Tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Physical Geography

Université d'Ottawa

We seek an individual with expertise and active research in Earth’s physical environment. The successful candidate is expected to develop an externally funded research program with strong connections to industry, government, and/or relevant end-users, stakeholders and rights holders, while contributing to our undergraduate and graduate programs. The successful candidate will receive start-up funding from the Faculty of Arts.

The successful candidate will join an innovative and collaborative department of fourteen full-time professors with expertise in a wide range of fields, including climate change, environment-society interactions, cold regions (human and biophysical), urban environments, culture, migration, sustainability, geomatics, spatial data science, and artificial intelligence (AI). Our professors maintain close collaborations with researchers in other departments at uOttawa, as well as those at nearby universities and in government. We offer BA, BSc, MA, MSc, and PhD programs. The Faculty of Arts maintains three computer teaching laboratories and several geomatics and physical geography laboratories.

Title of the Position: Assistant Professor, but higher ranks may be considered under exceptional circumstances.

Duties: The responsibilities include: 1) establishing and maintaining a robust, externally funded research program; 2) recruiting and supervising graduate students; 3) teaching undergraduate and graduate courses that contribute to existing programs in the department; and 4) contributing to administrative and academic activities for the department and faculty.

Terms: Tenure-track position.

Wage: Salary scale for an assistant professor rank starts at $94,588 (as of May 1, 2023).

Benefits package: The University of Ottawa provides a complete benefits package, which includes long-term disability leave, basic group life insurance, supplementary health insurance, a pension plan and optional life insurance, as well as relocation expenses.

Location of Work: Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Ottawa, 60 University Private, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5.

Contact Information (inquiries and questions):
Dr. Luke Copland, Professor, Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5. E-mail: luke.copland@uOttawa.ca.

Required Qualifications:
• Doctorate (PhD) by July 1, 2025 in Physical Geography or another relevant discipline;
• Demonstrated track record of research excellence in Physical Geography;
• Evidence to support the establishment of an innovative research program, including a record of refereed publications and participation at scholarly conferences;
• Demonstrated ability or concrete plan to attract external funding;
• Commitment to teaching and graduate training in our Department’s programs, including Physical Geography;
• Demonstrated knowledge of principles related to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of research and training programs.
• Active bilingualism in French and English will be required to receive tenure (language training and individual tutoring available).

Preferred Qualifications:
• Postdoctoral research experience.
• Teaching experience at the university level.
• Preference will be given to applicants who can teach in both French and English immediately.
• Preference will be given to candidates who can teach courses related to climate change, geomorphology, hydrology, biogeography, cold regions, and other subfields of physical geography, and to candidates with skills in artificial intelligence (AI), applied geomatics and remote sensing.

Application Deadline: Applications received by January 3, 2025, will receive full consideration, but the position will remain open until filled.

Complete application must be submitted via the University of Ottawa Careers application portal. Applications will only be considered once complete.

Please submit the following documents in PDF format: cover letter, curriculum vitae, copies of two recent peer-reviewed publications, statement of research interests, statement of teaching philosophy, student evaluations (if available).

Under separate cover, three confidential letters of reference should be sent directly by the referees to:
Secretariat
Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics
University of Ottawa
Email: secretaire.geographie-geography.secretary@uOttawa.ca

Short-listed candidates will be invited to present their research to professors and students of the department.

For more detail on our department, please visit: https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-arts/geography-environment-geomatics

The University of Ottawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff and faculty. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples in Canada, visible minority members (racialized persons), persons with disabilities, women and all qualified applicants with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with equitable, diverse and inclusive communities. Applicants who wish to be considered as a member of one or more designated groups should complete the confidential Self-Identification Questionnaire when they apply.

In accordance with government policy, all qualified candidates are invited to apply; however, preference will be given to Canadians and permanent residents. When submitting your application, please indicate if you are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The University of Ottawa provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you are invited to proceed in the selection process, please notify us of any accommodations that you require by emailing the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Relations, at vra.affairesprofessorales@uOttawa.ca. Any information you send us will be handled respectfully and in complete confidence.

The University of Ottawa is proud of its more than 160-year tradition of bilingualism. Through its Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, the University provides training to staff members and to their spouses in their second official language.