Assistant Professor in Urban Planning and Hazards

Position Number 006908

Tenure-track Assistant Professor in Urban Planning and Hazards

Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

The Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences in the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte invites applications for a 9-month, tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor in the area of Urban Planning and Hazards. We seek a dynamic, future-oriented scholar with expertise at the intersection of urban planning and environmental hazards. The successful candidate will develop an innovative research agenda that broadly leverages qualitative (e.g., community-engaged), quantitative (e.g., geospatial analytics and computational techniques), and/or mixed-methods approaches to confront pressing global and regional planning challenges. We are particularly interested in candidates whose work addresses complex, multi-scale research questions surrounding climate adaptation, hazard risk reduction, and resilient urban infrastructure across planning subfields such as transportation, housing, land use, or community development. The candidate will also be expected to teach undergraduate and graduate courses, which may include urban/environmental planning, hazards and disasters, qualitative research methods, sustainability, spatial thinking, and public policy. This position will begin on August 16, 2027. The expected salary is $85,000.

Qualifications: Candidates must hold a Ph.D. in Geography, Urban, Regional or Environmental Planning, or a closely related field by the date of appointment. The successful candidate will demonstrate: (1) evidence of, or strong potential for, excellence in teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in urban planning, geography, and their area of specialization; and (2) an active record of, or clear promise for, establishing a high-impact, externally funded research program that is theoretically grounded and translates innovative qualitative, quantitative and/or mixed-methods approaches into real-world planning practices, policy-making, or hazard mitigation. Finalists will be asked to discuss how their teaching practices engage, include, and eliminate barriers to learning for UNC Charlotte students, and how their educational approach helps increase the engagement and success of all students regardless of their entry pathway into the university.

The Department. The Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences (https://geoearth.charlotte.edu/) is a diverse community of physical, geospatial, and social scientists composed of over 36 faculty members, 398 undergraduate majors, and 86 graduate students. Our current mission is to inspire discovery of the Earth and its inhabitants and to foster informed communities of learners who strive for a sustainable world. We create and disseminate knowledge of the Earths human and natural systems to adapt to an ever-changing environment in which we live, work, and interact. The Department offers undergraduate degrees in Meteorology (BS), Earth and Environmental Sciences (BS), Geology (BS), Geography (BA/BS), and Environmental Studies (BA). At the graduate level, we offer an MS in Earth Sciences, an MA and PhD in Geography, and regularly participate in the interdisciplinary Infrastructure and Environmental Systems (INES) and Public Policy (PPOL) PhD programs and the Masters in Urban Design (MUD). The Department is also home to the Center for Applied Geographic Information Science (CAGIS, https://gis.charlotte.edu/) and the Charlotte Action Research Project (CHARP, https://charp.charlotte.edu/). We are committed to excellence in disciplinary and interdisciplinary research and teaching.

The College. As the largest and most academically diverse college at UNC Charlotte, the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences (https://chess.charlotte.edu/) houses 14 departments, 13 interdisciplinary programs, and 7 applied centers. We offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs with extensive honors and early-entry options. The College plays a pivotal role in delivering on the universitys goals in the areas of research excellence, student success and experience, and community engagement. Through their scholarship and teaching, the Colleges 350+ faculty members seek to deepen our understanding of complex problems and lead the university in interdisciplinary collaboration.

The University. UNC Charlotte is an R-1 university, and the only research university in North Carolinas largest metropolitan area. As the second-largest institution in the UNC System, we transform lives, communities, and industries through accessible and affordable education, offering exemplary bachelors, masters, doctoral, and professional programs. Our commitment to scholarship, innovation, and service drives our contributions to the ever-evolving needs of society. Through strategic partnerships and a focus on real-world applications, we prepare our graduates to excel in their careers and lead with purpose and integrity in a rapidly changing world.

Application Materials: Candidates should submit the following to https://jobs.charlotte.edu/ [Position Number 006908]: (1) cover letter; (2) research statement (max 3 pages); (3) teaching statement (max 3 pages); (4) a curriculum vitae (CV); (5) one to three representative publications or writing samples, and (6) contact information(including email addresses) for three professional references.Items 2, 3 and 5 should be combined in a single document. This position is subject to research-security screening. As part of the application, applicants must disclose, either in their CV or in a separate document submitted with the application, all current appointments or affiliations with foreign institutions or organizations, foreign research support, and ongoing research collaborations with foreign institutions, organizations, or their personnel. Before candidates advance to an on-campus interview, the university will review this information and other publicly available information for relationships involving institutions on the current Section 1286 list and any other applicable U.S. restricted-party lists. A disclosed or identified relationship does not automatically disqualify a candidate. As a condition of employment, a selected candidate must resolve any relationship the university determines would violate applicable law or sponsor requirements or materially impair the candidates or the universitys eligibility for federal funding.

Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. For more information, contact search committee chair Dr. Gang Chen, (gang.chen@charlotte.edu).

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other protected status. In keeping with this commitment, UNC Charlotte ensures that persons of any background are invited, included, and treated equally in the terms and conditions of employment.

Conditions of Employment: The candidate chosen for this position will be subject to a criminal background check and will be required to submit official transcripts of their highest degree upon hire. Final hiring is subject to budget availability.

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