Job description
Type of PositionTENURE-TRACK
Advertising Ends on:Extended Until Position is Filled
College:College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Department:School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability
Salary:Commensurate
Full/Part Time Status:Full Time
Position Description:
The School of Earth, Environment, & Sustainability (SEES) at the University of Iowa invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Geographic Information Science. We seek a scholar whose research develops innovative GIScience methods to investigate the complex dynamics of human-environment interactions, with particular interest in those advancing theory in spatio-temporal modeling, GeoAI, or geospatial foundation models. Desired candidates should have an application focus where human-environment interactions are key to addressing societal challenges which could include topics such as environmental hazards, health, food, transportation, energy systems, and population dynamics. The anticipated start date will be August 19, 2026.
The successful candidate will play a central role in advancing an evolving GIScience curriculum that embraces technological and societal disruptions to prepare students for a rapidly changing geospatial landscape. They will design and teach courses in GeoAI and advanced geospatial data science with applications across environmental, social, and coupled socio-environmental systems. Additional instructional areas may include topics such as geospatial programming, spatial database systems, GIS field methods, spatiotemporal statistics, foundational undergraduate and graduate-level GIS courses, and thematic courses such as GIS for environmental studies, hazards, and sustainability. SEES’s GIScience curriculum emphasizes not only cutting-edge tools and frameworks but also a geographic approach to solving real-world challenges-from environmental health and climate resilience to environmental sustainability.
About Iowa: Situated in vibrant Iowa City, IA, the University of Iowa is a global community of renowned artists and writers, pioneering scientists, and outstanding faculty dedicated to student success across 12 colleges, 7 professional degrees, and more than 200 areas of studies. With just over 30,000 students, the University is one of the nation’s top public research universities, a member of the Big Ten conference since 1899, and an Association of American Universities member since 1909.
The School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability is a new academic unit within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences that merges the departments of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences and Earth and Environmental Sciences, along with the Environmental Sciences program. The school has been strategically built as a core pillar of the college to grow collaborative and interdisciplinary research and increase student access to the wide range of career paths in these areas.
Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any misconduct history or pending research misconduct investigation including but not limited to sexual misconduct in prior employment and provide a related release and will be subject to a criminal background and credential check.
Education Requirement:
- Candidates must hold a Ph.D. in geography, GIScience, or a related discipline at time of appointment.
Required Qualifications:
- Demonstrated potential for excellence in research and teaching, relative to career level.
- Demonstrated potential for external funding, relative to career level.
Desirable Qualifications:
- Demonstrated potential to teach foundational and applied courses in GIScience.
- Record of publishing in the broad areas of GIScience theory, methods, and applications in peer-reviewed GIScience, or other relevant journals.
- Research application focus in human-environment interactions or coupled socio-environmental systems, rather than solely on environmental processes.
- Ability to contribute to SEES research strengths and vision in areas such as sustainability, health, and human geography, and hazards.
- Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and communities across disciplines.
- Existing or potential future involvement in professional societies such as UCGIS to help shape the future of GIScience research and curriculum.
Curriculum Vitae
Cover Letter
Statement of research vision and interests
Statement of teaching philosophy/exper/interests
Number of References: 3
Letters of Recommendation are required as part of the application process. Upon submission, references selected will be notified by e-mail with directions on how to electronically submit letters to the University of Iowa.
To start the Online Application process for this position, click the “Apply for This Position” button located below the Contact Information.
Contact:Caglar Koylu – [email protected]
Clas-Geogra&Sustainability Sci
Jessup Hall
5 West Jefferson Street
303 JH
Iowa City, IA 52242
Department URL: https://clas.uiowa.edu/earth-environment-sustainability
The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, religion, associational preference, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University also affirms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to University facilities. For additional information contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, (319) 335-0705.
How to apply
Apply online at http://jobs.uiowa.edu/. Refer to requisition #75647. Required materials include:
- a cover letter summarizing your interest in the position and highlighting how your background and goals complement the advertised position and the school’s mission;
- a curriculum vitae that includes contact information for three references;
- a statement of research vision and interests;
- a statement of teaching philosophy, experience, and interests.
The deadline for full consideration is September 15, 2025.
Questions about the position may be directed to Caglar Koylu, Search Committee Chair ([email protected]). We look forward to learning how your expertise can help SEES shape the future of GIScience.
