Assistant Professor of Subsurface Energy Systems - Department of Geology & Geography

West Virginia University

About The Position

The Department of Geology & Geography at West Virginia University invites applications for a tenure-track position at the assistant professor level in Geology with a specialization in subsurface energy systems starting August, 2026. This is a 9-month, full-time position with full benefits. Candidates with research relevant to the sustainable energy challenges of the 21st century, and candidates whose research and scholarship support WVU’s land-grant mission are encouraged to apply. The Department of Geology and Geography offers two undergraduate degrees (Earth and Environmental Science B.S. and Sustainability Studies B.A.) and 5 graduate degrees (MS and PhD in Geology, MA and PhD in Geography, MS in Geospatial Science) and one graduate certificate program in GIS and Spatial Analysis. Faculty in the Department of Geology and Geography teach thousands of students, maintain highly active externally funded research programs, and provide service to the state, Appalachian region, and the world. The department currently supports 24 faculty, numerous graduate teaching and research assistants, and several graduate fellows. The Department of Geology and Geography is housed in the extensively renovated Brooks Hall and has licenses to a complete suite of state-of-the-art subsurface analysis software including Petrel and Eclipse with several plugins, Kingdom Suite, VoxelGeo, GeoGraphix, PETRA, Interpex’s terrain conductivity and resistivity modeling software, GMSYS (gravity and magnetic modeling), the MOVE suite of structural modeling software, and Halliburton’s GOHFER. The department also houses the WV GIS Technical Center. The holder of this position will be a key associate of the WVU Energy Center and have immediate opportunities to collaborate with WVU’s long-time partners at the Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Lab, located in Morgantown.

Requirements

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Geology, Earth Science or closely related field by time of appointment
Research and teaching capabilities in one or more of the following areas: subsurface geology, petrophysics, geophysical applications to energy transition including carbon sequestration, hydrogen storage, geothermal systems and petroleum geology
Demonstrated potential for successful teaching at the graduate and undergraduate levels
Demonstrated potential to secure external funding for research and to publish in peer-reviewed journals
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Excellent interpersonal skills

Responsibilities

Serve as an associate partner of the WVU Institute of Sustainability and Energy Research
Collaborate with WVU’s long-time partners at the Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Labs, located in Morgantown and Pittsburgh
Teaching load of 2 courses or course equivalents per semester
Teach courses that may include: Log Analysis, 3D Geological Modeling, and/or Machine Learning Applications in Subsurface Geosciences
Provide high-quality research guidance, advising, and mentorship to graduate students
Serve the community, university, and profession