Assistant Professor/Tenure Track

Assistant Professor/Tenure Track - Earth System Science & Policy

• 497384

• Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States

• Full-time Faculty

Salary/Position Classification

• $75,000-$80,000 9-month contract, Exempt
• This position will work onsite.

Purpose of Position

The Department of Earth System Science and Policy (ESSP), housed in the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota, is seeking an Assistant Professor with expertise in Grassland and/or Wetland Ecology, with a strong complimentary background in Environmental Hydrology. This is a 9-month, tenure track position contingent on availability of funding. The ESSP department currently offers Masters of Science, Masters of Environmental Management, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees, as well as an undergraduate Minor in Sustainability Studies.

The ESSP department is seeking a faculty who understands the critical nature of the interconnected Earth system, and how grassland/wetland ecology is integrally linked to hydrological systems in the Northern Great Plains Prairie Pothole Region. The successful candidate will fill critical teaching and research gaps within the ESSP department by teaching a core ESSP graduate course on topics related to the hydrological cycle in Earth Systems, along with developing a course on quantitative methods in environmental fields or an elective course within their field of expertise, and an undergraduate course to complement the Minor in Sustainability Studies. However, the greatest need for the ESSP department at this time is a new faculty who is eager to mentor, advise, and conduct research with graduate students, as the department is thriving with an influx of applicants to both the on-campus and online graduate programs. The ESSP department expects the new faculty to seek extramural grant funding to support their own research, and that of their graduate students', which should align with the faculty's research topics and interests. The new faculty's research will be expected to fit within the larger scope of the ESSP department and the School of Aerospace Sciences through collaborative efforts with the other faculty in the department and college, particularly with the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) program, as well as with other departments across campus.

About UND

Established in 1883, the University of North Dakota is the oldest research university in North Dakota. Founded with a strong liberal arts foundation, it is the state's flagship university and is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as having high research activity. UND offers degrees in more than 225 fields of study and enrolls more than 15,000 students. It is the home of the state's only School of Law and School of Medicine. The School of Medicine and Health Sciences has major initiatives in rural and public health, and Aerospace is home to one of the first and largest unmanned aerial vehicle programs in the world.

UND is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, a vibrant college town of over 57,000 people located on the border of North Dakota and Minnesota. Short commutes, a great public-school system, high quality medical facilities, low crime, ample parks and theaters, and a cost of living below that found in large American cities are some of Grand Forks' advantages. Ranked as one of the top 5 Best Small College Towns, and America's Best Hockey Town, Grand Forks offers stellar quality of life without the metropolitan hassles.

Duties & Responsibilities

The successful applicant will receive a contract with an approximate distribution of 40% teaching, 50% research, and 10% service effort. UND and the ESSP department value diverse perspectives and seek applicants to help students succeed. The successful candidate will demonstrate outstanding promise for establishing a sustainable research program that will attract external funds and be aligned with the UND LEADS Strategic Plan. The University of North Dakota is supportive of dual-career assistance both within the University and the local community. Please contact UND's Recruiting Manager, Hannah Whalen ), to explore dual-career opportunities.

• Teaching: Contribute to the mission of the ESSP department through developing and teaching graduate and undergraduate courses with a perspective of interdisciplinary and sustainability science; Mentor and advise graduate student research projects at the MS and PhD levels; Serve on graduate student committees of other faculty advisees, both in the department and in other departments across campus; etc.
• Research: Develop an independent research program in the field of expertise; Pursue extramural research funding from governmental or non-governmental sources to support both personal research and student-based research interests; Disseminate research results and knowledge through peer-reviewed published articles, published books or book chapters, conference presentations at regional, national and/or international conferences, etc.
• Service: Participate in university shared governance by serving on departmental, college, and university committees; Provide service toward professional organizations, such as chairing conference sessions, serving on boards or in committee roles, reviewing journal manuscripts or grant applications; Provide interviews to various media outlets when contacted; etc.

Required Competencies

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills and the ability to productively engage with students, faculty, and staff from a variety of diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to teach, mentor and advise students, and work in both in-person and online settings.

