Assistant Professor - Center for Environmental Studies

Virginia Commonwealth University   Richmond, VA   Full-time     Education
Posted on April 14, 2024
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Mission or Goal of Unit: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a premier urban, public research university with a diverse student body in historic Richmond, Virginia. VCU enrolls more than 28,000 students on two campuses. The Center for Environmental Studies is a Chartered Research Center and focal point for environmental and geospatial research and instruction at VCU. The Center for Environmental Studies consists of 23 full-time, affiliate, and adjunct faculty and staff. The unit administers several academic programs, including multidisciplinary undergraduate Certificates in Sustainable Innovation, Outdoor Leadership, and River Management, a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies, and master's degree programs for thesis (MS Environmental Studies) and non-thesis (Masters of Environmental Studies; MEnvs) seeking students.

Chief Purpose of this position: A core mission of the Center for Environmental Studies focuses on geospatial instruction and research. This unit seeks applicants for a 9-month faculty member (non-tenure eligible) Assistant Term Professor in Geospatial Analysis whose expertise in geospatial data acquisition, spatial data analysis, and modern data display will contribute to the teaching and service missions of this Center. The successful applicant would ideally have experience using ESRI Products (ArcGIS Pro, Online, and Experience Builder), R, and geodatabase management. This is a unique and exciting opportunity for the selected individual to be part of a growing geospatial program and an interdisciplinary faculty.

Position Responsibilities: This faculty position will be housed in the Center for Environmental Studies and report to the Director. This position has both teaching (80% effort) and service (20% effort) effort allocations. Primary responsibilities for instruction will support the existing Geospatial and Quantitative Analysis curriculum and develop upper-level courses aligned with the individual's expertise.

Required Qualifications:
  • Terminal degree in Computer Science, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Studies/Science, Urban Studies, Applied Spatial Statistics, Environmental Policy, Geography, Earth Sciences or other discipline salient to geospatial data analysis.
  • Fluency in using Geographic Information Systems such as ArcGIS, QGIS, GRASS, PostGIS, etc.
  • Experience teaching at the undergraduate level (or equivalent).
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively and positively in a team environment.
  • Broad understanding of skills salient to teaching core content in Environmental Studies (data collection & analysis, environmental policy, and hands-on education).
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Fluency in the R and/or Python programming language for data analysis.
  • Development experience with scripting languages for extending geospatial data analyses.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple work priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively as a team member.
Position Type: Teaching & Research Faculty
Full time equivalent: 1.0
Tenure: Ineligible
Rank: Assistant Professor
Months:
Department: Center for Environmental Studies

Salary: $65,000-$80,000

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Dr. James Vonesh
Contact Email: jrvonesh@vcu.edu
Contact Phone: