Assistant Professor - Environmental Risk and Society

Overview

The Department of Environment and Society (ENVS) in the S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (QANR) at Utah State University (USU) invites applications for a tenure-track position of Assistant Professor with expertise in the geography and human dimensions of environmental hazards and disaster risk. We seek a faculty member whose teaching and research will strengthen Utah’s ability to reduce hazard risks, protect people and infrastructure, and prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. The successful candidate will apply social and/or behavioral sciences to advance understanding and mitigation of risks from environmental hazards such as air pollution, droughts, earthquakes, extreme heat, flooding, and/or wildfire, including in the context of a changing climate and with relevance to the state of Utah.

This is a teaching excellence position, with an emphasis distribution of 60% teaching/advising, 30% research, and 10% service. This tenure-track, full-time academic year (nine-month) position is based at the USU main campus in Logan. The position will start August 2027. Background information is available on the webpages for the Department of Environment and Society and its home, the S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Application review will begin December 10, 2026 . The position will remain open until filled, but application by the date above is encouraged for full consideration. Candidates from all backgrounds and populations are encouraged to apply. For further information contact the search committee chair, Dr. Courtney Flint (courtney.flint@usu.edu).

The Department of Environment and Society welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of their current U.S. work authorization status. Visa sponsorship may be available depending on individual circumstances and applicable immigration requirements. The University supports standard sponsorship costs but cannot cover the additional $100,000 H-1B fee if applicable. Sponsorship eligibility will be determined by University Human Resources prior to an official offer of employment.

Responsibilities

• The successful candidate will develop an outstanding teaching and mentoring program to support student success in both the Department’s academic programs and the University’s Center for Civic Excellence. The teaching role will include preparing students to understand environmental hazard risks, communicate about risks, evaluate risk-reduction strategies, and support mitigation and preparedness activities.
• Teaching includes courses that contribute to the University’s General Education program and to the Department’s majors in environmental studies, environmental science and sustainability, geography, and recreation resource management. The successful candidate could expect to teach courses in hazards and society and to contribute to other departmental and Center for Civic Excellence curricular areas depending on specific expertise.
• The successful candidate will also provide leadership for a shared departmental commitment to community-engaged, experiential education for our undergraduate students, including, for example, leading projects with Utah communities and public agencies that develop skills relevant to environmental hazard mitigation, public safety, and emergency management.
• The successful candidate will lead a research program investigating individual or community decision-making in the context of environmental hazards and disaster risk reduction.
• Student advising includes mentoring undergraduate researchers and advising graduate students in a supportive learning environment that promotes the success of all students.
• Courses may be taught at both undergraduate and graduate levels and may be delivered in person, via virtual or online learning, or in a blended format.
• Service includes participation in university faculty duties and wider professional involvement.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• An earned PhD at date-of-hire in geography or a related field, with background in environmental hazards and society.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A prior teaching and mentoring record that demonstrates potential for teaching excellence.
• Demonstrated interest in community-engaged and experiential learning that complements USU’s Land Grant mission.
• Demonstrated application of research to understanding and mitigating the impacts of hazards through social and behavioral science perspectives.
• A publication record consistent with career stage.
• Demonstrated potential to build and maintain an effective research program, including the ability to secure funding.
• Evidence of successful collaboration with natural and social scientists as well as practitioners across disciplines.
• Experience with or the desire to learn about virtual and online course delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to a learning community of members from a range of backgrounds and experiences and to foster a sense of belonging for all students

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

• Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”
• Cover Letter (2-page maximum) to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”
• Research statement that covers research experience and interests (2-page maximum) to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”
• Teaching statement that covers teaching experience and philosophy, including in fostering the success of students from all backgrounds (2-page maximum) to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”
• Three professional references with contact information to be typed at the beginning of the application