ESS is Hiring: Environmental Data Science Assistant Professor

The School of Environment, Society & Sustainability at the University of Utah invites applications for a tenure-track position in Environmental Data Science at the rank of Assistant Professor. We are seeking a scholar whose research and teaching interests focus on the application of innovative computational methods to current environmental challenges. Examples of current environmental challenges include but are not limited to: climate change, environmental hazards, ecological change, sustainability, environmental health, population change and migration, agriculture and food security, conflict, urbanization, and development. Candidates should have experience with cutting-edge computational methods, for example, machine learning, deep learning for image or text analysis, causal inference, data-driven discovery, data harmonization, visualization, scalable computing, or analysis of algorithmic bias.

Competitive candidates will have a record of research as demonstrated by journal publications, conference presentations, and/or external funding. The ability to collaborate with faculty and mentor students within the School of Environment, Society & Sustainability, and participate in interdisciplinary research across the University of Utah, are priorities for this position.

The School of Environment, Society & Sustainability is an exciting new unit at the University of Utah, created in 2024 by a faculty-led merger of the Department of Geography and Program in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. The School includes 25 tenured and tenure-track faculty covering a wide range of research and teaching at the intersection of environment and society. The School offers Bachelor’s degrees in Environmental and Sustainability Studies, BS and MS degrees in Geographic Information Science, and Bachelor’s, MS, and PhD degrees in Geography. The School is housed in the new Gardner Commons building in the center of campus, with beautiful classrooms, laboratories and meeting spaces. For more information on the School, see ess.utah.edu.

The University of Utah is Utah’s flagship university, an R-1 university, and a member of the Association of American Universities. The University offers unparalleled opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborative research. The University has created the One Utah Data Science Hub to enhance research and infrastructure in data science and data-enabled science, and has committed to investing $100 million as part of a responsible AI initiative over the coming years. The University is also home to the Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute (SCI), Center for High Performance Computing (CHPC), Digitally Integrated Geographic Information Technologies (DIGIT) Lab, Global Change and Sustainability Center (GCSC), Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy, and a US Census Federal Statistical Research Data Center.

The University of Utah is located in beautiful Salt Lake City, which offers an outstanding quality of life in a major metropolitan area of 1.25 million residents, nestled against the Wasatch Mountains. We have unparalleled access to outdoor activities, ranging from local world-class skiing, hiking, and mountain biking to world-renown national parks and wild spaces within a short drive. Salt Lake City is vibrant and cosmopolitan with arts, theater, sports, and nightlife. The region has received international recognition for its light rail system, downtown, and growing diversity.

The due date for applications is September 1; applications received after the deadline may be considered until the position is filled. Questions about the position can be directed to search committee chair Dr. Simon Brewer (simon.brewer@ess.utah.edu) and School Director Dr. Phil Dennison (dennison@ess.utah.edu). More information on the position and application process can be found at https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/166238.