Geology Academic Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Vacancy Announcement

Position Type: Instructional Student Assistant

Term of Appointment: Academic Year 2026/2027 (Fall or Spring, or both)

Hours of Appointment: up to 20 hours per week

Minimum Pay Rate: $17.86/hour 

Positions Available: Multiple

Department: Geology

Under supervision, Instructional Student Assistants (ISAs) in this classification perform teaching, grading and/or tutoring duties for the majority of work hours in a given appointment in a given academic department or equivalent administrative unit over the course of an academic term. The work may be performed on-campus or at an off-campus public agency or private non-profit organization under an agreement with a campus in the CSU system.

Students applying for ISA positions must be admitted or registered as a CSU student. Academic Student Employees may not concurrently hold a faculty or staff position. Students with assignments in more than one student classification (i.e., Teaching Associate, Graduate Assistant, and Student Assistant) are restricted to working a maximum of 20 hours per week during the academic year and up to full-time during academic break periods. The 20 hour per week maximum includes hours worked in all positions.

See Classification Standards for more information: https://www.humboldt.edu/academic-personnel-services/employee-recruitment/academic-student-unit-11 

Provide Geology faculty with grading and tutoring assistance for undergraduate level Geology and/or Geoscience courses. Course assignments may include: GEOL 106 "Earthquake Country"; GEOL 109 "General Geology"; GEOL 303 "Earth Resources and Environmental Change"; GEOL 306 "General Geomorphology"; GEOL 308 "Natural Disasters"; "GEOL 312 "Earth Materials"; GEOL 332 "Sedimentology"; GEOL 335 "Geologic Field Methods"; or another upper/lower division course as determined by the the department. Other duties may include assisting instructors during exams (proctoring) or assisting the instructor during field trips. 

Assist geology faculty and staff with the teaching and organizing of "GEOL 475 Geology Field Camp", a four-week long immersive and experiential geologic mapping class where faculty, staff, and students camp, cook, and work together in a remote setting during May and June 2027.

Duties include but are not limited to: 

(1) Teaching geologic field methods, including how to measure strike and dip of bedding, how to map bedrock and surficial deposits on topographic maps and aerial photos, how to measure stratigraphy and develop stratigraphic columns, and how to construct geologic cross-sections;

(2) Modeling and monitoring a safe, inclusive, and positive working environment while in camp, vehicles, and in the field, including healthy hygiene practices and COVID19 precautionary behaviors (social distancing/masking/hand washing) as well as accident prevention in the field;

(3) Safely driving state vehicles with student passengers (must pass a DMV check and Defensive Driving training);

(4) Assist with camp operations, including assembly of study tents, some assistance with cooking and dish washing, and periodic assistance with driving vehicles for drinking water, grocery runs, and emergencies.

Knowledge and Abilities: Instructional Student Assistants must possess the ability to learn and perform assigned work; work cooperatively with faculty, staff, and other students; and accept responsibility. Completion of specific coursework may be required in order to teach, grade or tutor a course.

Special Qualifications: Admission or registration as an Humboldt student is required. On-Campus or Off-Campus Work-Study Instructional Student Assistants must meet the eligibility requirements of the Federal Work-Study Program, as determined by the campus' financial aid office.

Note: Exceptions to the minimum eligibility qualifications may be granted at the sole discretion of Cal Poly Humboldt.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION: Advanced coursework and experience in Geology relevant to the course assignment is required. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Geoscience or Geology majors who have completed GEOL 106, 109, 306, 308, 312, 335, or 435 (or any combination thereof) will be given preference. 

• If assigned work includes field trip assistance, please note that a completed CSU drivers training module and DMV check will be required. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION: Earned Bachelor's degree in Geology/Geoscience/Earth Science or equivalent educational background is required. DMV check and Defensive Driving certification is required.

Additional requirements include: Geologic field camp experience; knowledge of geologic field mapping and competence in geologic field concepts related to mapping area; demonstrated ability to relate to undergraduate students and help them interpret geology in the field; commitment to an inclusive, professional and welcoming learning and teaching environment; good communication skills.

Please submit the following application materials via CHRS Recruiting (PageUp):

• Letter of Application/Cover Letter;
• Resume/CV;
• Application for Employment (complete in CHRS Recruiting - PageUp);
• PDF or at least one example of an original geologic map and associated stratigraphic column and/or geologic cross-section (Required for Summer 2027 Field Camp Assistants ONLY); and
• Current Unofficial Transcripts.

Please direct any questions pertaining to this position, the Department of Geology, or Cal Poly Humboldt to:

Department of Geology

Cal Poly Humboldt

Email: geology@humboldt.edu 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Availability of these positions are contingent upon departmental need and budget. Early response is encouraged.

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See more photos at Cal Poly Humboldt's Flickr page. 

Notice: It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide complete and accurate employment information. A background check must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position that is designated as sensitive under CSU guidelines. The background check will include, at a minimum, a criminal records check. Certain positions may also require a credit check, motor vehicle report, and/or fingerprinting through Live Scan service. Adverse findings from a background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU student workers who apply for the position. All CSU employees are obligated to respond to and report incidents of sexual harassment and sexual violence. The successful candidate for this position will be mandated to receive relevant training on an annual basis. The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Cal Poly Humboldt is a Title IX/Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status. If accommodations need to be made during the recruitment and interview process, please contact Human Resources at (707) 826-3626 or hr@humboldt.edu 

Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant's current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.