Description

The Department of Geography and Planning at Appalachian State University invites applications for a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor beginning August 2027.  We are seeking an active teacher-scholar specializing in Environmental Remote Sensing and Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS/drones). The ideal candidate will leverage these technologies to address pressing climate, environmental, or earth systems questions. Given our location in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, candidates whose research can utilize or benefit from regional mountain environments—while maintaining a nationally or internationally recognized research program—are highly encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses in our core GIScience curriculum, including introductory and advanced Environmental Remote Sensing and GIS, RPAS/Drone workflows and regulations, and potentially other courses in physical geography, climate science, environmental modeling, or spatial data science. This position involves active mentorship of both undergraduate students and students in our M.A. in Geography program.  

Essential Responsibilities

• Teaching: Teach a typical 3/3 load consisting of remote sensing, drone applications, and GIScience courses, one or more will be graduate level taught online.
• Research: Maintain a robust research agenda resulting in peer-reviewed publications and actively seek external funding.
• Service: Participate in departmental, college, and university-level service.
• Mentorship: Advise undergraduate majors and serve on graduate thesis committees for the M.A. in Geography program.  

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Geography, Environmental Science, or a closely related field by the time of appointment (August 2027).
• Demonstrated expertise in Environmental Remote Sensing and digital image processing.
• Demonstrated research agenda and technical competency in Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS) for spatial data acquisition (including photogrammetry, LiDAR, or multispectral sensors).
• Evidence of, or strong potential for, excellence in university-level teaching.

Preferred Qualifications 

• An active FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification (or immediate eligibility and willingness to obtain it).
• Experience with advanced spatial modeling, Google Earth Engine and other cloudbased raster processing, or programming languages relevant to spatial data (e.g., Python, R).
• A track record of, or clear plan for, involving undergraduate and graduate students in field-based research.
• Experience or interest in interdisciplinary collaboration.