Full Time Planetary Geology Jobs (NOW HIRING)

BCAS - Assistant Professor of Planetary Processes in Geological Sciences - 527641
Job no: 527641
Work type: Regular Full-time (Benefits eligible)
Location: Tuscaloosa
Categories: Tenure/Tenure-Track Faculty
Department/Organization
204441 - Geological Sciences
Rank
Assistant Professor
Position Summary
The Department of Geological Sciences at The University of Alabama (UA) seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Planetary Processes.
Detailed Position Information
The Department of Geological Sciences at The University of Alabama (UA) seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Planetary Processes. We invite applications from scholars who employ innovative, integrated strategies such as fault/fracture mechanics, remote-sensing, geologic/structural mapping, potential field analyses, and analog fieldwork to understand tectonic and deformation processes that shape rocky and/or icy planetary bodies. The successful candidate will be expected to establish a vigorous, externally funded research program, mentor graduate/undergraduate researchers, contribute to departmental/university service, and teach both undergraduate and graduate courses, based on departmental needs.
Minimum Qualifications
• Ph.D. in Geoscience or a closely related field and a minimum of two years of postdoctoral research experience by the appointment date.
• Evidence of research productivity commensurate with career stage.
• Ability to teach effectively at multiple levels and to contribute to core/elective courses.
Preferred Qualifications
• A record of scholarship in planetary processes shaping rocky and/or icy bodies (e.g., Vesta, Ceres, Mercury, Venus). • Experience with planetary geologic mapping and remote-sensing analysis (e.g., Dawn, MESSENGER, LRO, high-resolution optical/topography datasets).
• Expertise in rock/fracture mechanics and quantitative structural analyses.
• A record of collaboration across field/lab/modeling/data-driven approaches and with planetary/terrestrial analog communities.
• Evidence of external funding potential (e.g., NASA, NSF).
• Experience with development and teaching of undergraduate or graduate courses, including geophysics, structural geology, and GIS courses.
• Experience with, and interest in, K-12 outreach activities.
Instructions and Required Materials for Application
Candidates must provide: • Cover letter (1-2 pages) • Curriculum Vitae • Research statement (<2 pages) • Teaching statement (≤1 page) • Up to three representative publications • Contact details for at least three referees
Application review will begin immediately and continue until position is filled. Note that applications received by November 1, 2025, will receive priority considerations.
About the Division/College/School
The J. Frank Barefield Jr. College of Arts and Sciences at The University of Alabama offers an exciting and dynamic environment for faculty seeking to make an impact in their field and in the lives of the innovators and changemakers of tomorrow.
As the largest college at The University, we house over 9,000 students and 1,000 faculty and staff across our 22 departments.
With nationally recognized programs and award-winning faculty, our College has positioned itself as a leader in higher education. Our facilities and resources include state-of-the-art laboratories, research centers, and performance venues, providing students with hands-on learning experiences and opportunities for research and creative expression.
The College is committed to the liberal arts philosophy that fosters creative and critical thinking and a lifetime of learning."
About the University
The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, named one of Travel + Leisure's 25 Best College Towns and Cities in the U.S. As one of the nation's premier universities, UA offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in nearly 200 fields of study. With more than 1,400 acres of tree-lined academic core campus and over 300 state-of-the art facilities, UA has been ranked among the most beautiful and most impressive college campuses in the South, in the state of Alabama and in the nation.
In Fall 2023, the Capstone set a new enrollment record with more than 39,000 students, including more than 8,200 in the freshman class. The current enrollment includes students from every county in Alabama, every state in the nation and 92 countries around the world. More than 1,100 National Merit Scholars are currently enrolled, making UA one of the largest enrolling institutions of the scholars in the country.
UA was recently recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. students for the seventh time in nine years, as well as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the first time. UA is one of only 12 universities in the nation to receive both honors.
For reasons like this, the University made Forbes list of America's Top Colleges for 2023 and Time magazine's list of Top 50 Best Colleges for Future Leaders. It also made Princeton Review's list of Top Value Colleges.
UA is also designated among the top doctoral research universities in the United States in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. One of the fastest growing major research institutions in the nation, UA saw a 21% increase in sponsored awards in the 2023 fiscal year.
Since 2015, UA has invested over $1.1 billion in the physical campus, adding more than 2.55 million gross square feet of space, over 150 new research-intensive faculty, signature research areas (e.g., "The Alabama Research Institutes"), and a growing number of partnerships with industry and with state and federal agencies.
The University employs nearly 2,100 faculty and over 4,500 staff, with 52 UA researchers included in the National Academy of Inventors. An additional 40 current faculty have received the NSF CAREER Award, the nation's most prestigious recognition of top performing young scientists in disciplines ranging from nanoscience and engineering to biological sciences.
Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.
The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf
Advertised: 02 Oct 2025 Central Daylight Time
Applications close: 01 Aug 2026 Central Daylight Time