New Position in Water Resources and Sustainability - Fall 2010

Position:

The Department of Geography at the University of Iowa invites applications for a full-time tenure track appointment at the Assistant Professor level in the area of sustainability and water resources. The position is part of a significant university-wide sustainability initiative that seeks to build interdisciplinary faculty expertise in this emerging area. We seek an individual with research interests in surface water resources who will broadly complement one or more of the department’s existing strengths in geoinformatics, land use science, environmental policy, biogeography, or health geography. A particular interest in connections between sustainable water resources and either global climate change or sustainable energy production is desirable. The Department and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are strongly committed to gender and ethnic diversity; the strategic plans of the University, College and Department reflect this commitment.

The successful candidate must, to a degree commensurate with career stage, provide evidence of their ability to publish in leading academic journals and to secure external research support. The appointment will begin in August 2010. A Ph.D. in geography or related discipline is required at the time of appointment. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply. The University of Iowa is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. For further information please see http://www.uiowa.edu/~geog/water-resource and http:/jobs.uiowa.edu , requisition number 57202.

Candidates must submit applications online at http://jobs.uiowa.edu/ (requisition # 57202). Attachments to the application should include a letter of application and curriculum vitae. The letter of application should include: a statement of teaching interests, evidence of teaching ability, and a statement that describes current and future research activities. Three letters of recommendation should be mailed to: Dr. David Bennett, 316 Jessup Hall, Department of Geography, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242. Screening of applications begins November 10, 2009 and will continue until the position is filled. Questions regarding this position can be directed to Dr. Bennett (david-bennett@uiowa.edu or 319 335-0158).

Department:

Seven years ago the department charted a new course focused on human-environment interactions informed by geographic information science. Our strategy was to develop a department of international stature that is focused on the production of science-based research and education within this sub-area of geography. Since embarking on this new course, the department has made a series of hires and this search will result in the fifth new position in six years. The shift in departmental emphasis has enabled individual faculty, and teams of faculty, to gain some measure of success in publication and grantsmanship. We have, for example, competed successfully in highly competitive grant programs and have recent funding from NSF, NASA, NIH, USDA, and NGA. Geography faculty members have also reached out to establish and maintain important links across campus and across institutions, including local collaborative research projects with faculty from the Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research, Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Public Health, International Programs, and the Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination. More recently, Geography faculty have assumed important roles in the university’s new sustainability program. We have also developed a state of the art GIS teaching facility for both in-laboratory and mobile applications and have received strong support from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for the continued maintenance of this facility. With this hire, we aim to add a highly qualified, energetic individual in the general area of sustainability and water resources to our faculty. As suggested above, we seek an individual with a very promising academic career and the ability to complement the expertise of existing faculty members. We are not tied to any preconceptions about background and training, and are open to applicants who approach sustainability from a variety of different perspectives.

Sustainability Initiative:

The sustainability initiative is a campus wide effort to integrate sustainable human/environment interactions into both the intellectual and everyday life of students, faculty, and staff at the University of Iowa. To stimulate sustainability research and education, departments were asked to submit proposals for cluster hires that focus on an element of sustainability. This process resulted in the authorization of five new hires at the intersection of sustainability and water resources. These hires will be in the departments of Geography, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, as well as the Graduate Program in Urban and Regional Planning, and the Collage of Law. The intent of this cluster hire is to create an interdisciplinary team that will work with each other and existing UI faculty to address the increasingly challenging problem of sustainable water resources. For further information please see:

http://registrar.uiowa.edu/registrar/catalog/universitycollege/sustainability/
http://www.news-releases.uiowa.edu/2008/april/042208mason-sustainability.html

Iowa City:

Iowa certainly has the undeserved reputation of endless seas of corn. Eastern Iowa is strongly influenced by the Mississippi and its tributaries and the scenic beauty of the resulting rolling topography rivals that of any across the Midwest. Whether it is hiking nearby Sugar Bottom, sailing Lake Macbride, or visiting the venerable Amana Colonies, there is a vast array of activities for everyone around the region. In fact, both Outside Magazine and National Geographic Adventure Magazine rate Iowa City one of the best places to live:

Iowa City itself, of course, has the wonderful reputation of many Midwestern university towns. A vibrant intellectual and cultural atmosphere, diverse international community, a dynamic downtown full of shops and restaurants that is adjacent to campus, great public education system, friendly people, affordable homes, easy commutes, and many other assets that make it one of the highest ranked cities in the country:

Please feel free to contact any of the faculty members if you have any questions.