Assistant Professor of Geosciences

Colorado Mesa University•Grand Junction, CO

About The Position

Colorado Mesa University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Geosciences specializing in Structural Geology in the Geosciences Program, with a start date of August 2027. The standard teaching load is 12 credit hours per fall and spring semester. The position includes teaching, scholarship, student advising, and service to the university, department, and profession. The successful candidate will teach introductory and upper-division geosciences courses and labs, including upper-level Structural Geology. They will establish a Structural Geology and/or related research program that creates meaningful research opportunities for undergraduate geoscience majors and geology minors. Related areas may include Geophysics, Planetary Geology, Economic Geology, and Energy Transition. Teaching and research should integrate field-based experiences and geospatial methods, including GIS and/or remote sensing. The faculty member will also participate in the department’s six-week Geosciences Summer Field Camp, including Structural Geology mapping projects; advise and mentor undergraduates; contribute to program and curriculum assessment and improvement; and provide service. A Ph.D. in Geosciences or a closely related discipline is required by summer 2027. Candidates must demonstrate expertise in Structural Geology, teaching effectiveness, enthusiasm for undergraduate education and research mentorship, and the ability to collaborate collegially. The salary range is $64,000–$68,000, commensurate with education and experience. The position includes a health and retirement benefits package.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Geosciences or a closely related discipline by summer 2027.
Demonstrated expertise in Structural Geology.
Demonstrated effectiveness in teaching and creating a positive learning environment.
Enthusiasm for working with and inspiring undergraduate students.
Ability and enthusiasm to supervise undergraduate research that engages students in solving real-world geoscience problems using geological and geospatial methods and meaningful field-based experiences.
Ability to be team-focused, communicate, and work collaboratively and collegially with colleagues.
Enthusiasm for supporting a curriculum integrating field-based, lab-based, and computational approaches to prepare students for careers in industry and academia.

Nice To Haves

Enthusiasm for teaching introductory geosciences courses such as Physical Geology, Natural Hazards, Geology of Colorado, and/or Weather and Climate.
Enthusiasm for teaching required upper-level Geophysics lecture and lab courses and/or developing new courses related to the candidate’s area of expertise.
Interest in teaching GIS courses, including remote sensing.
Expertise or research interests complementing Structural Geology in Geophysics, Planetary Geology, Economic Geology, and/or Energy Transition.
Experience applying GIS and/or remote sensing tools in teaching and research.
Research interests that complement or diversify the research of current CMU geosciences faculty and provide meaningful undergraduate research experiences.
Strong background in field-based instruction and research.

Responsibilities

Teach introductory and upper-division geosciences courses and labs for liberal arts and science majors, including upper-level Structural Geology.
Establish a research program in Structural Geology and/or related areas that creates meaningful opportunities for undergraduate geoscience majors and geology minors.
Integrate field-based research experiences and geospatial methods, including GIS and/or remote sensing, into teaching and research.
Participate in the six-week Geosciences Summer Field Camp, including Structural Geology mapping projects.
Advise and mentor undergraduate students.
Participate in ongoing assessment and improvement of the geosciences program and curriculum.
Engage in service to the university, program, department, and profession.