The Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences (GSS) and the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences (EES) at The University of Iowa invite applications for two open rank instructional-track faculty. These positions are a key piece of a major initiative within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to reposition academic resources around the environment and sustainability. The appointments will begin August 20, 2025.

Qualified applicants should exhibit: 1) a commitment to engaged student learning in student-centered, undergraduate, environmental education, including the use of inclusive, evidence-based instructional practices; 2) experience teaching introductory lecture and/or laboratory courses in geography and environmental sciences; 3) a willingness to collaborate with faculty, staff, and students to reform and sustain aspects of the undergraduate curriculum in both departments; 4) a determination to help grow the Environmental and Sustainability programs at the University; and 5) excellent communication, organization, and leadership skills. 

The EES position will focus on teaching introductory-level courses in EES, including liberal education courses for non-major students, such as Introduction to Environmental Science, Introduction to Earth Science, and Natural Disasters.  The successful candidate will also teach upper-division courses within the scope of their specialty on a rotating basis, or as needed, and will participate in undergraduate research and capstone projects.   For this position, we seek an interdisciplinary, natural scientist with a broad background at the intersection of geology, hydrology, and ecology, and the ability and enthusiasm to build students’ foundational knowledge and tool sets across these disciplines.  The successful applicant will be willing to integrate their teaching and research with environmental courses and activities within the department, in GSS, and other units on campus.

The GSS position will focus on teaching introductory courses in GSS including liberal education courses for non-major students, such as Contemporary Environmental Issues and Introduction to Sustainability. The successful candidate will also teach upper-division courses within the scope of their specialty on a rotating basis, or as needed, and will participate in undergraduate research and capstone projects. For this position, we seek a social or socioenvironmental scientist with the capacity to center sustainability and systems thinking in the curriculum from a human geography perspective. Applicants with a human geography and/or environmental policy focus are of particular interest.

Successful applicants for both positions will oversee laboratory or discussion sections for their courses, and when applicable, will supervise and mentor graduate teaching assistants assigned to these sections.  In addition, the successful applicants will work with existing faculty to redesign aspects of introductory classes and laboratories within GSS and EES to maximize student learning and content connection to lectures, as well as increase synergies, and avoid duplication, across courses in both departments.  We also expect the successful applicants to help develop and participate in experiential learning opportunities for undergraduates; provide academic and career mentoring; and engage in professional activities and services per interest or request.

These positions are open rank, full-time, 9-month, appointments with responsibilities for teaching 6-8 undergraduate courses per year in the departments and provide service to the University, community, and profession. Instructional track positions do not include the possibility of tenure, but otherwise parallel the tenure track with various ranks for advancement (Assistant Professor of Instruction, Associate Professor of Instruction, Professor of Instruction). Each position is renewable in one-year increments for the first three years, and renewable thereafter in three- or five-year increments (depending on rank). As faculty members, instructional track faculty participate in departmental governance with voting rights. 

How to Apply:

Apply online at http://jobs.uiowa.edu/.  Refer to requisition #75268. The application must include a cover letter, curriculum vitae (CV), teaching statement describing their approach, philosophy, and interests, including addressing equity and accessibility issues, and statement of research focus. Names and contact information for three individuals who can serve as a recommendation are required; letters will be solicited during a secondary stage in the hiring process.

The deadline for full consideration is Sep 15th, 2024. Screening of applications will begin in early September, but the application window will remain open until the position is satisfactorily filled.

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.

GSS and EES have seen continuous growth in their environmental policy and planning, environmental science, and sustainability majors over the past decade, and are building opportunities for undergraduate education at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory and Lakeside Laboratory.  These departments are now working together to advance environmental and sustainability science, on campus and beyond, and provide innovative, student-centered, educational and research programs related to these disciplines.  The overall goal is to make these departments the core of meeting grand challenges associated with socioecological and natural systems at the University of Iowa and in the larger community.

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.

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, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preferences.

• Candidates must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent in geography, environmental policy, environmental science, geoscience, ecology or a closely related field at time of appointment.

• Experience teaching introductory human geography or environmental science lecture and/or laboratory courses at the undergraduate level.


• Familiarity with engaged student learning and inclusive, evidence-based instructional practices and a commitment to using them.


• Willingness to collaborate with faculty, staff, and students to reform and sustain aspects of the undergraduate curriculum in both departments.


• Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership skills.

• Experience in the design of undergraduate environmental social or natural science curriculum


• Experience designing and leading experiential learning activities.


• Experience mentoring undergraduate students.


• Experience supervising graduate teaching assistants.