Assistant Professor of Geosciences

Colorado Mesa University•Grand Junction, CO

3d•$64,000 - $68,000

About The Position

Colorado Mesa University is seeking an Assistant Professor of Geosciences specializing in Hydrology, Geomorphology, and Watershed Science. This is a full-time, tenure-track position in the Geosciences Program beginning August 2027. The standard teaching load is 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester. The position also includes discipline-based scholarship, advising, and service to the university, program, department, and profession. The successful candidate will teach introductory and upper-division geosciences courses and labs for liberal arts and science majors. Upper-level teaching may include Hydrology, River Dynamics, Geomorphology, and/or Groundwater. They will establish a research program that creates meaningful opportunities for undergraduate geoscience majors and watershed science minors, participate in the department’s six-week Geosciences Summer Field Camp, advise and mentor students, contribute to program and curriculum assessment and improvement, and engage in university, program, department, and professional service.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Geosciences or a closely related discipline by summer 2027.
Demonstrated expertise in Water Resources science.
Demonstrated teaching effectiveness and ability to create a positive learning environment.
Enthusiasm for working with and inspiring undergraduate students.
Ability and enthusiasm to supervise undergraduate research involving real-world Earth science problems, particularly western water resources, and integrating geologic, hydrologic, and geospatial methods with field-based experiences.
Ability to work collaboratively and collegially, communicate effectively, and contribute as a team-focused colleague.
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, especially Natural Hazards, Water, People, and Environment, Oceanography, and Weather and Climate.
Enthusiasm for teaching required upper-level Hydrology and River Dynamics, Geomorphology, and/or Groundwater courses, and/or developing courses related to the candidate’s expertise.
Interest in teaching GIS courses, including remote sensing.
Expertise or research interests in western water resources and/or the upper Colorado River basin, including watershed and river processes, critical zone science, climate-driven environmental geohazards, and/or geomorphology.
Experience applying GIS and/or remote sensing tools in teaching and research.
Research interests that complement and diversify the research of current CMU geosciences faculty and provide meaningful undergraduate research experiences.
Strong background in field-based instruction and research.
Experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and demonstrated commitment to improving access and success for underrepresented students in higher education.

Responsibilities

Teach introductory and upper-division geosciences courses and labs for liberal arts and science majors, including upper-level courses such as Hydrology, River Dynamics, Geomorphology, and/or Groundwater.
Establish a research program that provides meaningful research opportunities for undergraduate geoscience majors and watershed science minors.
Participate in the department’s six-week Geosciences Summer Field Camp, including mapping projects related to the candidate’s expertise.
Advise and mentor undergraduate students.
Participate in ongoing assessment and improvement of the geosciences program and curriculum.
Provide service to the university, program, department, and profession.
Conduct discipline-based scholarship.