Assistant Professor of Geospatial Analysis, Center for Environmental Studies

The Commonwealth of VA Careers is seeking an Assistant Professor of Geospatial Analysis for the Center for Environmental Studies in Richmond, VA. This 9-month, non-tenure eligible position focuses on teaching and service in geospatial data analysis, requiring expertise in GIS tools like ArcGIS and R. Candidates should have a terminal degree in a relevant field and experience in undergraduate teaching. The role supports a growing geospatial program at Virginia Commonwealth University.
The Center for Environmental Studies, Life Sciences, seeks applicants for a 9-month (term, non-tenure eligible) Assistant Professor in Geospatial Analysis whose expertise in geospatial data acquisition, spatial data analysis, and modern data display will contribute to the teaching and service missions of this Center. The successful applicant would ideally have experience using ESRI Products (ArcGIS Pro, Online, and Experience Builder), R, and geodatabase management. This is a unique and exciting opportunity for the selected individual to be part of a growing geospatial program and an interdisciplinary faculty. A core mission of the Center for Environmental Studies focuses on geospatial instruction and research.

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a premier urban, public research university with a diverse student body in historic Richmond, Virginia. VCU enrolls more than 28,000 students on two campuses. The Center for Environmental Studies is a Chartered Research Center and focal point for environmental and geospatial research and instruction at VCU. The Center consists of 23 full-time, affiliate, and adjunct faculty and staff. The unit administers several academic programs, including multidisciplinary undergraduate Certificates in Sustainable Innovation, Outdoor Leadership, and River Management, a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies, and master's degree programs for thesis (MS Environmental Studies) and non-thesis (Masters of Environmental Studies; MEnvs) seeking students.

Position Responsibilities:

This faculty position will be housed in the Center for Environmental Studies and report to the Director. This position has both teaching (80% effort) and service (20% effort) effort allocations. Primary responsibilities for instruction will support the existing Geospatial and Quantitative Analysis curriculum and develop upper-level courses aligned with the individual’s expertise.

Required Qualifications:
• Terminal degree in Computer Science, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Studies/Science, Urban Studies, Applied Spatial Statistics, Environmental Policy,Geography, Earth Sciences or other discipline salient to geospatial data analysis
• Fluency in using Geographic Information Systems such as ArcGIS, QGIS, GRASS, PostGIS, etc.
• Experience teaching at the undergraduate level (or equivalent)
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively and positively in a team environment
• Broad understanding of skills salient to teaching core content in Environmental Studies (data collection & analysis, environmental policy, and hands-on education)
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU

Preferred Qualifications:
• Fluency in the R and/or Python programming language for data analysis
• Development experience with scripting languages for extending geospatial data analyses
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple work priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively as a team member

Review of applications will begin on 7 April 2025. For questions about this position, please contact Dr. Daniel McGarvy (djmcgarvey@vcu.edu).