Assistant Professor of Geosciences

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Closing Date:

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Type of Position:
Faculty - Tenure/Tenure Track

Workstudy Position:

No
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Job Type:
Regular

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Work Shift:

Sponsorship Available:

Yes
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Institution Name:
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a land grant institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation’s top 2 percent of universities with the highest level of research activity. The University of Arkansas works to advance the state and build a better world through education, research, and outreach by providing transformational opportunities and skills, fostering a welcoming climate, and nurturing creativity, discovery, and the spread of new ideas and innovations.

The University of Arkansas campus is located in Fayetteville, a welcoming community ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. The growing region surrounding Fayetteville is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and one of the nation’s strongest economies. Northwest Arkansas is also quickly gaining a national reputation for its focus on the arts and overall quality of life.

As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions, you should review before applying for the opening.

If you have a disability and need assistance with the hiring process, please submit a request via the Disability Accommodations | OEOC | University of Arkansas (uark.edu) : Request an Accommodation. Appli­cants are required to submit a request for each position of which they have applied.

For general application assistance or if you have questions about a job posting, please contact Human Resources at 479.575.5351.

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Department:
Department of Geosciences

Department's Website:

https://geosciences.uark.edu/
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Summary of Job Duties:
The Department of Geosciences seeks applications for an Assistant Professor of Geosciences, with accomplishments consistent with tenure-track status in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas to start August 2027. This is a standard nine-month faculty appointment.

The ideal candidate will have a record of, or demonstrated potential for, excellence in research in the field of critical minerals (as defined by the United States Geological Survey or the Department of Energy), in teaching economic geology-related courses, and in mentoring undergraduate and/or graduate students. The candidate will be expected to develop a research program in critical minerals, which are increasingly important economically and geopolitically. Applicants will preferably have expertise relevant to critical minerals in Arkansas, such as the lithium brine deposits hosted in the Smackover Formation. The candidate will teach existing courses required for departmental undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in their specialty.

This is an in-person position. Most university classes are offered face-to-face, and extensive in-person engagement in such activities as office hours, student advising, and departmental, college, and university committee meetings is essential to advancing student success and departmental effectiveness.

Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.
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Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

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A PhD degree in geosciences or a closely related field from an accredited institution of higher education conferred by the date of initial appointment

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Evidence of, or a demonstrated potential for, geoscience teaching and mentoring at the graduate and undergraduate levels

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Evidence of, or a demonstrated potential for, developing and maintaining active research in the field of critical minerals (as defined by the United States Geological Survey or the Department of Energy)

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Preferred Qualifications

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Strong record of successful publication and external funding in the field of critical minerals

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Demonstrated ability to develop effective undergraduate and graduate courses that complement the current course catalog

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Expertise in critical minerals relevant to the State of Arkansas, such as lithium brine

Additional Information:

This position is a Designated Research Position  and is regulated by the Arkansas Research Education Protection Act of 2025 .  Prior to issuance of an offer of employment, the University is required to request and obtain additional information about an applicant’s background and, if required, conduct an additional review of that background information.

About the Department

The Department of Geosciences at the University of Arkansas maintains a faculty of 24 professors, research scientists, and instructors, with expertise across many disciplines of the geosciences. The department runs Bachelor of Science degrees in Geography, Geology, Earth Science and a geospatial certificate with about 140 majors. The graduate program has a graduate geospatial certificate, MS Geography and Geology degrees as well as a PhD in Geosciences, with about 70 graduate students in total. The department runs roughly 25 field trips per year, including field camps based around Dillon, MT, and annual Spring Break field courses to various destinations. Strong involvement with the university's Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies (CAST), Center for Space and Planetary Studies (SPAC), and Environmental Dynamics Interdisciplinary Graduate Program (ENDY) is ongoing.

Duties will include

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40% Teaching or Professional Performance

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40% Research/Scholarly and/or Creative Activities

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20% Academic Service Activities

Salary Information:

Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Required Documents to Apply:

Cover Letter/Letter of Application, Curriculum Vitae, List of three Professional References (name, email, business title), Statement of Research Philosophy, Statement of Teaching Philosophy

Optional Documents

Proof of Veteran Status

Recruitment Contact Information:

Adriana Potra, Search committee chair, [email protected]

All application materials must be uploaded to the University of Arkansas System Career Site  https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/UASYS

Please do not send to listed recruitment contact.

Special Instructions to Applicants:
Completed applications received by October 30, 2026, will be assured full consideration. Late applications will be reviewed as necessary to fill the position.

For additional inquiries, please contact the search committee chair, Adriana Potra, at [email protected].

Applicants must submit:

• A curriculum