Minimum Requirements

• Ph.D. in an Earth Systems related field focused on Grassland or Wetland Ecology (e.g. Biology, Geography, Agronomy, etc.).
• Background in environmental hydrology.
• Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. This position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of, and ability to teach, topics on sustainability and/or quantitative methods in environmental fields.
• Experience with ArcGIS Pro, ENVI Remote Sensing Software, and Statistical Analysis Software (e.g. SPSS, R, Matlab, etc.).
• Experience with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles as a remote sensing tool.
• Field-based research experience, particularly in the Northern Great Plains.
• Teaching experience at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.
• A strong record of successful grant funding and high-quality, peer-reviewed publications.

To Apply

For full consideration, applications must be received by February 1, 2026 and include the following materials:

• Cover letter.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Statement of teaching philosophy and experience teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, as well as experience mentoring graduate students (1 – 2 pages).
• Statement of current and future research goals, and how they align with research within the ESSP department, as well as UND's Grand Challenges (1 – 2 pages).
• Contact information of three references, two of which should be able to comment on teaching and research abilities.
• Unofficial transcripts. Please note that the selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts upon hire.

Position is open until filled.

Please note, all employment postings close at 11:55pm CST.

Position Benefits

Benefits include single or family health care coverage (UND pays the full premium), life insurance, employee assistance program, retirement plans with generous employer contributions, sick leave in addition to paid holidays.

Optional benefits include supplemental life, dental, vision, flexible spending account, supplemental retirement plans.

UND also offers an employee tuition waiver and a variety of professional development opportunities.

Find out more about UND's great benefits and perks here

Want to be notified of similar opportunities?

First Name (required)

Last Name (required)

Email (required)

Job Alert

Finalize your job alert by selecting criteria from the dropdowns below. You can select multiple options from each dropdown by returning to the combobox and re-entering the list of options. Submit at the end to create your job alert.

Departments

Departments

Earth System Science & Policy

Categories

Categories

Tenure/Tenure-track Faculty

Employment Type

Employment Type

Full-time Faculty

Locations

Locations

Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States

SENDPLEASE WAIT...DONE

Not You?

By submitting this form, you consent to receive text messages related to available jobs and information about working at UND. Message & data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Unsubscribe at any time by replying STOP or clicking the unsubscribe link (where available). By submitting your information, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use.

CATEGORIES:

Tenure/Tenure-track Faculty

DEPARTMENT:

Earth System Science & Policy

Other UND Career Openings

There are currently no jobs matching this criteria

Apply Now

First Name (required)

Last Name (required)

Email (required)

APPLYPLEASE WAIT...DONE

Not You?

By submitting this form, you consent to receive text messages related to available jobs and information about working at UND. Message & data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Unsubscribe at any time by replying STOP or clicking the unsubscribe link (where available). By submitting your information, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use.

Additional Information

Find out why Grand Forks is Cooler.

All information listed in this position announcement will be used by Human Resources, the Hiring Department, and EO/Title IX for screening, interviewing and selection purposes.

Need help?

Please email the Human Resources Department at or contact us by phone at If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation to participate in any portion of the University's employment process, including completion of the online application process, please contact our office in advance of your participation or visit.

Veteran's Preference

Veterans claiming preference must submit all proof of eligibility by the closing date. Proof of eligibility includes a DD-214 or a copy of NGB 22 from National Guard or Reserve (with a unit located in ND) or certification from the applicant's unit command that the individual is expected to be discharged or released from active duty in the uniformed services under other than dishonorable conditions not later than one hundred twenty days after the date of the submission of the certification. If claiming disabled veteran status, proof of eligibility includes a DD-214 and a current letter of disability dated within the past year.

Confidentiality of Application Materials

Pursuant to NDCC , applications and any records related to the applications that identify an applicant are confidential, except records related to the finalists of the position, which are open to the public after the search committee has identified the top three or more finalists who will be invited to campus.

EEO Statement

The University of North Dakota is an equal opportunity employer (veteran/disability). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other protected characteristic. Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Clery Statement

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the University of North Dakota publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. The report includes the university's policies, procedures, and programs concerning safety and security, as well as three years of crime statistics for our campus. As a prospective employee, you are entitled to a copy of this report. The report and statistical data can be found online at You may also request a paper copy of the report from the UND Police Department located at 3851 Campus Road, Grand Forks, ND, 58202.