Visiting Assistant Professor of Instruction in Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences

The Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences at Northwestern University welcomes applications for a full-time, fixed-duration Visiting Assistant Professor (VAP) position. The VAP will be appointed for one year, starting September 1, 2026, with an option to renew for a second year, and will teach two courses per quarter for three quarters per year. This is a full-time salaried position with benefits and no summer teaching is required. A PhD in any subfield of Earth Science is required.

The VAP will teach one or more 200-level courses (major level, introductory), such as Physics of the Earth’s Interior, Data Analysis for Earth and Environmental Sciences, and/or Decision Making in the Anthropocene. The VAP will also teach additional upper-level courses in sub-disciplines that align with their expertise and prior teaching experience, as well as curricular needs (see our courses page for more details).

Applicants should submit a cover letter and CV including teaching portfolio (teaching philosophy, potential courses, and any relevant documentation of teaching experience/performance) at . Names and contact information for three letter writers who can address teaching skills should be included in the cover letter. Queries about the position may be addressed to Professor Brad Sageman at [email protected]. Completed applications will be reviewed beginning March 2, 2026; consideration will continue until the position is filled.

Salary - The expected base pay range for this position is $65,000-$70,000.

This base pay range is for a nine-month academic appointment, does not include summer salary, and is subject to negotiation.

Northwestern University has provided a pay range representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for the position. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate including years since terminal degree, training, and field or discipline; departmental budget availability; internal comparators; and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Benefits

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit our benefits page to learn more.

Please read ALL instructions and make preparations before proceeding to the application page:

• Applications will only be accepted via online submission (see link below).
• Prepare a list of names and email addresses for your external academic references; your references will be contacted directly by the online system and invited to upload their letters on your behalf, once the search committee determines your application is ready for additional review

Submissions are currently being accepted through our recruitment portal .

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.