Major functions

The assistant professor will be expected to:

• Develop a vibrant, externally funded research program; pursue a variety of traditional and non-traditional research funding 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. 

Preferred Qualifications

Individuals who have expertise in one of the following preferred areas are strongly encouraged to apply:

• Socio-spatial factors that impact healthcare access, interactions between environment and health outcomes, community health inequalities, issues concerning environmental and health justice, and the complexities of healthcare disparity at urban / rural interfaces. Candidates working in the areas of water and health, rural and urban health disparities, as well as rural healthcare.
• Geographers who combine research on water resources, energy, public health, and environmental and economic sustainability to help communities in arid environments, such as West Texas, to prepare for the changes to come.
• The impact of climate and land use change on human activities at the rural-urban interface, with emphasis on socio-economic approaches. Research interests tracking interconnected urban-rural land use changes through geospatial modeling tools and linking changes to local urban and rural sustainable development strategies.
• Geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI) applied to human-centered and community-driven artificial intelligence for a comprehensive analysis of human-environment interactions within the context of environmental and climate challenges. This may include social-hydrology, disaster risk assessment, agricultural planning, and the development of climate change mitigation strategies. The successful candidate will make contributions to community resilience initiatives leveraging geospatial technologies to devise innovative solutions that enhance regional sustainability, with emphasis on urban-rural environments. Application of computational grounded theory within the fields of geography and GIS to address challenges encompassing community resilience, digital twin cities, and community-centric modeling with spatial analysis is expected..  

In line with Texas Tech'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

• Completion (by the time of the appointment) of a Ph.D. in a related field with emphasis on or relatable to rural-urban sustainability;
• A documented record or demonstrated potential for 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 potential for mentoring M.S. and Ph.D. students; and
• 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.