Assistant Professor of Geoscience (RISE-EARTH)

The Department of Geoscience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks applicants at the Assistant Professor level with exceptional potential for impactful research that addresses problems related to the Energy Transition. We seek expertise in critical minerals, economic geology, and/or geological decarbonization. We particularly encourage candidates who employ geophysical, computational, or field-based methods to apply. This position is part of UW-Madison's RISE-Earth initiative, which aims to strengthen the university's ability to address challenges and opportunities related to the environment, translating discoveries into tangible benefits at home in Wisconsin and beyond. The successful candidate will advance the educational mission of the Department of Geoscience and College of Letters & Science that values, prioritizes, and actualizes evidence-based and student-centered teaching and (undergraduate student) mentoring. They will contribute to an environment that fosters engagement and a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students and members of the broader community.

The Department of Geoscience at UW-Madison has a long tradition of academic excellence in research and teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Our faculty conduct research that is of vital importance to understanding Earth its relationship with society and serves Wisconsin, our nation, and the world through professional pursuits. Educating, mentoring, and inspiring future leaders by emphasizing fundamentals of the Earth system provides our students with the skills they need to succeed in their careers. Many of our graduates are leaders in academia, industry, and government.

UW-Madison is recognized consistently as one of the world's leading universities, and for decades our department has maintained a ranking among the top graduate and undergraduate programs. The department has strategic priorities of embracing students, faculty and staff and cultivating a thriving community that is welcoming, supportive, and respectful. Candidates who can contribute to these priorities are encouraged to identify their strengths and experiences in these areas in their cover letter, research statement, and/or teaching statement.

Madison, a city of 270,000 and the capital of Wisconsin, has been named on top 10 lists for tech growth centers, and consistently ranks as a top community in which to live, work, and play.

RISE-EARTH Initiative:

The Wisconsin Research, Innovation, and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Initiative is designed to help address significant, complex challenges of particular importance to Wisconsin and the world, through accelerated and strategic faculty hiring, research infrastructure enhancement, interdisciplinary collaboration and increased student and educational opportunities. This position is part of the RISE-EARTH Initiative, which stands for Environment: Adaptation, Resilience, Technology, and Humanity. Through accelerated and strategic faculty hiring, research infrastructure enhancement, interdisciplinary collaborations, and increased student and educational opportunities, RISE-EARTH will strengthen the university's ability to address challenges and opportunities related to the environment, translating discoveries into tangible benefits at home in Wisconsin and beyond.

Candidates hired through RISE-EARTH 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 across to research infrastructure, and funding to support broad and rich collaboration. Further information regarding RISE can be found at: https://rise.wisc.edu/

Responsibilities include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses and contributing to curriculum updates and innovations to educate a diverse student body, mentoring graduate students and supervising their research, developing and directing a vigorous extramurally-funded research program that includes connections to industry partners, contributing to professional and public service, and participating in interdisciplinary and collaborative efforts with other departments, schools, and colleges. The successful candidate, as a member of the College of L&S, will proactively contribute to, support, and advance the college's commitment to excellence among all aspects of their teaching, mentoring, research, and service.

Department:

College of Letters & Science, Department of Geoscience

Compensation:

Negotiable - 9 months

Required Qualifications:

Candidates should demonstrate evidence of creativity and excellence in scholarly research and teaching. In addition, the successful candidate will demonstrate fostering, or the ability to foster, a teaching, learning, departmental, and a research environment where all can thrive.

Education:

A PhD in geoscience or related field is required by start of appointment.

How to Apply:

Apply online at "Jobs at UW" (http://jobs.wisc.edu) under Job Requisition JR10004485. 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 as a single pdf document:

1. A letter of application

2. Curriculum vitae

3. A research, teaching, and mentoring statement

4. A list of 3 references with contact information

For full consideration, all materials must be received no later than 11:59 pm on December 8, 2025. 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 be only in the form of letters and testimony by others.

Contact Information:

Questions should be directed to Search Committee Chair, Brad S. Singer, bsinger@wisc.edu

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

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

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, click here.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.