Job Information
Montana State University Assistant Professor of Geography in Bozeman, Montana
Position Details
Position Information
Announcement Number FAC - VA - 25049
For questions regarding this position, please contact:
Dr. Julia Haggerty
Department of Earth Sciences
406-994-6904
julia.haggerty@montana.edu (%20julia.haggerty@montana.edu)
Classification Title
Working Title Assistant Professor of Geography
Brief Position Overview
The Department of Earth Sciences at Montana State University invites applications for the position of tenure-track Assistant Professor of Human-Environment Geography with expertise in non-U.S. or indigenous geographies. Our interdisciplinary, collegial department coalesces around earth systems scholarship in service of MSU’s land grant mission, and offers a wealth of opportunity for growth as an active teacher and researcher.
Faculty Tenure Track Yes
Faculty Rank Assistant
Position Number 4A3052
Department Earth Sciences
Division College of Letters & Science
Appointment Type Faculty
Contract Term Academic Year
Semester
If other, specify From date
If other, specify End date
Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining
FTE 1.0
Benefits Eligible Eligible
Salary Salary commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications
Contract Type MUS
If other, please specify
Recruitment Type Open
Position Details
General Statement
The Department of Earth Sciences at Montana State University invites applications for the position of tenure-track Assistant Professor of Geography. We seek a well-rounded scholar from any subdiscipline in the human-environment tradition in geography whose work lies within the intersection of two or more of the following: climate change, sustainability, social vulnerability, and environmental justice. The candidate’s training and interests will complement existing departmental strengths (see below for more information) and must include expertise in non-U.S. or indigenous places. Expectations for the position include teaching a large introductory course in Human-Environment Geography as well as courses at the upper-division and graduate levels, mentoring graduate students in our department and other allied MSc and PhD programs, undergraduate advising, and a portfolio of service activities. The desire to participate and engage as a team player in a highly collegial, student-focused and interdisciplinary department is essential. The candidate will have a clear vision for launching a successful research program from our location in Bozeman, Montana. The Department of Earth Sciences values all perspectives and is committed to continually supporting, promoting and building a whole community, which includes people of many backgrounds.
Duties and Responsibilities
Teach lower division introductory courses, upper division and graduate courses in geography;
Maintain an active research program leading to publication in peer-reviewed journals and other venues;
Advise undergraduate and graduate students;
Participate on department, college, and university committees as appropriate;
Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Ph.D. in Geography or related discipline by start date;
Demonstrated potential to teach effectively in lower- and upper-division courses in multiple topics in Human Environment Geography;
Demonstrated scholarly expertise in a non-U.S. world region or indigenous territory (-ies) within broad portfolio of human-environment geography;
Demonstrated research experience as evidenced by a record of publication appropriate to the norms of the candidate’s specialization and their position;
Demonstrated potential to develop an externally-funded research program;
Demonstrated potential for effective graduate student mentorship and instruction.
Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Demonstrated aptitude and potential for excellence as an instructor of large (150+ person) undergraduate courses, including using innovative technologies and pedagogical approaches;
Demonstrated potential to offer graduate-level training in one or more established human-environment geography theoretical traditions and accompanying research methodologies;
Demonstrated commitment to supporting, promoting, and building a whole community, which includes people of many backgrounds, through research, teaching, service, or lived experience;
Demonstrated capacity to support interdisciplinary human-environment research activities on campus, including service on graduate committees, in the interest of promoting a thriving, multi-disciplinary human-environment scholarly and creative community at MSU .
The Successful Candidate Will
Have effective interpersonal skills including the ability to engage constructively with the full range of MSU community members.
Have superior written and oral communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with audiences and students of all backgrounds and training.
Demonstrate the potential to foster a supportive community as appropriate to their role.
Bring a commitment to teamwork, humility and mutual respect which are essential to the functioning of our interdisciplinary program.
Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
Required Application Documents:
Cover Letter
Curriculum Vitae
Research Statement (not to exceed 2 pages)
Teaching Statement (not to exceed 2 pages)
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Physical Demands
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
The Program
Among the physical and human geographers in the program, existing research topical strengths are in climate change, food systems, social vulnerability and urban geography; resource and energy geography, including decarbonization; water resources, stakeholder engagement and environmental planning; biogeography and paleogeography; and snow and water resources. Our faculty bring methodological expertise in data science, spatial analysis, remote sensing, qualitative methods, survey design, community-engaged research, policy analysis, and historical/archival document analysis.
The Department
Based in Bozeman, MT, our department is distinguished by our spectacular location— within the traditional, unceded territories of multiple indigenous cultures and where the meeting of the Rocky Mountains with the Northern Great Plains, the headwaters of the Missouri River, the juxtaposition of rural and urban, and climate change impacts all create living laboratories for our students and faculty. We bring strength across the field of Earth System Science with research and teaching programs in Paleontology, Geology, Snow Science, Geography, and GIS /Planning. Our faculty includes 14 full-time faculty and our student body includes about 50 graduate students and over 230 undergraduate majors. A complementary staff of roughly 20 adjuncts, research professors, affiliates, and support personnel are an invaluable asset to our departmental community for learning, discover, and engagement. We are proud to offer degrees at the Bachelors, Masters, and PhD levels.
Our department takes the Montana State University tagline “Mountains and Minds” quite literally. Our faculty, staff, and students use their minds for learning and discovery in a wide variety of unique landscapes around the nation and worldwide—from our backyard in Bozeman and the Rocky Mountains to Ghana, the Himalayas and beyond. Earth Sciences students have many opportunities to participate in field trips that facilitate the study of earth processes, earth resources, earth history, and environments that people have modified. We invite applicants to further explore the opportunities to engage with our programs.
The College
The College of Letters & Science, the largest center for learning, teaching and research at Montana State University, offers students an excellent liberal arts education in nearly 50 majors and 25 minors. Within the four areas of the humanities, sciences, mathematics and social sciences, the college prepares students to respond to the complexities of the world and the rapid expansion of human knowledge. Students learn to think critically, solve problems, communicate clearly, understand various disciplines and cultures, and develop the engagement that will make them life-long learners and leaders.
Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies 1
Desired Start Date August 2025
Position End Date (if temporary)
Open Date
Close Date
Applications will be:
Screening of applications will begin on December 12, 2024; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.
Special Instructions
EEO Statement
Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.
