Assistant Professor of Earth & Environment, College of Arts and Sciences

Boston University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Boston University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth & Environment. This position, starting July 1, 2027, is part of the Environmental Data Science cluster hire.

We seek candidates whose climate research combines data science to advance understanding of climate change, extremes, and their global impacts. PhD required; ability to obtain external funding; teach across the Earth & Environment curriculum; supervise graduate research; collaborate

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent degree required at time of appointment.
• Experience obtaining external funding for a research program.
• Commitment to excellence and innovation in teaching, education, and mentorship.

Responsibilities

• Supervise graduate research in PhD programs.
• Teach at all levels in the Earth & Environment curriculum.
• Maintain an externally funded research program.
• Collaborate across BU and national/international partners.

Skills

Data science

Teaching

Mentorship

Grant funding

Education

PhD or equivalent degree

Job description

Assistant Professor of Earth & Environment, College of Arts and Sciences

Category

Job Location

Tracking Code

26599938151021

Posted Date

10/21/2026

Minimum Salary

$115,000.00

Maximum Salary

$130,000.00

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, training and internal pay comparison. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Type

Full-Time/Regular

Boston University invites applications for a faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth & Environment. This tenure-track position in Climate Data Science , beginning on July 1, 2027, is part of the ongoing cluster hire in Environmental Data Science and complements faculty searches within the Faculty of Computing and Data Science.

We particularly welcome candidates whose research focuses on the physical basis of climate, climate variability, and climate change, and who employ data science methodologies to deepen our understanding of how the climate system is changing and how these changes affect the global environment. Areas of interest include—but are not limited to—the changing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events; interactions between the atmosphere and terrestrial, oceanic, biospheric, and cryospheric systems; and improved understanding of Earth system predictability at seasonal, decadal, and longer time scales. We envision this position playing a central role in connecting and enhancing existing departmental strengths in climate-related research and teaching, including terrestrial and marine biogeosciences , land surface and coastal processes, paleoclimatology, energy and economic policy, and environmental sustainability. This faculty member will also contribute to university-wide interdisciplinary initiatives — including the Urban Biogeoscience and Environmental Health (URBAN) program, the Institute for Global Sustainability, and the Center for Climate and Health at the School of Public Health — and is expected to develop collaborative ties with the Faculty of Computing and Data Sciences, where shared interests in machine learning, large-scale data analytics, and Earth system modeling provide natural ground for joint advising, co-teaching, and grant development. This hire reflects our commitment to advancing interdisciplinary scholarship at the intersection of climate and data science . This position contributes to the University convergence themes of Global Sustainability as well as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, & Computing that are core pillars of BU's cross-disciplinary research priorities.

Position Qualifications:

Candidates should have a PhD or equivalent degree, demonstrated ability to obtain external funding to support their program of research and scholarship, and a commitment to excellence and innovation in teaching, education, and mentorship of students. The successful applicant will be expected to supervise graduate research in Ph.D. programs, teach at all levels in the Earth & Environment curriculum, and maintain an externally funded research program. We seek applicants whose research complement strengths in the Department and around the University. For more information about the Department, see https://www.bu.edu/earth . A Ph.D. at the time of appointment is required . BU is especially interested in candidates who, through their research, teaching, and service, will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community. The starting salary for this position will be $115,000 to $130,000.

Since its founding in 1839, Boston University has embraced a mission of openness and access, becoming one of the first universities in the nation to welcome all students of ability regardless of race, gender, or creed. That tradition shapes our enduring commitment to academic freedom, free inquiry, and the robust exchange of ideas. Please visit https://www.bu.edu/values/ to learn more about our shared values.

We seek scholars who will contribute to our community of teachers and researchers through excellence in innovative scholarship , engaged teaching, and participation in the intellectual life of the University. Boston University provides an environment where faculty and students work together across disciplines, perspectives, and experiences to advance knowledge and address society’s most pressing challenges.

Boston University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, age, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Retaliation is also prohibited. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Under Massachusetts law, we may not require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment.

Boston University, consistent with the AAU’s Principles on Preventing Sexual Harassment, conducts background checks for final candidates for certain faculty and staff positions. As part of this process, we ask current and past employers of the last seven years whether there has been a substantiated finding of sexual misconduct under their policies. To move forward, final candidates must complete and sign an “Authorization to Release Information” form after receiving an offer to enable this background check.