Assistant Teaching Professor - Quantitative Methods and Data Science for Environmental Studies

The Environmental Studies Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara invites applications for an Assistant Teaching Professor (tenure track), to start July 1, 2025 or later. We seek a passionate instructor with demonstrated expertise in the use and teaching of quantitative analysis and data science tools to study the environment.

An Assistant Teaching Professor is a tenure-track faculty member whose primary responsibilities are teaching and pedagogical innovation. Other responsibilities include advising, academic program development, professional and/or scholarly activity, especially as they relate to instruction and pedagogy, and department, University and/or public service. Faculty in the Teaching Professor series are expected to maintain a continuous and current command of their subjects. They should, among other things, demonstrate the ability to foster inclusive, stimulating, and effective learning environments.

Specific areas of expertise are open but should involve the application of quantitative and data science methods to study environmental challenges and solutions. The successful candidate will teach the equivalent of seven, quarter-long courses per year, including an introductory course in quantitative reasoning, as well as an upper division course in environmental statistics. The instructor will have the opportunity to develop further courses that align with their areas of specialization. These courses might cover topics such as geospatial analysis, programming, data science, data visualization, and/or machine learning. The ideal candidate would be excited to lead the coordination of quantitative curricular offerings across the department to ensure a more holistic and rigorous sequence of courses that empowers our undergraduate BA and BS majors to build proficiency in quantitative and data science techniques.

The University is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through research, teaching and service as appropriate to the position.

UCSB's Environmental Studies Program is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program that was founded in the aftermath of the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill. It has maintained a position of national leadership since then, graduating over 8000 students. The program has a longstanding commitment to integrative research and teaching and to interdisciplinary balance among the biophysical and chemical sciences, engineering sciences, humanities, social sciences, and applied professions. For more information, please see http://www.es.ucsb.edu/.

In 2024-25, UC Santa Barbara departments are partnering with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to launch a special faculty recruitment initiative named after Benjamin Banneker, the 18th-century African American mathematician, astronomer, antiracist, engineer, ecologist, and peace advocate. Funded by an Advancing Faculty Diversity grant from the UC Office of the President, the Banneker Initiative will recruit scholars, scientists, and engineers whose disciplinary and interdisciplinary work would take place within the community of concerns exemplified by Banneker's intellectual, ethical, and social commitments as an African American scientist, especially his desire to advance scientific and humanistic knowledge for the public good. With the goal of creating a diverse community around such concerns, applicants may be eligible to be fellows in the Benjamin Banneker Initiative. The community of Banneker Fellows will receive funding for cohort building and professional development activities, including enrollment in the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity Faculty Success Program, proposal writing training, and seed grants. Further information about the Banneker Initiative can be found here: https://diversity.ucsb.edu/initiatives-and-resources/benjamin-banneker-initiative

Department: https://es.ucsb.edu/

Applicants must have completed all of the requirements for a PhD (or equivalent) except the dissertation at the time of application in a related field (environmental, social, and/or computational science).

By the time of hire, candidates must have a PhD (or equivalent).

• At least two years of teaching at the university level, including at least one course as instructor of record, and at least one year teaching quantitative reasoning, statistics, data science, and/or programming.

• Demonstrated excellence in teaching effectiveness, including evidence of pedagogical innovation or experimentation.

• Demonstrated commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning community, including evidence of engagement in relevant activities promoting equity, inclusion, and diversity.

• Demonstrated commitment to professional service, including service promoting access to and diversity in higher education.

• Experience using mathematics or data science to conduct environmental research.

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

We will only solicit letters for applicants who make it to the Committee's shortlist. References will need to submit letters of recommendation via the UC Recruit website. The three letters of recommendation must come from colleagues, faculty mentors, or superiors that can attest to the professional record of the applicant.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20. For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination.

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.