"Earth System Science (Tenure-Track, Assistant Professor)"

Job Description

Earth System Science (Tenure-Track, Assistant Professor)

Posting Number: F-0977
College/Unit: College of Science and Engineering
Home Department: Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Employee Group: Tenure-Track Faculty - Academic Year
Employment Status: Full-Time
Position Type: 9 month (Academic Year)
Position Classification: Tenure Track Faculty
Position Begin Date: 08/28/2026

Position Summary:

The Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Central Michigan University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the broadly defined field of Earth System Science beginning in August 2026. We seek a colleague with expertise in systems science who uses field and/or computational approaches to understand and predict the interactions between the Earth’s connected subsystems. Candidates whose scholarship and teaching areas encompass one or more of the following areas will be strongly preferred:

• Environmental Change
• Environmental Data Science
• Earth System Processes
• Critical Zone Science

The selected candidate will contribute to the mission of the department, college, and university through teaching, research, and service. The base teaching load in the department is 9-12 contact hours per semester, and the selected candidate will support students and programs through engaging and student-centered teaching, curricular development, and advising and mentoring of students. They will develop a research program that involves students and seek external funding. They will actively contribute to service initiatives that advance the department, college, and the university.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in a relevant field. Exceptional ABD candidates will be considered if their degree will be completed by the start of appointment.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Potential for outstanding teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels and the ability to teach core and elective courses offered within the department.
• Potential to develop a rigorous scholarship program that involves students and attracts external funding.
• Commitment to student success and fostering a supportive environment for every member of our university community.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated record of effective teaching as the lead instructor.
• Demonstrated record of securing external funding.
• Postdoctoral experience (academic or industry).
• Interest in developing interdisciplinary courses that emphasize the application of systems science tools, methods, and frameworks to address real world challenges.

Message to Applicants:

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering an environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We are especially interested in highly qualified candidates who will advance and promote CMU’s mission, vision, and leadership standards.

You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position.

Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.

About the Department:

Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS) at CMU is a multidisciplinary department with expertise spanning Earth System Science, with a vibrant and collaborative environment and a strong reputation for scholarship and student outcomes. EAS offers B.S. degrees in Environmental Science, Meteorology, and Geology, and participates in the interdisciplinary Earth and Ecosystem Sciences Ph.D. program. We serve approximately 100 majors and minors across our programs and have a strong history of successful internship, career, and graduate school placements. More information about our department can be found at www.eas.cmich.edu.

Posting Begins: 09/02/2025
Posting Ends:
Open Until Filled: Yes

About CMU:

Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.

We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master’s, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.

CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.

Central is home to 17 men’s and women’s Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17.

CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. It’s part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the state’s largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant.

Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions — Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more — are within easy reach of the city’s central location in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.