Assistant Professor, Remote Sensing of Water – Oregon State University
Position Summary
The College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS) at Oregon State University (OSU) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor with a focus on remote sensing of water. This position can be structured as a traditional 9-month, 1.0 FTE (full time equivalent) faculty position, or alternatively as a 12-month position at 0.75 FTE. In either case, there is an expectation that the successful candidate will secure funding to augment the university-provided salary.
We seek a colleague who will develop and maintain a vigorous, externally-funded research program in the remote sensing of water, including snow and ice. The successful applicant is expected to use novel remote sensing approaches to observe and model the spatial and temporal patterns of water stocks and surface and subsurface fluxes of water to/from the oceans, vegetation, soil, snow and ice, aquifers, surface water bodies and watersheds across all scales in the landscape. Spatial and temporal distributions and fluxes of water are of increasing relevance for understanding climate dynamics and water scarcity for ecosystems and humans. The successful applicant will help lead major innovative research directions in CEOAS linking atmosphere, vegetation, hydrosphere, and human systems. We seek an outstanding scholar to develop cutting-edge strategies to combine remote sensing technologies with direct measurements, existing or new. This could involve using spatial and temporal data on water storage to model and infer fluxes of moisture to and from the atmosphere, to understand vegetation water stress, human withdrawals of water from surface and subsurface reservoirs, to anticipate emergent drought conditions, and/or to understand or predict other natural hazards or impacts on humans. The successful applicant will devise new applications and analyses for linking traditional remotely-sensed imagery with novel technologies to clarify interactions between water, climate, terrestrial landscapes, and human systems.
OSU maintains an institution-wide commitment to diversity, multiculturalism, and community, and seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce and student body that includes members of historically underrepresented groups. We strive to build and sustain a welcoming and supportive campus environment. OSU is recognized as a center of national excellence in water studies, and CEOASis a leader in the cross campus water network. The successful applicant will join the large group of outstanding CEOAS scientists and will be expected to teach at all levels in our undergraduate and graduate curriculum and contribute to the advising and mentoring of undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral scholars. The successful applicant will demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching remote sensing of water through an understanding of the spatial and temporal fluxes of water and an understanding of the physical principles underlying remote sensing methods, and build a vibrant, externally funded research program. The position will help maintain CEOAS as a key player within a high profile and extensive campus-wide framework of water-related studies, and position CEOAS for addressing critical issues related to anticipated hydrological changes at local to global levels. The critical importance of water science at OSU is recognized through strategic plans (see OSU’s Vision2030 document), and an upcoming philanthropic focus on water. The College is developing a new interdisciplinary focus on preparing for natural hazards in a changing world, and candidates with relevant expertise are particularly encouraged to apply.
For academic-track positions, it is CEOAS policy to confer indefinite tenure when promoted to Associate Professor, with indefinite tenure granted on either a 9-month, 1.0 FTE or 12-month, 0.75 FTE appointment basis.
CEOAS is an internationally recognized leader in the study of the Earth as an integrated system. The College has an annual budget of more than $50 million, with support coming from the National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Office of Naval Research, and other federal and state agencies and industry interests. CEOAS has more than 100 faculty, 200 graduate students and 600 undergraduate students. Graduate programs include Master’s and PhD degrees in Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences; Geology; and Geography; and a Master’s degree in Marine Resource Management. The College has undergraduate programs in Geology, Geography and Geospatial Science, Ocean Science, Climate Science, and Environmental Sciences, with several minors and certificate programs. CEOAS works closely with OSU’s extension programs. In addition, many CEOAS faculty participate in OSU’s Water Resources Graduate Program, which offers five degrees (3 MS, 2 PhD) in Water Resources Science; Engineering; and Policy & Management. CEOAS operates numerous state-of-the art laboratories and three oceanographic research vessels, the 177-foot ocean-going Oceanus, the 84-foot coastal research vessel Pacific Storm, and the 54-foot coastal research vessel Elakha. In addition, the College is embarking on exciting new developments, including the management of the design and operation of new Regional Class Research Vessels, and launching a Marine Studies Initiative, an interdisciplinary undergraduate academic program on OSU’s coastal campus in Newport, Oregon.
Position Duties
50% – Teaching and Advising:
Teach high quality graduate and undergraduate courses in field of expertise. Mentor and advise undergraduates, graduate students, and post-doctoral scholars. Supervise graduate teaching assistants, as needed.
40% – Research/Scholarship:
Establish and maintain an externally funded program of scholarly research in the area of remote sensing of water. Work towards excellence in research as evidenced by national and international recognition through significant contributions to the field. Publish scholarly work in peer-reviewed, top-ranked journals. Disseminate research results by participation at national and international professional conferences and symposia. Supervise research staff, graduate research assistants, and/or student employees as needed.
10% – Service:
Provide service to the College and/or university to sustain and promote the research and educational missions. Participate in service to the research discipline through committee memberships, reviews, and research planning/leadership activities.
Minimum/Required Qualifications
Ph.D. in Physical Geography, Water Resources, Geospatial Science, Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, or other related discipline by the start of employment.
A commitment to educational equity in a multicultural setting and to advancing the participation of diverse groups and supporting diverse perspectives.
A strong potential for success demonstrated by a record of scholarship and a clearly defined research agenda focused on the remote sensing of water.
Demonstrated ability or significant potential for teaching excellence and commitment to student success that benefits the graduate and undergraduate programs of CEOAS and the Water Resources Graduate Program.
Demonstrated ability or significant potential for establishing a research program supported by extramural funding.
Demonstrated ability or significant potential for mentoring undergraduate students, graduate students, and/or post-doctoral scholars.
Proficiency in oral and written English.
This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per OSU Standard 576-055-0000 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.
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