Assistant Professor of Earth and Climates Sciences and Physics
https://www.bates.edu/
Application
Details
Posted: 11-Oct-24
Location: Lewiston, Maine
Employment Type:
Full-time
Tenure-track
Organization Type:
Higher Education Institution
Required Education:
Doctorate/Professional
Internal Number: R2322
The Bates College Department of Earth and Climate Sciences (EACS) and the Department of Physics & Astronomy (P&A) invite applications for a jointly-appointed, tenure-track Assistant Professor in Climate Science to begin August 1, 2025. The new faculty member will be expected to teach at the intersection of EACS and P&A and will have expertise in the computational analysis of one or more components of the climate system. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: climate or paleoclimate modeling, ocean circulation and dynamics, atmospheric physics or general circulation (e.g. clouds, aerosols, radiative transfer), cryospheric sciences (e.g. glaciers, ice sheets, sea ice), or geophysical fluid dynamics.
The position carries a five course unit annual teaching load split between EACS and P&A. Potential contributions to the curricula highlight the synergy of this position, and might include an introductory course on the climate system, introductory physics, a cross-listed 200-level course in computation and climate modeling, and upper level courses within the candidate’s field of expertise. The successful candidate will teach in the general education curriculum, provide academic advising, mentor student theses, and will develop an independent research program that includes undergraduate students from both EACS and P&A.
The duties of the position include the three main areas of faculty work: teaching, professional achievement, and governance and engagement. The standards of excellence for faculty at Bates are articulated in Article II of the faculty handbook, and include a commitment to inclusive and evidence-based pedagogy, impactful professional work, and contributions to the broader Bates community.
Bates students come from a diversity of educational and socioeconomic backgrounds, and we are committed to each student’s success. We encourage applications from individuals from historically marginalized groups and from those who may have followed non-traditional pathways to higher education due to societal, economic, or academic circumstances.
Bates College is a residential liberal arts college in Lewiston, Maine—a diverse and growing community roughly 45 minutes from the state’s largest city, 2 ½ hours north of Boston, and 4 ½ hours south of Montreal. Faculty scholarship and creative work at Bates are robustly supported by start-up packages, internal grants, and a well-staffed external grants office. Community-engaged learning and study abroad are both broadly encouraged and supported; pedagogical development and innovation is further buttressed by our highly engaged Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning. Educational access and racial justice are central to Bates’ history and mission and our faculty-led initiatives reflect this commitment.
Bates supports new faculty with a course reduction in the first year of teaching, formal mentoring, and new faculty development programming. Significant lab space and start-up funding is available, as is a wide range of existing equipment and materials. Multiple full-time assistants in instruction provide logistical support for the introductory laboratories in both departments. College-wide facilities include a staff-supported machine shop, Leavitt High Performance Computing Cluster, Visualization Lab, and a Digital Media Studio, among other facilities.
To receive full consideration, candidates should submit their applications by November 15, 2025. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Applicants should submit the following: (1) a cover letter addressing interest in the position and Bates College, (2) a curriculum vitae, (3) a teaching statement that describes how the applicant meets Bates’ standards of excellence in terms of inclusive and evidence-based pedagogy, and (4) a research plan that speaks to the current and future promise of a candidate’s professional work as it relates to a diverse undergraduate body. Applicants should also anticipate providing three letters of recommendation in the event that they are contacted for an interview.
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check and verification of degree.
Candidates should have completed their Ph.D. with expertise in atmospheric, oceanic, climate sciences, or a related field from any appropriate department (e.g. Earth and Planetary Sciences, Physics, Ocean Science, Geosciences, Atmospheric Science, Applied Mathematics, Mechanical/Ocean Engineering) by August 1, 2025. Postdoctoral experience is seen as beneficial but is not required.
Founded in 1855, Bates is one of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges, with a long history of commitments to principles of human dignity and diversity.Since its inception, Bates has been a coeducational, nonsectarian, residential college with special commitments to academic rigor and to programs and opportunities by qualified learners of all backgrounds. Historically, Bates students and graduates have linked education with service, leadership, and obligations beyond themselves.Bates has highly competitive admission, graduates over 90% of its entering students, and over half of its alumni earn graduate degrees. Bates has 1,700 students, 200 faculty members and 550 staff and administrative employees.The College is proud of its strong involvements in the Lewiston-Auburn communities, Maine’s second largest urban area, with a population of approximately 65,000. Bates is located on a beautiful, 109-acre, traditional New England campus in Lewiston, Maine, a lively small city enjoying an exciting economic and cultural revitalization. With an engaged citizenry, lively arts scene, and historic downtown, this walkable city is 35 miles north of Portland, 140 miles north of Boston, and 340 miles north of New York City.