Open Faculty Positions

Assistant Professor of Health Geography

Seeking applications for a tenure track assistant professor in the field of Health Geography
Position Description
The Department of Geosciences in the College of Arts & Sciences at Texas Tech University invites applications for a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track, Assistant Professor to begin 1 September 2025, specializing in the general area of Health Geography.

The successful applicant will build a vibrant externally funded research program using a variety of traditional and non-traditional sources, generate a scholarly publication record, advise graduate and undergraduate students, possess an enthusiasm for diverse and innovative teaching, participate in national and international technical committees and outreach activities. The hire is expected to contribute to teaching in the Geography and the Environment BA and MS programs, will demonstrate expertise in mixed-methods research, as well as in the collection, analysis and integration of big data.

Texas Tech is a Carnegie R1 Hispanic Service Institution in a large, predominantly rural area of West Texas and is committed to contributing big solutions to the big issues that most significantly impact our communities. Strategic research themes are built to tackle scalable challenges, particularly those that have global causes and local impacts, and include resilience and adaptability, One Health, and THRIVE!, which reflects our commitment to investing in our communities.

In line with TTU’s strategic priorities to engage and empower a diverse student body, enable innovative research and creative activities, and transform lives and communities through outreach and engaged scholarship and service, applicants should have experience working with diverse student populations.

Faculty Qualifications
Specific required qualifications include:

Completion (by the time of the appointment) of a Ph.D. in Geography or a related field.
A documented record of teaching in the undergraduate and graduate programs in their area of expertise.
The ability to develop and sustain a vibrant, nationally recognized and externally funded research program;
Demonstrated mentoring M.S. and Ph.D. Students.
Preferred Qualifications

Individuals who have expertise in the following fields are strongly encouraged to apply:

Socio-spatial factors that impact healthcare access.
Community health inequalities.
Critical Public Healthcare Policy.
Community mental health.
Maternal health.
Disease ecology.
Food security, nutrition and health outcomes.
Interactions between environment and health outcomes, including land-use change, air and water quality, natural disasters linked to climate and weather.
Spatial-temporal relationships between humans and animals, their shared environments and implications for zoonotic health vectors, and the outcomes for community well-being and resilience.
Environmental and health justice, and the complexities of healthcare disparities between predominantly rural communities.

Assistant Professor of Geography

Position Description:

The Department of Geosciences in the College of Arts & Sciences at Texas Tech University, in partnership with The Center for Urban-Rural Environmental Sustainability (CURES) and the THRIVE! invites applications for a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track, Assistant Professor in Geography to begin1 September 2025.

The Center for Urban-Rural Environmental Sustainability (CURES), in conjunction with the THRIVE! initiative at Texas Tech University (TTU) will lead scholarship on the challenges of communities in small- to mid-sized cities and the rural areas that surround them. It unites leaders from the fields of science, engineering, resource management, human- and social-sciences, and the humanities to improve knowledge, develop strategies and build frameworks that will improve human health and well-being, and increase regional and environmental sustainability.

Small- and mid-sized cities in the United States represent the largest population groups in the United States. These cities are culturally and economically vibrant hubs that are intimately connected to surrounding rural areas. Migration from rural to small- and mid-sized urban communities changes relationships between communities and their environments. Significant challenges faced by rural to smaller communities include lack of modern infrastructure, economic disparities, differential access to education and health-care, rapidly changing work-force demographics, resource availability, land use, which are all being influenced by environmental change.

The successful applicant will build a vibrant externally-funded research program using a variety of traditional and non-traditional sources, generate a scholarly publication record, advise graduate and undergraduate students, possess an enthusiasm for diverse and innovative teaching, participate in national and international technical committees and outreach activities, and work within a multi-disciplinary group to develop actionable strategies that contribute to urban-rural environmental sustainability.

