Assistant Professor in Terrestrial Biogeosciences

The Department of Earth System Science at The University of California, Irvine; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Priority access to on-campus faculty-h

Job summary

The Department of Earth System Science (ESS) at the University of California, Irvine, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position focused on advancing fundamental understanding of terrestrial ecosystems and their responses to global environmental change.

We seek candidates who pursue innovative research integrating conceptual, observational, computational, or experimental approaches and who demonstrate excellence in teaching and mentoring.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree required.
• Strong record of peer‑reviewed scholarship.
• Compelling vision for an innovative and externally funded research program.
• Excellence in teaching and mentoring.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead an externally funded research program addressing terrestrial ecosystems and global environmental change.
• Contribute to teaching across undergraduate and graduate programs and mentor students and postdocs.
• Collaborate across disciplines within ESS and the campus to advance Earth system science objectives.
• Engage in service to the department, college, and the broader academic community.

Education

Doctoral degree

Job description

The Department of Earth System Science (ESS) at the University of California, Irvine, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position focused on advancing fundamental understanding of terrestrial ecosystems and their responses to global environmental change.

We encourage applications from candidates pursuing innovative research in areas that may include, but are not limited to, vegetation dynamics and ecosystem demography, disturbance processes, plant ecology and ecosystem functioning, carbon, nutrient and water cycles, land-atmosphere interactions, ecohydrology, climate adaptation and mitigation, and the response of ecosystems to environmental change. We welcome candidates who work in natural or managed systems using conceptual, observational, computational, or experimental approaches. We are particularly interested in candidates who integrate multiple approaches to address fundamental questions about terrestrial ecosystems and their role in the Earth System.

Applicants must have a doctoral degree and are expected to have a strong record of peer‑reviewed scholarship, a compelling vision for an innovative and externally funded research program and for excellence in teaching and mentoring. The position is expected to begin July 1, 2027. UCI is a Hispanic‑Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander‑Serving Institution (AANAPISI). UCI is responsive to the needs of dual‑career couples, supports work‑life balance through an array of family‑friendly policies, and is dedicated to broadening participation in higher education. Compensation is competitive and includes priority access to purchase on‑campus faculty housing at below‑market prices.

UC Irvine's ESS department was founded to explore the global environmental changes that occur on human time scales. The department includes faculty from a wide range of academic backgrounds (Home | ESS).

If you have questions, please contact [e-mail]. Review of applications will begin December 28, 2026.