Assistant Professor Geophysics Jobs in California

We invite applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level in the Department of Geophysics (https://geophysics.stanford.edu/) in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. We welcome applications from any field of geophysics, broadly defined.

The Department of Geophysics is one of seven departments within the Doerr School of Sustainability (https://sustainability.stanford.edu/school/departments). Geophysicists study Earth and planetary processes through laboratory experiments, computational and theoretical modeling, remote imaging, and direct observation. The Department of Geophysics is unified through a common interest in physical processes and properties and the collection and use of geophysical data. Our interests span Earth's interior, near-surface, oceans, and atmosphere, as well as planetary science.

The successful candidate will teach courses at undergraduate and graduate levels, advise students, and participate actively in the department and school communities. An overview of our degree programs can be found on our website.

Application materials need to be submitted online at this link. The deadline to submit your application is Monday, October 19, 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.

1. Cover letter
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Contact information for three or more reference letter writers. Also, to ensure that our search process avoids real or perceived conflicts of interest, we require Stanford-affiliated candidates (those who obtained their PhD or completed postdoctoral studies at Stanford) to provide a minimum of four reference letters, with at least three coming from individuals not affiliated with Stanford. 
4. Research statement (maximum 2 pages)
5. Teaching statement (maximum 1 page). We encourage applicants to review our degree programs and propose courses that draw upon their research expertise and interests, especially new courses that are complementary to our existing offerings.

The Department of Geophysics, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, and Stanford University value faculty who will help foster an open and respectful academic environment for colleagues, students, and staff with a wide range of backgrounds, and perspectives. Candidates may choose to include as part of their research and teaching statements a brief discussion about how their work and experience will further these values.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Stanford welcomes applications from all who would bring additional dimensions to the University's research, teaching and clinical missions.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact disability.access@stanford.edu.

The expected base pay range for this position is $143,500 - $180,000. Stanford University has provided a base pay range representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for the position. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate including years since terminal degree, training, and field or discipline; departmental budget availability; internal equity; and external market pay for comparable jobs.