Description
Assistant/Associate Professor of Environmental Security and Global Change
Department of Geography, Virginia Tech
The Department of Geography at Virginia Tech invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor with expertise in environmental security in the context of global climate and environmental change. We define environmental security broadly to encompass interactions among environmental processes, human populations, resources, infrastructure, and societal vulnerability and resilience. We are particularly interested in candidates who bridge environmental or climate science with human–environment perspectives and employ advanced geospatial, computational, or data-intensive approaches, such as spatial and spatiotemporal modeling, machine learning and artificial intelligence, sensor or mobility data, and high-performance computing, as well as qualitative, participatory, or integrated methods that complement these approaches. The position is intended to strengthen research productivity while expanding high-demand undergraduate and graduate instruction in environmental security, geospatial analysis, and climate-societal interactions.
Teaching and Mentoring Expectations - The responsibility profile for the position is envisioned as approximately 40% teaching, 50% research, and 10% service. An Assistant Professor is expected to teach a two-course load in year one and a three-course load in years two through six; an Associate Professor is expected to teach a three-course load during year one with a longer-term teaching load informed by research productivity.
Teaching will include a high-enrollment introductory geography, environmental geography, or climate course, an introductory geospatial course, and a course focused on environmental security and/or climate change. The possibility of teaching a specialty course or graduate seminar around expertise is envisioned, along with the opportunity to contribute to existing study abroad courses.
Graduate student mentoring is expected in support of the M.S. Geography (department) and Ph.D. Geospatial and Environmental Analysis (college) degree programs.
Research, Scholarship, Extension, and Engagement Expectations - The successful candidate is expected to establish or continue a competitive externally funded research program and pursue proposals annually as principal investigator (PI) or co-PI. Relevant federal sponsors include NASA, NSF, NOAA, DoD, NGA, and related agencies. The position offers strong opportunities for collaboration with the Center for Geospatial Information Technology, the Virginia Tech National Security Institute, and faculty across the College of Natural Resources and Environment. Research funding is expected to support graduate students in the Geography M.S. program and the Geospatial and Environmental Analysis Ph.D. program. Candidates should demonstrate capacity to continue or develop a strong trajectory of external funding, high-quality peer-reviewed scholarship, and research of national or international impact.
Review Date: October 15, 2026
Applicants should submit a cover letter describing interest in the position; a curriculum vitae; a statement describing teaching and mentoring approach; a statement describing research, scholarship, extension or professional program as appropriate to the position; and names and contact information for three professional references. Additional materials may be requested as the search progresses.
This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future sponsorship.
Inquiries should be directed to the Search Committee Chair, Andrew Ellis, at awellis@vt.edu or 540-231-8049.
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
About Virginia Tech
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.
Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Lisa Lane at lisal22@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.
Requirements
Required Qualifications
Ph.D. in geography or a closely related discipline by appointment start date.
Research expertise in environmental or climate science with human-environment perspectives using advanced geospatial, computational, or data-intensive approaches, such as spatial and spatiotemporal modeling, machine learning and artificial intelligence, sensor or mobility data, and high-performance computing, as well as qualitative, participatory, or integrated methods that complement these approaches.
Evidence of excellence or strong potential in university teaching, including a large introductory course, and graduate mentoring.
Evidence of excellence or strong potential for competitive external funding and high-quality peer-reviewed scholarship.
Preferred Qualifications
For Associate Professor, a strong record of externally funded research, graduate student support, and scholarly impact commensurate with rank.
Experience leading or contributing to large interdisciplinary proposals and research teams.
Expertise that connects environmental security or climate challenges with advanced geospatial modeling.
Ability to contribute to high-enrollment undergraduate instruction and experiential or international education.