About the University:

Established in 1923, Texas Tech University is a Carnegie R1 (very high research activity) Doctoral/Research-Extensive, Hispanic Serving, and state-assisted institution. Located on a beautiful 1,850-acre campus in Lubbock, a city in West Texas with a growing metropolitan-area population of over 300,000, the university enrolls over 40,000 students with 33,000 undergraduate and 7,000 graduate students. As the primary research institution in the western two-thirds of the state, Texas Tech University is home to 10 colleges, the Schools of Law and Veterinary Medicine, and the Graduate School. The flagship of the Texas Tech System, Texas Tech is dedicated to student success by preparing learners to be ethical leaders for a diverse and globally competitive workforce. It is committed to enhancing the cultural and economic development of the state, nation, and world.

About the College:

Founded in 1925 as one of the university's four original colleges, the College of Arts & Sciences is comprised of 15 departments and one program, offering a wide variety of courses and programs in the humanities, social and behavioral sciences, mathematics, physical sciences, and natural sciences. The College has approximately 10,000 students enrolled representing more than a quarter of the overall Texas Tech University student population while maintaining a 22:1 student to faculty ratio

About the Department:

The Department of Geosciences offers BS and BA degrees in Geosciences, and, Geography and the Environment, MS degrees in Geosciences, Geography and the Environment and Atmospheric Sciences, and a PhD; we also offer certificates in GIST. Our ~35 tenure-track faculty and instructors serve ~100 graduate students and ~130 under-graduate majors. Our research profile transcends the fields of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, with a growing emphasis on societal impact of Earth-systems.

About Lubbock:

Referred to as the “Hub City” because it serves as the educational, cultural, economic, and health care hub of the South Plains region, Lubbock boasts a diverse population and a strong connection to community, history, and land. With a mild climate, highly rated public schools, and a low cost of living, Lubbock is a family-friendly community that is ranked as one of the best places to live in Texas. Lubbock is home to a celebrated and ever-evolving music scene, a vibrant arts community, and is within driving distance of Dallas, Austin, Santa Fe, and other major metropolitan cities. Lubbock’s Convention & Visitors Bureau provides a comprehensive overview of the Lubbock community and its resources, programs, events, and histories.

Major/Essential Functions:

In line with TTU’s strategic priorities to engage and empower a diverse student body, enable innovative research and creative activities, and transform lives and communities through outreach and engaged scholarship, applicants should have experience working with diverse student populations at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels within individual or across the areas of teaching, research/creative activity, and service.

Required Qualifications:

Specific required qualifications include:

1. Completion (by the time of the appointment) of a Ph.D. in a related field with emphasis on, or relatable to, urban-rural sustainability.

2. A documented record or demonstrated potential for teaching in the undergraduate and graduate programs in their area of expertise.

3. The ability to develop and sustain a vibrant, nationally recognized and externally funded research program.

1. Demonstrated potential for mentoring M.S. and Ph.D. students.

2. A commitment to work in a multi-disciplinary group to develop actionable strategies that contribute to increased resilience and sustainability in urban and rural communities.

Preferred Qualifications:

We seek applicants who will contribute to the mission of CURES through application of Economic Geography as it pertains to:

Regional development
The economy and the environment
Energy markets
Agricultural commodity markets
Links between rural and urban economies

Candidates are encouraged to showcase skills in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and to demonstrate how they will contribute to teaching in the Geography and the Environment programs.

Safety Information:

Adherence to robust safety practices and compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations are responsibilities of all TTU employees.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Please include the following documents in your application:

1. Cover Letter

2. Curriculum Vitae

3. Three equally important statements that describe (a) research experience and future goals, including a 5-year plan for establishing and maintaining and recognized and well-funded research program, (b) a plan for excellence in teaching that recognizes the value of self-reflective professional development, and (c) a statement of interdisciplinary vision related to Urban-Rural Environmental Sustainability

4. The name and contact information of up to 4 colleagues who may be willing to provide a letter of recommendation.

5. A commitment to work in a multi-disciplinary group to develop actionable strategies that contribute to increased resilience and sustainability in urban and rural communities.