The Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences (GSS) in partnership with the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences (EES) at The University of Iowa invites applications for a tenure-track appointment at the rank of assistant professor in the area of environmental justice. Twenty-first century societies face enormous environmental challenges and addressing them requires an understanding of contemporary and past environments, how human activities have transformed them, and how societies interact with and are affected by their environments. This position is 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 appointment will begin August 20, 2025.

We seek an outstanding researcher who employs a geographic lens to understand inequitable variation in human exposure to environmental hazards or amenities, driven by economic and political forces past and present.  We are interested in applicants who study environmental justice issues utilizing either quantitative or qualitative methods and who focus on both social vulnerability to hazards and strategies or characteristics of resiliency that are needed for climate change adaptation.

Successful candidates are expected to conduct cutting-edge research and work effectively in interdisciplinary teams that address significant real-world problems, playing a part in the GSS department’s active role in collaborative research across campus. The successful candidate will also contribute to a broad-based geographic and environmental curriculum through introductory to graduate level courses that fulfill requirements for degrees in geography, sustainability, environmental policy & planning and related fields.  We seek forward-thinking colleagues to help us expand collaboration on vital areas of research and deliver exciting and relevant programs aimed at training next generation scientists.

How to Apply:

Apply online at http://jobs.uiowa.edu/. Refer to requisition #75270. The application must include a cover letter, a CV, a statement of research interest, a statement of teaching interest, and evidence of teaching effectiveness. 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.

Direct questions regarding this position to Dr. Margaret Carrel, margaret-carrel@uiowa.edu, 319-335-0154.

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. in geography or a related discipline at time of appointment.

• Demonstrated potential for excellence in research and teaching, relative to career level.


• Demonstrated potential for external funding, relative to career level.

• Postdoctoral research experience.


• Record of publishing in the broad field of environmental justice in peer-reviewed journals.


• Experience with writing competitive grant proposals, relative to career level.


• Research that complements existing GSS departmental strengths (e.g., infectious disease geography, sustainability, urban ecology, geographic information science).


• Experience and/or future plans for mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.


• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and communities across disciplines.