Assistant Professor - Environmental Risk and Society

Utah State University•Logan, UT

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Environment and Society in Utah State University’s S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor position focused on the geography and human dimensions of environmental hazards and disaster risk. The successful candidate will use social and/or behavioral sciences to advance understanding and mitigation of hazards such as air pollution, drought, earthquakes, extreme heat, flooding, and wildfire, including in the context of climate change and with relevance to Utah. The position is based at USU’s main campus in Logan and is a nine-month academic-year appointment. Its emphasis distribution is 60% teaching and advising, 30% research, and 10% service. The anticipated start date is August 2027. The successful candidate will build an excellent teaching and mentoring program that supports student success in departmental programs and the University’s Center for Civic Excellence. Teaching will prepare students to understand and communicate about environmental hazard risks, evaluate risk-reduction strategies, and support mitigation and preparedness. Courses will contribute to General Education and departmental majors, potentially including hazards and society, and may be taught at undergraduate or graduate levels in person, online, virtually, or in a blended format. The candidate will also help lead community-engaged, experiential undergraduate education, such as projects with Utah communities and public agencies related to hazard mitigation, public safety, and emergency management. The candidate will lead a research program examining individual or community decision-making in environmental hazards and disaster risk reduction. Advising responsibilities include mentoring undergraduate researchers and advising graduate students in a supportive learning environment. Service includes university faculty duties and broader professional involvement. The position is open until filled; application review begins December 10, 2026, and applications by that date are encouraged for full consideration.

Requirements

Earned PhD by the date of hire in geography or a related field, with a background in environmental hazards and society.

Nice To Haves

A prior teaching and mentoring record demonstrating potential for teaching excellence.
Interest in community-engaged and experiential learning that complements USU’s Land Grant mission.
Application of research to understanding and mitigating hazard impacts through social and behavioral science perspectives.
A publication record consistent with career stage.
Potential to build and maintain an effective research program, including ability to secure funding.
Evidence of successful collaboration with natural and social scientists and practitioners across disciplines.
Experience with or desire to learn virtual and online course delivery.
Ability to contribute to a learning community with members from varied backgrounds and experiences and foster belonging for all students.

Responsibilities

Develop an outstanding teaching and mentoring program supporting student success in departmental academic programs and the Center for Civic Excellence.
Teach students to understand environmental hazard risks, communicate about risks, evaluate risk-reduction strategies, and support mitigation and preparedness activities.
Teach courses contributing to General Education and departmental majors, potentially including hazards and society and other courses aligned with the candidate’s expertise.
Provide leadership for community-engaged, experiential undergraduate education, including projects with Utah communities and public agencies related to hazard mitigation, public safety, and emergency management.
Lead a research program investigating individual or community decision-making in environmental hazards and disaster risk reduction.
Mentor undergraduate researchers and advise graduate students in a supportive learning environment.
Participate in university faculty duties and wider professional service.