach upper-division courses outlined in the job description.
• Expertise and/or teaching experience in geospatial technology.
• Experience in recruitment and retention of students.
• Experience or specific plans for mentoring undergraduate student research.
• An active research program that involves collaborative activities.
• Evidence of research that can or will leverage the local environment.
• Experience working in Hawai?i or island environments.

Responsibilities

• Teaching duties include a variety of introductory geology courses and labs, and upper level specialty courses in the successful candidate’s areas of expertise.
• The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to teach or mentor graduate students in the Master’s Program in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science.
• Teaching responsibilities generally include three courses a semester; reduced teaching loads are typically offered to new hires during the first year.
• The remainder of the workload is devoted to scholarly activity and service, including but not limited to: advising students, contributing to student retention and recruitment efforts, curriculum and program development in geology and natural sciences, engagement in research or equivalent scholarship, and service to the university, community, and/or profession.

Benefits

• Commensurate with qualification and experience
• 9-month
• Tenure Track
• Full-time
• Permanent
• Appointment to begin January 2027, pending position clearance and availability of funding.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree