"Assistant Professor - Urban Geography"

About the Job

Position Overview:

The University of Minnesota Department of Geography, Environment and Society invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the area of Urban Environments. We seek a scholar with a strong publication record appropriate to rank, demonstrated success in community-engaged research, and a research focus on North American cities. Faculty in the College of Liberal Arts are expected to maintain an active program of scholarly research, to develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses, mentor and advise undergraduate and graduate students, and contribute service to the department, college, and profession. Tenure-track assistant professors teach four semester-length courses per academic year across undergraduate and graduate levels.

The Standards for Promotion and Tenure in the Department of Geography, Environment and Society are available at https://faculty.umn.edu/sites/faculty.umn.edu/files/2023-12/Geography%2C%20Environment%2C%20and%20Society%207.12%20Statement%202023.pdf

The Workload Principles and Guidelines for Regular Faculty in the College of Liberal Arts are available at https://z.umn.edu/CLAFacultyWorkloadPrinciplesGuidelines

Qualifications

Required qualifications:

• A PhD in Geography or Urban Planning or closely related discipline at the time of appointment (August 2026).
• Scholarly expertise in the environmental and social effects of urban public policy
• A competitive academic record appropriate for the candidate’s career stage, including a clear record of peer-reviewed publications in high-quality journals, a growing scholarly reputation, and a clear vision for developing a successful research program in the new position.
• Potential for securing research grants as appropriate to the research program.
• Capacity to mentor undergraduate and graduate students in Geography and Urban Studies and contribute to the curriculum of our Urban Studies major.

Preferred qualifications:

• A track record of interdisciplinary research in environmental studies
• Demonstrated success designing, implementing and publishing community-engaged research.
• Regional expertise in cities in the U.S. Midwest
• Capacity to apply and teach graduate and undergraduates in quantitative and qualitative methods, including Geographical Information Systems.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to engage with exciting programs across the university, including the Institute on the Environment (IonE), the Race, Indigeneity, Disability, Gender, and Sexuality (RIDGS) Initiative, the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA), and the Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change (ICGC).

About the Department

Geography, Environment and Society at the University of Minnesota is a leading comprehensive Geography program comprising 21 research and teaching faculty serving 50 graduate students and teaching over 4000 undergraduate students each year. The department has a world-class reputation for cutting-edge research across the breadth of geographical inquiry. More on the Department of Geography, Environment & Society and its programs can be found at http://www.geog.umn.edu/

About the College of Liberal Arts:

Home to the arts, social science and humanities disciplines and programs, the College of Liberal Arts comprises 31 academic departments, and over 20 interdisciplinary research centers and administrative/support units. CLA has over 1200 faculty and staff spanning research, teaching, advising, outreach, and administrative functions. CLA units reside in over twenty buildings on the East Bank and West Bank of the Twin Cities campus. CLA enrolls nearly 14,000 undergraduate students, half of the undergraduate enrollment on the Twin Cities campus, and over 1,600 graduate students and has an annual all-funds budget of over $250 Million.

CLA is a destination for curious, compassionate individuals who are committed to making our increasingly interdependent and diverse global community work for everyone. That foundational commitment begins in our CLA Constitution. CLA is committed to increasing enrollment of underrepresented and under-resourced students, diversifying our faculty across all disciplines, recruiting, and retaining a diverse staff, and promoting the expression and exploration of diverse perspectives and viewpoints—so that we all gain the background knowledge and analytical skills we need to understand and respect differences.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $85,000 to $125,000; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Tenure-Track Faculty at the Rank of Assistant Professor

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

State law requires a good faith estimate of the salary range for all advertised positions. The range for this position is $85,000 to $125,000, depending on discipline, experience and other considerations. Faculty positions also include significant start-up funds, as well as retirement, health and other benefits.

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted online.

Applicants wishing to ensure full consideration should submit their materials prior to March 1, 2026.

To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions.

You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume or CV.

• Required documents:Curriculum vitae that includes brief statements of the applicant’s contribution to publications that include more than one author.
• An expanded cover letter that articulates the applicant’s fit with the job description and the applicant’s current and anticipated research agenda. The cover letter must not exceed two pages and should be addressed to the chair of the search committee, Dr. Adam Bledsoe
• Contact information for three references, from whom letters may be solicited at a later date.

Priority application consideration date is March 1, 2026. This position will be open until filled.

For questions about the application process, please contact the department administrator, Colleen Hennen, at henne020@umn.edu or 612-625-6080. For questions about the position, contact Dr. Adam Bledsoe at blegs008@umn.edu.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.