Department of Geological Sciences
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Assistant Professor
Fall 2025
The Department of Geological Sciences at California State University, Fullerton, invites applications for a tenure‐track Assistant Professor position in Earth Surface Processes with an appointment to begin Fall 2025.
California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) is a minority-serving institution, affirmative action, and equal opportunity employer. CSUF is firmly committed to increasing the diversity of the campus community and the curriculum and fostering an inclusive environment within which students, staff, administrators, and faculty thrive. Candidates who can contribute to this goal through their teaching, research, advising, and other activities are encouraged to identify their strengths and experiences. Individuals advancing the University’s strategic diversity goals and those from underrepresented groups in the American professoriate are encouraged to apply.
CSUF is committed to retaining all faculty and has established affinity groups you can join to support your success.
Position
We seek an outstanding scholar and committed teacher who will establish an innovative and inclusive research and teaching program in Earth Surface Processes, complementing existing departmental strengths. Candidates should have experience working with various Earth Surface Processes approaches, including but not limited to geomorphic and subsurface investigations, GPS, and various field survey methods. The successful candidate should have experience in the processes that create and shape landscapes, the processes that modify stratigraphy, and connecting these processes to their drivers. In addition, the successful candidate may demonstrate knowledge in geologic hazards, remote sensing, or sediment dynamics. We expect candidates to show evidence of an existing or the potential to develop an active, externally-funded, student-centered research program and the ability and enthusiasm to teach introductory-level courses and upper-division/graduate courses related to Earth Surface Processes, emphasizing field and laboratory skills. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to and participate in the life and development of the department, advise students from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, serve on committees, and participate in the broader university and disciplinary communities. Because many CSUF students enter the applied geology industry, the candidate will be expected to develop professional relationships within the broader environmental and engineering geology industry in Southern California.
Required Qualifications
- A Ph.D. in Geology, Geosciences, or Engineering Geology or a related field at the time of appointment
- Demonstrated commitment to teaching and/or teaching experience using effective, student-centered, active-learning, and inquiry-based approaches
- Strong commitment to teaching and mentoring a diverse population of students at the undergraduate and Master’s levels and the ability to communicate effectively with an economically, ethnically, and culturally diverse campus population
- Ability to teach General Geology, Surface Processes, Field Techniques, Engineering Geology, and other introductory level and/or upper-division undergraduate/graduate courses the candidate is qualified to teach
- A strong record of active research in the broad field of Earth Surface Processes and the potential to supervise undergraduate and Master’s level research in Earth Surface Processes or closely related fields, including Engineering Geology.
Preferred Qualifications
- Academic, industry, or related experience, as well as a California Certified Engineering Geologist license or equivalent, is a plus
Application
A complete online application must be received by electronic submission to be considered. To apply, please visit http://hr.fullerton.edu/careers/Faculty.php, choose full-time faculty, search for position 542784, and provide the following required materials:
- cover letter in which you respond to the required qualifications
- curriculum vitae
- research statement
- teaching statement
- candidate statement on commitment to inclusive excellence
- This statement provides the candidate’s unique perspective on their past and present contributions to and future aspirations for promoting diversity, inclusion, and social justice in their professional careers. The purpose of this statement is to help the department identify candidates who have professional experience, intellectual commitments, and/or willingness to engage in activities that could help CSUF contribute to its mission in these areas.
- The candidate has acquired knowledge of barriers for underrepresented students and faculty in higher education.
- The candidate has experience in and is committed to engaging in service with underrepresented populations in higher education.
- The candidate has experience in and is committed to teaching and/or mentoring underrepresented students in a higher education environment.
- The candidate has experience integrating underrepresented populations and communities into scholarly and creative activities.
- a list of three references with relevant contact information
- Finalists will be required to have three letters of recommendation submitted. Please have these ready for the referents to submit. On the References page of the online application, enter information and email addresses for three referents who will provide a confidential letter of reference for your application. At the appropriate time in the search process, they will receive a request via email along with information on uploading the letter. You will be able to verify that each letter has been received by CSUF by logging back into your applicant portal.
Finalists will be asked to have each of their three referents submit a letter of recommendation. Please have these ready for the referents to submit should you move forward to this search phase.
Please direct all questions about the position to: Dr. Joe Carlin at jcarlin@fullerton.edu or call 657‐278‐3054.
Application Deadline
To be assured full consideration, all application materials must be received by November 1, 2024. The anticipated appointment date is August 2025.
The College
The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM) is dedicated to the principle that student learning and research are closely linked. The balance between teaching and research is a key strength of the college, whose slogan is “Exploration by inquiry and learning through discovery.” Abundant collaborative research and teaching opportunities exist within NSM, which houses research and laboratory facilities and maintains up-to-date IT infrastructure for research and teaching needs. NSM is part of the Catalyst Center for the advancement of research in teaching and learning math and science, which brings together science and math education experts across two colleges and seven departments to advance research in teaching and learning.
The Department
The Department of Geological Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science in Geology, a Bachelor of Arts in Earth Science, a Master of Science in Geology, and a minor in Geology. The Department has approximately 90 undergraduate majors, 20 MS students, and 12 full-time faculty. Fullerton’s location offers convenient access to coastal, mountain, and desert environments, providing many opportunities for geoscience education, High-Impact Practice instruction, and student training. Department faculty expertise includes petrology, sedimentation/stratigraphy, structure/tectonics, paleontology, surface processes, biogeochemistry, hydrogeology, hydrology, and geophysics. In addition, the department has a long-standing interest in geoscience education and is committed to serving a diverse student body from a variety of backgrounds, including those from groups that have been traditionally marginalized. Applicants are encouraged to visit http://geology.fullerton.edu/ for additional information.
Compensation
The Assistant Professor (Academic Year) classification salary range is $6,211 to $13,224 monthly (12 monthly payments per academic year). The anticipated hiring range is $7,421 to $7,567 per month.
Salary offered is commensurate with experience and qualifications. In addition, the California Equal Pay Act prohibits employers from paying its employees less than those of the opposite sex and/or another race or ethnicity for substantially similar work (https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/california_equal_pay_act.htm).
Summer research grants, moving expenses, start‐up funds, and a reduced teaching load may be available.
CSUF Benefits
An excellent comprehensive benefits package includes health/vision/dental plans; spouse, domestic partner, and dependent fee‐waiver; access to campus child‐care; and a defined‐benefit retirement through the state system and optional tax sheltering opportunities. For a detailed description of benefits, please visit https://hr.fullerton.edu/total-wellness/.
Additional Information
Multiple positions may be hired from this recruitment based on the strength of the applicant pool. California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) is a minority-serving institution, affirmative action, and equal opportunity employer. CSUF is firmly committed to increasing the diversity of the campus community and the curriculum and fostering an inclusive environment within which students, staff, administrators, and faculty thrive. Candidates who can contribute to this goal through their teaching, research, advising and other activities are encouraged to identify their strengths and experiences. Individuals advancing the University’s strategic diversity goals and those from groups whose underrepresentation in the American professoriate has been severe and longstanding are particularly encouraged to apply.
CSU Policies
The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and must comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083, revised July 21, 2017, as a condition of employment.
A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be formally offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or the continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.
Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self‐disclose.
Notice of Non-Discrimination based on Gender or Sex and Contact Information for Title IX Coordinator (http://www.fullerton.edu/titleix/about/notice.php).
In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California. It requires hiring employees to perform CSU-related work within the State of California.