Description

Posting Details

Posting Number

F2584P

Working Title

Assistant Professor

Department

Franklin-Geography

About the University of Georgia

Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state's flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University's main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University's enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

About the College/Unit/Department

The Department of Geography within the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences offers B.A., B.S., M.A., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Geography, B.S. degree in Atmospheric Sciences, and Ph.D. degree in Integrative Conservation ( ICON )/Geography, as well as undergraduate/graduate Certificate Programs in Urban and Metropolitan Studies and Geographic Information Science and undergraduate Certificates in Local Food Systems and Climate Change Geographies. We are a broad-spectrum department with strong traditions in human, environmental, and techniques-focused geography. A number of faculty conduct research in remote sensing, ethical uses of drone technologies, geospatial analysis and GeoAI at a broad range of scales and applications, from global climate modeling and regional atmospheric/hydrological processes to local landcover changes, community mapping and drone imaging for precision agriculture. Geography researchers have access to resources of the Center for Geospatial Research ( CGR ) that include a number of drones and sensors for multispectral, hyperspectral and LiDAR data collection, along with field instruments, spectrometers, eddy covariance towers and weather stations for ground-based measurements, as well as virtual and augmented reality equipment. A new X-band weather radar system also was recently installed at nearby Georgia Gwinnett College by UGA and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Learn more about the UGA Geography Department and CGR at https://geography.uga.edu/ and https://cgr.uga.edu.

The Institute for Artificial Intelligence ( IAI ) is a separate, interdisciplinary research and instructional unit managing the A.B. in Cognitive Science and two graduate Artificial Intelligence degree programs housing a combined cohort of more than 300 students. The M.S. in AI is one of the oldest such programs in the country. The Ph.D. in AI was approved in 2022. The interdisciplinary nature of AI and Cognitive Science is reflected in the mission and composition of the Institute, with more than ninety Institute Faculty Fellows who come from a wide variety of departments and colleges across the UGA campus, thereby offering an exceptional environment to collaborate. The Georgia Advanced Computing Resource Center ( GACRC ) provides the UGA research and education community with an advanced computing environment, including the Sapelo2 Cluster with over 51,000 cores and petabytes of high-performance storage, to accelerate research requiring large-scale computing. More details about IAI and GACRC can be found on its website at https://www.ai.uga.eduand https://gacrc.uga.edu.

The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences is the heart of UGA's learning environment, advancing knowledge, research, and creative activity across more than 40 departments, schools, and institutes. With a vision for high-impact research and education, Franklin College prepares students for leadership and global engagement in a sustainable future. The College has a strong commitment to multidisciplinary research, collaboration and academic innovation.

College/Unit/Department website

Posting Type

External

Retirement Plan

Employment Type

Employee

Benefits Eligibility

Benefits Eligible

Underutilization

Advertised Salary

Anticipated Start Date

08/01/2026

Effective End Date (for Limited-Term postings)

Job Posting Date

11/21/2025

Job Closing Date

Open until filled

Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants

To apply, please upload the following:

1) Cover letter addressing the candidate's background relative to the responsibilities of the position;

2) Curriculum vitae;

3) Statement of research interests (to include multidisciplinary collaborations of interest);

4) Statement of teaching philosophy; and

5) Names and emails for three references as part of the application. Letters will only be requested later in the search process.

Applications will be accepted while the position remains open, however, all applications received by January 5, 2026, will receive full consideration. For questions about the position, contact Dr. Marguerite Madden (mmadden@uga.edu), Chair of the Search Committee, Department of Geography, University of Georgia.

Location of Vacancy

Athens Area

EEO Statement

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Position Details

Position Information

Classification Title

Assistant Professor

FLSA

Faculty Rank

Assistant Professor

Contract Type

Academic (9 mo.)

Tenure Status

Tenure Track

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants should hold a Ph.D. in Geography, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field.

Position Summary

The Department of Geography and the Institute for Artificial Intelligence ( IAI ) at the University of Georgia invite applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position starting August 2026. The position is a joint hire between the Department of Geography and IAI , with tenure home in Geography at the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.

The ideal candidate will leverage emerging UAS and AI technologies to develop novel sensing and onboard processing frameworks, AI models, algorithms, and applications that bridge the physical and computational dimensions of the Earth system. The successful candidate will be expected to develop and maintain an active, externally funded research program and will have opportunities to collaborate with faculty across campus. Teaching responsibilities include undergraduate and graduate courses in the candidate's area of expertise, as well as some combination of existing upper-level courses that meet the instructional needs of Geography and the IAI .

This tenure-track position starts on August 1, 2026, and is an academic-year appointment (9 months) with opportunities to supplement salary during the summer.

Additional Requirements

Please see the requirements for Assistant Professors in the Unit Criteria for Promotion and Tenure for the Department of Geography.

Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, and/or Certification

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

We seek applicants whose research integrates uncrewed aerial system ( UAS )-based remote sensing and geospatial artificial intelligence (AI) to advance autonomous Earth observation, environmental monitoring, and data-driven decision support.

Applicants should have a strong record of high-quality publications.

Physical Demands

Is this a Position of Trust?

No

Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?

No

Does this position require a P-Card?

No

Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position?

No

Is driving a responsibility of this position?

No

Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?

No

Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications)

No

Credit and P-Card policy

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Background Investigation Policy

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Duties/Responsibilities

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Resume/CV
2. Cover Letter
3. Teaching Portfolio/Philosophy
4. Research Portfolio/Philosophy

Optional Documents