Assistant Professor in Data Science for Social Equity Studies

Tenure Track Faculty position in Geography for AY18-19.

Department: Geography
Rank: Assistant Professor
Annual Basis: 9 Month

Application Deadline
Application materials must be submitted by November 1, 2017. Position is open until filled.

Required Application Materials
Candidates should apply online at https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/9772 by submitting a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a research and teaching statement, and contact details (name, affiliation, mailing address, email) of three references. Application materials must be submitted by November 1, 2017, or until the post has been filled.

Position Announcement
The Department of Geography invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in the area of Data Science for Social Equity, to begin in fall 2018. We seek candidates who specialize in spatial data science, including (but not limited to) big data, spatial data visualization, spatial cyberinfrastructure, and/or geospatial technologies, and who advance research that makes positive impacts toward resolving urgent societal challenges.

Specifically, we seek scholars who harness data-driven science to analyze and advance social equity, apply research results to generate tangible products, applications, and/or other outcomes that address grand societal challenges, such as accessibility, health and wellbeing, food security, technology access and the digital divide, environmental problems, or other social and spatial disparities.

We are a diverse and growing department with strengths in biophysical geography, human geography, environmental studies, and spatial data science. Successful candidates will join the Spatial Computation, Cognition, and Complexity (S3C) Lab, and will develop a collaborative research program with faculty from the S3C Lab, Geography, and/or other units on campus. Scholars will recruit, teach, and mentor students in the new Spatial Data Science and Technology undergraduate major and Geography undergraduate and graduate majors.

Department or Program Summary
The Department of Geography is a top-ranked, PhD-granting unit with strengths in biophysical geography, human geography, environmental studies, and spatial data science. In addition to our graduate and undergraduate Geography programs, the department recently launched a new B.S. degree in Spatial Data Science and Technology. This search is part of a presidential initiative to establish excellence in data science at the University of Oregon (see https://provost.uoregon.edu/data-science , oriented toward solving significant problems in science and society. As part of this initiative, the university is building a cross-disciplinary data science program which can be a curricular and research program for data science writ large, and the university’s recently launched High Performance Computing Research Core Facility is available to help serve computing needs. There will also be opportunity to become involved with the university’s Knight Campus for Accelerating Impact.

Minimum Requirements
1. Ph.D. in Geography or related field by time of appointment.
2. Evidence of (or potential for) a strong research program and publication record in the area of spatial data science for social equity. We define this area as “research that generates tangible products, applications, and/or other outcomes that address grand societal challenges, such as accessibility, health and wellbeing, food security, technology access and the digital divide, environmental problems, or other social and spatial disparities.”
3. An established track record of (or potential for) excellence in teaching courses in spatial data science (such as GIS, remote sensing, cartography, big data, spatial data visualization, spatial cyberinfrastructure, modeling, and/or geospatial technologies) at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
4. Experience in (or potential for) mentoring graduate students.

Preferred Qualifications
a. Evidence of (or potential for) excellence in research, as manifested by a coherent research program and high-quality publications at the international level.
b. Experience in (or potential for) obtaining research funding from competitive, external grant programs.
c. Synthesis of mixed methods, theories, and/or principles of data integration; evidence of novel methods, datasets, and interdisciplinary approaches to data synthesis and application in research.
d. Demonstrated ability (or potential for) to participate in collaborative research with the S3C Lab, Data Science cluster, Geography faculty, and/or other units on campus.
e. Evidence of translational research (i.e. the application of research results to generate tangible products and/or other outcomes that directly address societal challenges).
f. Increases departmental capacity to effectively serve the needs of an increasingly diverse student body.
g. Evidence of effective leadership in program-building activities, such as recruiting new majors for Spatial Data Science and Technology or developing professional development activities in geospatial technology for existing department majors.
h. A proven ability to communicate effectively with students, professionals, and the general public.
i. Evidence of understanding and use of a geographical perspective, and interest in being involved in Geography as a discipline.

About the University
The University of Oregon is one of only two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities and holds the distinction of a “very high research activity” ranking in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Located in Eugene, the UO enrolls more than 20,000 undergraduate and 3,600 graduate students, representing all 50 states and nearly 100 countries.

The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit http://hr.uoregon.edu/careers/about-benefits .

The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply, and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status.

UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by UO policy. Questions may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity, or to the Office for Civil Rights. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed on the statement of non-discrimination .

In compliance with federal law, the University of Oregon prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and services. The Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at http://police.uoregon.edu/annual-report .