[ES_JOBS_NET] Assistant Professor – Earth Surface Dynamics Geophysicist, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Tue Aug 5 09:05:12 MDT 2025

https://illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/14761?c=illinois&sq=1031845

Assistant Professor – Earth Surface Dynamics Geophysicist

Department of Earth Science & Environmental Change

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The Department of Earth Science & Environmental Change in the School of
Earth, Society, and Environment (https://earth.illinois.edu/) at the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the flagship campus of the
University of Illinois System, invites applications for a tenure-track
Assistant Professor position in Earth Surface Dynamics, with an emphasis on
near-surface geophysics. We seek a scientist whose research addresses the
physical, chemical, and biological processes that shape the Earth’s surface
and near-surface environments—processes that influence water resources,
landscape evolution, ecosystem health, and the mitigation of natural
hazards. The full-time, 9-month (academic year) tenure-track faculty
appointment is at the Assistant Professor level with a target start date of
August 16, 2026.

We are particularly interested in candidates who use near-surface
geophysical methods—such as seismic, potential field, geodetic, and/or
remote sensing techniques—to investigate shallow subsurface structures and
link surface processes to deep-time geological or climatic phenomena. We
welcome applicants whose work integrates field-based geophysical
observations with computational or mathematical modeling, and fosters
interdisciplinary connections across hydrology, geomorphology, critical
zone science, atmospheric sciences, and engineering. Successful candidates
will demonstrate experience with fostering or the ability to foster an
inclusive and collaborative teaching, learning, departmental, and research
environment where all can thrive. They will also advance the educational
mission of the University of Illinois, a land-grant institution committed
to access, education, research, and service and to addressing challenges at
both local and global scales.

This position will integrate with campus-wide strategic initiatives and
will contribute to both fundamental research and applied challenges related
to:

   - Sustainable water resources and groundwater systems
   - Subsurface carbon storage and climate adaptation
   - Landslides, erosion, and sediment transport
   - Soil development and land surface evolution
   - Earthquake and volcanic hazards and ground deformation

We have an active and successful dual-career partner placement program and
a strong commitment to work-life balance and family-friendly programs for
faculty and staff (
http://provost.illinois.edu/faculty-affairs/work-life-balance/).

To find out more about the resources available at the university and
Urbana-Champaign community please visit these sites:

Dual Career Program
<https://provost.illinois.edu/faculty-affairs/faculty-recruitment/dual-career-program/>

Benefits <https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/benefits/>

Living in Champaign-Urbana <https://experiencecu.org/>

Responsibilities: The successful candidate will be expected to develop an
internationally recognized, externally funded research program; teach at
least two courses within the Geology curriculum at the undergraduate and
graduate levels; contribute to undergraduate and graduate research and
mentoring; and collaborate across disciplines to address pressing
environmental and societal issues. The successful candidate will also
demonstrate the ability to foster an inclusive and collaborative teaching,
learning, departmental, and research environment where all can thrive. They
will advance the educational mission of the University of Illinois, a
land-grant institution committed to access, education, research, and
service and to addressing challenges at both local and global scales.

Synergy with Campus Excellence Themes and Strengths: The successful
candidate will benefit from existing strengths within the Department of
Earth Science & Environmental Change: surface environments and landscapes,
tectonics, geophysics, and geodynamics; within the School of Earth,
Society, & Environment; and across campus: the National Center for
Supercomputing Applications, data science programs in Computer Science and
Electrical & Computer Engineering, and fluid dynamics, surface environments
and earthquake hazards research in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and
Mechanical Science and Engineering. Excellent opportunities also exist for
collaborations with the United States Geological Survey, Illinois Prairie
Research Institute (https://prairie.illinois.edu) and Illinois State
Geological Survey (https://isgs.illinois.edu/).

Qualifications: Ph.D. or equivalent international degree in Geology or a
related field by mid-June 2026 for a preferred start date of Aug 16, 2026.
Applicants must show evidence of research productivity and evidence or
promise of developing teaching and mentorship effectiveness at the
undergraduate and graduate levels.

Salary: The budgeted salary range for the position is $85,000 to $95,000 at
the Assistant Professor level, for a 9-month service basis. The pay offered
to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including
(but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected
candidate, including equivalent years in rank, training, and field or
discipline; internal equity; and external market pay for comparable jobs.
It is not typical for a beginning Assistant Professor to be offered a
salary at or near the top of the full range for the position.

Application: To apply, create your candidate profile through
https://jobs.illinois.edu and submit application materials by October 1,
2025. Required documents:

   - Cover letter that details suitability for, and interest in, the
   position
   - Curriculum Vitae
   - Up to three representative publications
   - Statement of Research Interests
   - Statement of Teaching Experience and Goals
   - Names and email addresses for three professional references

We ask that all documents be uploaded in a single .pdf file as an upload in
the “Resume/CV” section. Only applications submitted through the University
of Illinois Job Board will be considered.

Questions about the position can be directed to search committee chair
Prof. Patricia Gregg, pgregg at illinois.edu, phone: (217) 333-3540.

Questions regarding the application materials may be directed to
lascollegehiring at illinois.edu.

For questions regarding the application portal, please contact 217-333-2137
or jobs at illinois.edu.

The University of Illinois must also comply with applicable federal export
control laws and regulations and, as such, reserves the right to employ
restricted party screening procedures for applicants.

The University of Illinois offers a very competitive benefits portfolio,
depending on the position. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits
<https://go.illinois.edu/workatillinois>.
------------------------------

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer,
including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies
with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please
visit Required
Employment Notices and Posters <https://go.uillinois.edu/noticesandposters> to
view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about
required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and
employment eligibility review through E-Verify
<https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/EVerifyParticipationPoster.pdf>
.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a
reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008)
to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may
also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related
conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable
accommodations portal
<https://illinois-accommodate.symplicity.com/public_accommodation/>, or by
contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for
Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility at illinois.edu
.
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