Department/Organization
204441 - Geological Sciences

Rank
Teaching Assistant Professor

Position Summary
The Department of Geological Sciences at The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, seeks to hire a renewable contract assistant professor (RCAP) beginning August 2025. The primary responsibilities of this position will be teaching and service, though some research contributions are expected. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Geology or a related field. The position is structured as a renewable 9 month, 3-year contract with an annual performance review that will allow for promotion through the academic ranks.

Detailed Position Information
The Department of Geological Sciences at The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, seeks to hire a renewable contract assistant professor (RCAP) beginning August 2025. We are seeking a dynamic, enthusiastic individual who values pedagogical excellence and is excited to teach undergraduate geoscience courses at various levels. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Geology or a related field, but the position is open to applicants with specialties in any area of geoscience. Teaching duties will include lower-division undergraduate courses for both majors and non-majors as well as upper-division undergraduate courses in the RCAP’s area of expertise, depending on departmental need. The candidate is expected to incorporate innovative teaching methodologies to enhance the learning experience of our students and to achieve learning outcomes. The RCAP faculty member will also serve on department committees, will spearhead undergraduate recruitment, and will carry out research related to their field of interest. The primary responsibilities for this are teaching and teaching related service (including serving as the Undergraduate Program Coordinator and coordination of GEO 101 lab sections), with a smaller research component. The position is structured as a renewable 9 month, 3-year contract with an annual performance review that will allow for promotion through the academic ranks.

Questions about this position should be addressed to the chair of the search committee, Dr. Tom Tobin (ttobin@ua.edu). Applications require (1) a cover letter outlining qualifications, (2) a C. V., (3) a list of three to five references (including contact information), (4) a statement of teaching interests and philosophy, and (5) evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., summary of numerical and narrative student evaluations, peer or supervisor observations). The search committee will request letters of reference as needed. Consideration of applications will begin January 5, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled. There will be a preliminary Zoom conversation with selected applicants, after which top candidates will be invited to visit campus and asked to demonstrate their teaching in person.
Prior to hiring, the final candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment background investigation. Additional information about the Department of Geological Sciences can be found at https://geo.ua.edu. The University of Alabama is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer

Minimum Qualifications
Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Geology or a related field, but the position is open to applicants with specialties in any area of geoscience.

Instructions and Required Materials for Application
Applications require (1) a cover letter outlining qualifications, (2) a C. V., (3) a list of three to five references (including contact information), (4) a statement of teaching interests and philosophy, and (5) evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., summary of numerical and narrative student evaluations, peer or supervisor observations). The search committee will request letters of reference as needed.

About the Division/College/School
The 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 8000 students and 1000 faculty and staff across our 25 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.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf