Professor of Geography

The Department of Geography (https://geography.wisc.edu/) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is seeking applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Geography specializing in innovative, place-based research on the combined social and ecological dimensions of green energy transitions and natural climate solutions. More specifically, we seek candidates who can bring expertise and analysis from both the social sciences and the relevant biophysical sciences to bear on solutions to the challenges of climate change. The selected candidate will be expected to undertake a vigorous research program while contributing to the teaching mission of the department. The successful candidate will also advance the educational mission of the College of Letters & Science, that values, prioritizes, and actualizes evidence-based and student-centered teaching and (undergraduate student) mentoring. They will contribute to an inclusive, fair, and equitable environment that fosters engagement and a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students and members of the broader community.

Successful applicants will teach graduate and undergraduate classes, mentor students, conduct scholarly research, and provide service to the department, college, university, and academic community nationally or internationally. The general teaching load is 4 courses per year, 2 in one semester and 2 in the other. The successful candidate, as a member of the College of L&S, will proactively contribute to, support, and advance the college's commitment to equity among all aspects of their teaching, mentoring, research, and service. Possible research topics include: 1. Green infrastructure development including new geographies of mining, energy production and transmission, and electrification; 2. Natural climate solutions such as afforestation, climate-smart agriculture, avoided deforestation, and other forms of climate mitigation; and 3. The vulnerabilities, uneven distributions, exposures, and inequities associated with green infrastructure and natural climate solutions.

Candidates who conduct place-based research in any national or regional setting will be considered. The successful candidate will contribute to research and teaching in the People-Environment subarea of the Department. This includes developing an introductory-level class on the social and biophysical mechanisms and processes of climate change. Additional undergraduate and graduate courses may include themes related to the social, biophysical or policy dimensions of the successful candidate's research. Candidates will participate in interdisciplinary and collaborative efforts with other departments, schools and colleges.

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

Required
PhD in Geography or allied discipline is required at the time of appointment.

Successful candidates will show high potential for outstanding research and teaching in the area of green energy transitions, which may include natural climate solutions and related areas of climate change mitigation, adaptation, resilience and vulnerability. The successful candidate will demonstrate experience with fostering or the ability to foster an inclusive and equity-centered teaching, learning, mentoring, departmental, and research environment where all can thrive.

Full Time: 100%

It is anticipated this position requires work be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location.

Ongoing/Renewable

AUGUST 18, 2025

Negotiable
ACADEMIC (9 months)

This position is part of the Wisconsin Research, Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Initiative. Through accelerated and strategic faculty hiring, research infrastructure enhancement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and increased student and educational opportunities, RISE addresses complex societal challenges of importance to the state, nation and world. Building on UW-Madison's strengths, RISE expands the University's successful track record of connecting with communities and industry on collaborative solutions.

Over the next three academic years, UW-Madison will substantially increase current hiring levels, bringing 150 new RISE faculty to campus. Candidates hired through RISE will join a community of scholars working across disciplines, schools and colleges on research, teaching and outreach endeavors. The community will engage regularly in venues such as seminar series and colloquia to share ongoing projects and identify opportunities to work together. The University will support the community, facilitating access to research infrastructure, and funding to support broad and rich collaboration.

Further information regarding RISE can be found at: https://rise.wisc.edu/

The College of Letters & Science is committed to creating an inclusive environment in which all of us - students, staff, and faculty - can thrive. Ours is a community in which we all are welcome. Most importantly, we strive to build a community in which all of us feel a great sense of belonging. There is no excellence without diversity in all its forms; diverse teams are more creative and successful than homogeneous ones. We are better when we are diverse and when we acknowledge, celebrate and honor our diversity. In acknowledging and honoring our diversity, we also assume a responsibility to support and stand up for each other.

The Department of Geography at UW-Madison is a top-ranked program with a renowned tradition of critical and applied research across the breadth of geography including people-environment relations in both the Global South and North. UW-Madison Geography offers BA/BS and graduate degrees (M.S./Ph.D.).

Apply online at "Jobs at UW" (http://jobs.wisc.edu) under job number 307864. Applications must be received through UW- Madison's online application system. Applications submitted outside of this system will not be considered. Click the "Apply Now" button to start the application process. Applicants should submit the following 4 items:

1. a letter of application detailing the candidate's research program,
2. curriculum vitae,
3. a teaching and mentoring statement,
4. a writing sample of roughly 35 pages.

Candidates will be asked to provide contact information for three references; each reference will receive an electronic link through which they can upload a signed letter of reference. References will be contacted automatically upon application submission. For full consideration, all materials must be received no later than 11:59pm on January 15, 2025. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please note that applicants will be evaluated based upon submitted application materials and therefore should speak to and include evidence of their qualifications. Application materials must clearly demonstrate the applicant's dedication to excellence in student-centered teaching and mentoring. Additionally, materials should showcase the applicant's ability to purposefully plan their teaching practices, evidenced through goals, action plans, reflection, and related documentation. This portion of the application materials must be created by the applicant and may include supporting letters. It cannot, however, be only in the form of letters and testimony by others.

Employment will require an institutional reference check regarding any misconduct. To be considered, applicants must upload a signed 'Authorization to Release Information' form as part of the application. The authorization form and a definition of 'misconduct' can be found here: https://hr.wisc.edu/institutional-reference-check/

Jacqueline Wild
wild2@wisc.edu
608-262-2139
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Assistant Professor(FA040)

A48-COL OF LETTERS & SCIENCE/GEOGRAPHY/GEOGRAPHY

Faculty

307864-FA