Description

Position Description:

The School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability (SEES) at the University of Iowa invites applications for a Tenure-Track position at the Assistant/Associate Professor level in the area of Climate Governance and Policy (broadly defined), effective August 2027. 

This position is a key piece of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences intent to reposition academic resources around the environment and sustainability and of SEES’ vision for bridging natural and social sciences approaches and expertise to address grand challenges of the twenty-first century. The appointment will begin August 21, 2027. 

We seek an outstanding researcher who works on environmental governance and policy in the context of the environmental, social, and/or economic drivers related to climate change from local to global scales. We are interested in applicants who study these issues through quantitative or qualitative approaches (or both) and who center convergent research approaches. We particularly encourage applications from scholars whose work could be synergistic with that of the currently advertised SEES tenure-track hire in Quaternary Geology/Soil Geomorphology, as well as recent hires in Environmental Justice, Ecology, and Environmental Geophysics, though such overlap is not required.

Responsibilities

Research

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 SEES’ active role in collaborative research across campus. We seek forward-thinking colleagues to help us expand collaboration on vital areas of research and deliver exciting and relevant programs aimed at training the next generation of environmental scientists. The successful candidate is expected to:

• Develop and sustain an externally funded, internationally recognized research program in Climate Governance and Policy.
•  Mentor graduate and undergraduate students in research.
• Publish scholarly work in peer-reviewed journals and disseminate findings through national and international conferences.
• Pursue collaborative, interdisciplinary, research opportunities within the school and across the University (e.g., Tippie College of Business, Center for Social Science Innovation, School of Planning and Public Affairs).

Teaching

SEES offers BAs and BSs in Geographical and Sustainability Science, Earth and Environmental Science and Environmental Policy and Planning. It also offers MA and PhD degrees in Geography and MS and PhD degrees in Geology. The successful candidate will contribute to the School’s broad-based curriculum through introductory to graduate level courses that fulfill requirements for these degrees.  The successful candidate is expected to teach: 

• An upper division undergraduate course on climate policy and governance and/or the energy transition, with a focus on local, state, national, or international programs, or a combination of them.
• Upper division and graduate level courses of applicant’s choosing commensurate with research and student interests 
• Other undergraduate and graduate level courses required to support SEES degree programs as appropriate within the successful candidate’s teaching load.

Service

• Contribute actively to SEES, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and University of Iowa committee work, and governance.
• Engage in professional service through organizations such as AAG, CSSN.
• Support outreach and public engagement in environmental education.

How to Apply:

Apply online at http://jobs.uiowa.edu/.  Refer to requisition #75966.  Applications must include the following: names and contact information of references as described in 1., and a cover letter, CV, research statement, and teaching statement as described in 1.

The deadline for full consideration is September 15th, 2026. Screening of applications will begin in late October, 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.

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 and Environmental Policy and Planning programs. 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.

The University of Iowa prohibits discrimination in employment, educational programs, and activities 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. The university also affirms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to university facilities.

Requirements

Education Requirement: 

• Candidates must hold a PhD in Environmental Policy, Geography, Natural Resource Management, Sustainability or a closely related discipline at the time of appointment.

Required Qualifications: 

• Demonstrated record of scholarly publication commensurate with career level in the broad areas of Climate Governance and Policy, or a closely related topic. 
• Demonstrated success in, or clear potential for, obtaining external funding (e.g., NSF, Mellon Foundation, Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program or equivalent). 
• Demonstrated ability of, or clear potential to, teach effectively across undergraduate levels, from introductory to upper-division courses, and from broad general topics to focused research areas.
• Commitment to education using active learning strategies and to student mentoring.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and a collegial approach to collaboration.

Desired Qualifications:  

• At least two years of postdoctoral research experience or equivalent at the time of appointment. Exceptional Ph.D. candidates with a compelling research record and demonstrated teaching readiness will be considered at the committee’s discretion.
• Demonstrated success in securing external research funding commensurate with career level (e.g., NSF, Mellon Foundation, Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program or equivalent).
• Experience supervising undergraduate and graduate researchers commensurate with career level.
• Record of inclusive, student-centered teaching and commitment to broadening participation in environmental science.
• Experience or interest in curriculum development and innovative pedagogical approaches such as experiential learning and community-based projects.
• Expertise complementary to existing SEES strengths in climate risk management, sustainability, environmental policy, ecology, or environmental modeling.
• Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines with faculty, staff, students, and communities.
• Expertise to develop collaborations with other programs across the University (e.g., Tippie College of Business, Center for Social Science Innovation, School of Planning and Public Affairs).