Assistant Professor/Tenure Track - Earth System Science & Policy

Salary/Position Classification

• $75,000-$80,000 9-month contract, Exempt
• This position will work onsite.

Purpose of Position

The Department of Earth System Science and Policy (ESSP), housed in the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota, is seeking an Assistant Professor with expertise in Grassland and/or Wetland Ecology, with a strong complimentary background in Environmental Hydrology. This is a 9-month, tenure track position contingent on availability of funding. The ESSP department currently offers Masters of Science, Masters of Environmental Management, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees, as well as an undergraduate Minor in Sustainability Studies.

The ESSP department is seeking a faculty who understands the critical nature of the interconnected Earth system, and how grassland/wetland ecology is integrally linked to hydrological systems in the Northern Great Plains Prairie Pothole Region. The successful candidate will fill critical teaching and research gaps within the ESSP department by teaching a core ESSP graduate course on topics related to the hydrological cycle in Earth Systems, along with developing a course on quantitative methods in environmental fields or an elective course within their field of expertise, and an undergraduate course to complement the Minor in Sustainability Studies. However, the greatest need for the ESSP department at this time is a new faculty who is eager to mentor, advise, and conduct research with graduate students, as the department is thriving with an influx of applicants to both the on-campus and online graduate programs. The ESSP department expects the new faculty to seek extramural grant funding to support their own research, and that of their graduate students’, which should align with the faculty’s research topics and interests. The new faculty’s research will be expected to fit within the larger scope of the ESSP department and the School of Aerospace Sciences through collaborative efforts with the other faculty in the department and college, particularly with the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) program, as well as with other departments across campus.

About UND

Established in 1883, the University of North Dakota is the oldest research university in North Dakota. Founded with a strong liberal arts foundation, it is the state’s flagship university and is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as having high research activity. UND offers degrees in more than 225 fields of study and enrolls more than 15,000 students. It is the home of the state’s only School of Law and School of Medicine. The School of Medicine and Health Sciences has major initiatives in rural and public health, and Aerospace is home to one of the first and largest unmanned aerial vehicle programs in the world.

UND is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, a vibrant college town of over 57,000 people located on the border of North Dakota and Minnesota. Short commutes, a great public-school system, high quality medical facilities, low crime, ample parks and theaters, and a cost of living below that found in large American cities are some of Grand Forks’ advantages. Ranked as one of the top 5 Best Small College Towns, and America’s Best Hockey Town, Grand Forks offers stellar quality of life without the metropolitan hassles.

Duties & Responsibilities

The successful applicant will receive a contract with an approximate distribution of 40% teaching, 50% research, and 10% service effort. UND and the ESSP department value diverse perspectives and seek applicants to help students succeed. The successful candidate will demonstrate outstanding promise for establishing a sustainable research program that will attract external funds and be aligned with the UND LEADS Strategic Plan. The University of North Dakota is supportive of dual-career assistance both within the University and the local community. Please contact UND’s Recruiting Manager, Hannah Whalen (Hannah.Whalen@UND.edu), to explore dual-career opportunities.

• Teaching: Contribute to the mission of the ESSP department through developing and teaching graduate and undergraduate courses with a perspective of interdisciplinary and sustainability science; Mentor and advise graduate student research projects at the MS and PhD levels; Serve on graduate student committees of other faculty advisees, both in the department and in other departments across campus; etc.
• Research: Develop an independent research program in the field of expertise; Pursue extramural research funding from governmental or non-governmental sources to support both personal research and student-based research interests; Disseminate research results and knowledge through peer-reviewed published articles, published books or book chapters, conference presentations at regional, national and/or international conferences, etc.
• Service: Participate in university shared governance by serving on departmental, college, and university committees; Provide service toward professional organizations, such as chairing conference sessions, serving on boards or in committee roles, reviewing journal manuscripts or grant applications; Provide interviews to various media outlets when contacted; etc. 

Required Competencies

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills and the ability to productively engage with students, faculty, and staff from a variety of diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to teach, mentor and advise students, and work in both in-person and online settings.

Minimum Requirements

• Ph.D. in an Earth Systems related field focused on Grassland or Wetland Ecology (e.g. Biology, Geography, Agronomy, etc.).
• Background in environmental hydrology.
• Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. This position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of, and ability to teach, topics on sustainability and/or quantitative methods in environmental fields.
• Experience with ArcGIS Pro, ENVI Remote Sensing Software, and Statistical Analysis Software (e.g. SPSS, R, Matlab, etc.).
• Experience with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles as a remote sensing tool.
• Field-based research experience, particularly in the Northern Great Plains.
• Teaching experience at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.
• A strong record of successful grant funding and high-quality, peer-reviewed publications.

To Apply

For full consideration, applications must be received by February 1, 2026 and include the following materials:

• Cover letter.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Statement of teaching philosophy and experience teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, as well as experience mentoring graduate students (1 – 2 pages).
• Statement of current and future research goals, and how they align with research within the ESSP department, as well as UND’s Grand Challenges (1 – 2 pages).
• Contact information of three references, two of which should be able to comment on teaching and research abilities.
• Unofficial transcripts. Please note that the selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts upon hire.

Position is open until filled.