"Assistant Professor, Earth System Science, School of Life Sciences and Sustainability"

Job Details

Unit: College of Humanit and Sciences MBU

Department: School of Life Sci & Sustainability

Duties & Responsibilities:

The School of Life Sciences and Sustainability (SLSS) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor studying earth system science. We seek candidates who use modeling, remote sensing, or field observations to investigate large spatial-scale linkages between terrestrial, atmospheric, and/or aquatic processes. The new faculty member is expected to establish a productive, externally funded research program, and mentor and teach undergraduate and graduate students. The ideal candidate will complement the scholarship of current SLSS faculty and utilize the resources of the VCU Rice Rivers Center. The VCU Rice Rivers Center (https://ricerivers.vcu.edu) encompasses a variety of regionally-representative terrestrial, wetland, and aquatic ecosystems and maintains research and training partnerships with federal agencies, including NASA’s Earth Sciences Division. In addition to a competitive start-up package, the successful candidate will have access to Rice Rivers Center infrastructure. Teaching assignments will depend on the candidate’s interests and expertise, as well as program needs.

Application Instructions

Candidates should submit the following materials to VCUjobs.com:

• Cover letter summarizing qualifications, including relevant teaching and research experience and interests
• Current curriculum vitae (CV)
• Statement of research interests (2 pages)
• Statement of teaching philosophy and approach (2 pages)
• Contact information, including mailing address, telephone number, and email address, for at least three professional references

Review of applications will begin in mid-December and continue until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, please apply by December 15, 2025. Questions should be directed to the search committee chair, Dr. Paul Bukaveckas (pabukaveckas@vcu.edu).

About VCU, the School of Life Sciences and Sustainability, and the Rice Rivers Center

Located in downtown Richmond, the state capital of Virginia, VCU enrolls more than 28,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate programs across its urban campuses. Ignited by the energy of the city, we’re ready to lead industries — or disrupt them. We seek out the unexpected, the experimental, the never-been-tried. VCU is designated as a research university with very high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation, garnering more than $500 million in sponsored research from federal and other agencies in FY2024. The National Science Foundation ranked VCU among the top 50 public research universities in the country, and we are one of only 69 public universities nationwide to be designated by the Carnegie Foundation as “Community Engaged” with “Very High Research Activity.”

The School of Life Sciences and Sustainability (SLSS) was established in 2025 by bringing together thriving programs in Biology, Environmental Studies, Bioinformatics, Sustainable Innovation, Outdoor Leadership, and Integrative Life Sciences to create a dynamic hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, education, and discovery. We offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, as well as several minors, badges, and certificates, serving more than 2,400 undergraduates and over 100 graduate students. Our 67 full-time faculty and 16 professional staff are dedicated to impactful research, innovative teaching, and experiential learning that draw from the diverse perspectives within our community. As our school continues to grow, we are seeking engaged and collaborative colleagues to help shape a bold vision for integrating the life sciences and sustainability. Visit slss.vcu.edu to learn more.

Positioned 25 miles from Richmond on the James River, the Rice Rivers Center (RRC) is VCU’s field station, providing access to the region’s rivers, wetlands, and forest ecosystems. RRC serves as a hub for interdisciplinary, field-based research that tackles real-world environmental challenges in the mid-Atlantic region and beyond. Faculty and collaborators study fish and bird conservation, wetland restoration, river water quality and habitat provisioning, and forest resilience. The RRC also participates in global research networks, hosts long-term field observations and experiments, and maintains open datasets collected through environmental sensors, remote sensing observations, and vegetation surveys. Research infrastructure includes an Ameriflux Core Site carbon flux tower, a lateral flux system, UAS and drones equipped with lidar and hyperspectral sensors, automated gas flux chambers, hyperspectral and infrared imagers, atmospheric trace gas sensors, and a research pier supporting continuous water-quality monitoring of the James Estuary. The center’s 14,000-square-foot research building includes wet lab space, complemented by modern lodging for 22 overnight visitors and five classroom spaces across three buildings.

Position Requirements

• Establishing a productive, externally funded research program
• Mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in a research setting
• Teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in the candidate’s area of expertise
• Contributing to SLSS curriculum and program development at Rice Rivers Center
• Providing service at the departmental and university levels

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a relevant science discipline
• Postdoctoral training and a commensurate level of research productivity
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• Evidence of an emerging active research program that includes publications and either research grants or strong potential for future funding, and potential for success at a Carnegie Research-1 Institution
• Experience teaching with a commitment to teaching excellence and student success, including the use of active and inclusive learning approaches

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

Rank: Assistant Professor

Tenure: Tenure Track

Months: 9 months