Teaching Assistant Professor of Sustainability - Department of Geology & Geography

West Virginia University

About The Position

The Department of Geology and Geography at West Virginia University invites applications for a Teaching Assistant Professor with a specialization in Earth Science and Sustainability starting August 14, 2026. This is a 9-month, full-time, position with full benefits. Teaching Assistant Professor appointments have renewable terms of up to three years, with no limit on the number of terms. These positions are eligible for promotion (e.g., Teaching Assistant Professor to Teaching Associate Professor, etc.); however, promotion to senior ranks is not a requirement for institutional commitment and career stability. The Department of Geology and Geography successfully launched two new degrees in sustainability in 2023: Earth and Environmental Science (BS) and Sustainability Studies (BA). These new programs complement graduate degrees including an MA and PhD in Geography, MS and PhD in Geology, and an online MS 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, and many graduate teaching and research assistants. The department has outstanding geospatial science teaching and research facilities, hosts the West Virginia GIS Technical Center and WVU Center for Resilient Communities, and is housed in its own extensively renovated Brooks Hall on the Downtown campus of WVU.

Requirements

PhD in Geology, Geoscience, Earth Science, Environmental Sciences, Geography with a focus on sustainability, or a closely related field.
Ability to contribute to the teaching mission in (BS in Earth and Environmental Science and BA in Sustainability Studies)
Demonstrate the potential to teach several courses related to the majors (e.g., Sustainable Earth, First Year Seminar/Careers/Senior Capstone, Earth Systems, Rocks and Minerals, Geomorphology, GIS, Environmental Geology, Geochemistry, and Hydrogeology)
Excellent undergraduate teaching skills
Ability to provide high-quality mentorship to undergraduates
Potential to advise students in career pathways and coordinate with external donors to support student development
Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

Teach courses that support the Department of Geology and Geography’s mission in the department’s two new majors (BS in Earth and Environmental Science and BA in Sustainability Studies).
The teaching load is eight courses or course equivalents per year.
Mentor and/or advise students.
Recruiting and retaining students
Service on the undergraduate committee
Attending recruiting events
Assisting the undergraduate director with in-house student events, among other assigned duties.