Assistant Professor - Human Geography

Competition 1461

While this position welcomes applications from the public, please note that preference will be given to current employees at the University of Alberta. Please log in to verify your internal candidate status.

Location - Work primarily takes place at North Campus Edmonton. This role is in-person.

The University of Alberta is one of the largest and most research-productive universities in Canada. With more than 40,000 students from 146 countries, the U of A regularly ranks in the top 5 universities in the country and in the top 100 universities in the world according to QS Worldwide university rankings. The university offers highly competitive salaries and an excellent benefits package.

Greater Edmonton, Amiskwacîwâskahikan, in the language of the Plains Cree, is situated on Treaty Six Territory. We recognize and respect the history, languages, and cultures of the First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our institution. With over one million residents in the city and surrounding communities, the location offers a unique quality of life, a beautiful, park-like setting on a spectacular river valley, an international airport, the lowest provincial tax regime in the country, and is located in Canada's most optimistic and economically vibrant province. Edmonton boasts 78 arts and cultural organizations including the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Edmonton Opera, Citadel Theatre and more than 30 arts and cultural festivals taking place each year.

Departmental Executive Summary

The Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences is a highly ranked, internationally-competitive department with a strong research profile. We are a diverse unit with programs in human geography, geology, urban planning (within the School of Urban and Regional Planning), environmental earth sciences, environmental studies, and paleontology. In the 2022 Times Higher Education Impact rankings, the University of Alberta was ranked 7th in the world in contributing to Sustainable Cities and Regions, thanks in part to researchers in Human Geography and Planning.

Our research vision is to fund and publish high-quality research in top-tier, international venues across the research themes that span our seven-degree programs.

The Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences offers interdisciplinary approaches to diverse teaching and research themes. One of the largest and best-supported departments in Canada, it has an international reputation for leading-edge research.

The EAS department was established in 1995 when the former departments of Geology (1912) and Geography (1957) were merged. EAS has grown to more than 50 faculty members, and over 120 graduate students, and is recognized for its scholarly achievement, excellence in teaching and research, and service to the community.

The EAS Department offers degree programs in Environmental Earth Sciences, Environmental Studies, Geology, Human Geography, Paleontology, and Planning. The Department is unique in Canada in that it offers an interdisciplinary approach to learning. Students take courses from nationally and internationally recognized scholars, at the forefront of their fields.

The EAS Department has an international reputation for leading-edge research and dynamic PhD, MSc and MA programs. With outstanding laboratory and field research facilities, and excellent technical support, the Department is able to provide unparalleled opportunities for collaborative, interdisciplinary graduate research.

Position 

We are interested in candidates with expertise in Human Geography with a research focus related to urbanization and informal economies within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region of Africa. The position will be tenure-track and while we intend to hire at the Assistant Professor rank, we will consider appointment at the rank of Associate Professor in the case of a suitably experienced candidate.

Duties 

The Assistant Professor role is the starting point on the academic faculty member career pathway at the University of Alberta. Faculty members are full members of the department and play an active role in democratic processes and governance. The responsibilities of the role include active participation in teaching, research, and service:

• Teaching (40%): Participation in teaching programs, including classroom teaching, supervision of students conducting research, and personal interactions with and advising students. An Academic Faculty member may decide on specific course content and instructional methodology, recognizing the approved course description, and academic policy approved by the Department, the Faculty, and the University. Teaching is year-round with most courses in the Fall (September to December) and Winter (January to April) semesters. Teaching assignments are decided in discussion with the Department Chair.
• Research (40%): Participation in research, including the preparation or performance of creative works and reflective inquiry, and disseminating research results by means appropriate to the discipline. Academic Faculty members are encouraged to seek financial support for research from granting agencies or other sources.
• Service (20%): An Academic Faculty member shall be actively engaged in service to the University and participate in the collegial responsibilities of departmental, Faculty, and University governance. Provision of service to the discipline of the Academic Faculty member; participation in the governance of the University, the Faculty, and the Department, and dissemination of knowledge to the general public by making available the Academic Faculty member's expertise and knowledge of the discipline.

Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in Geography is required. A Ph.D. from a Canadian University is considered an asset.
• Human Geography and Planning research experience in the SADC region of Africa with a research focus related to urbanization and informal economies.
• Completed publications in both Human Geography and Urban Planning in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals and presented research findings in other venues including conferences, books, or book chapters.
• Demonstrated evidence of strong teaching skills in both Human Geography and Planning.
• A record of outreach broadly related to their research and teaching.
• Undergraduate or graduate degrees in areas such as public administration and rural and urban planning.
• The ability to work and communicate effectively across disciplines and with external communities.
• Strong record of academic publishing in both Human Geography and Planning (e.g. 10+ peer-reviewed publications, 500+ citations) an asset.
• Postdoctoral experience is an asset.
• Research experience in Zimbabwe, Malawi or Zambia is considered an asset.
• Research in areas such as urban infrastructure, smart cities, housing infrastructure, wastewater systems, and the Sustainable Development Goals (in addition to the required focus on informal economies in urban areas).
• A degree from an African university is considered an asset.