The Department of Geography and Environmental Systems at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) invites individuals with strong Geospatial expertise to apply to our open position. The position is a 50/50 split between teaching and management of the department’s geospatial labs. The successful candidate is expected to teach a lab and field-based course that makes extensive use of introductory GIS, environmental science, and basic field sampling techniques. Along with teaching, the successful candidate will manage the department’s two computer labs (54 seats), which serve several hundred students each year. Teaching experience in GIS and experience in managing geospatial computing infrastructure is required. Experience in cartographic design and visualization, advanced geospatial analysis, or GIS programming is preferred. Please note that this is not a tenure track or research faculty position, but is a multi-year fixed-term position with potential for advancement.
The successful candidate will teach GES 286 (Introduction to the Environment: A Geospatial Perspective) each Fall and Spring semester with two or three lab sections (30 students each), along with directing GIS/Cartographic Internships (GES 482/483) for undergraduate students. Additionally, there will be opportunity to teach an advanced course in area(s) of the successful applicant’s specialty. The ability to communicate geospatial topics to undergraduate audiences, assist with class curricula development, and a familiarity with a variety of geospatial applications such as ArcGIS and QGIS is required. Additional knowledge related to associated software such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, ENVI, Microsoft Office, Python, and R, is highly preferred.
Responsibilities also include supervising undergraduate student lab assistants and managing lab equipment. The successful candidate should be able to maintain Windows computer software and hardware, a variety of geospatial software packages, and computer software licenses. They will need to manage the department plotting and printing resources, and work with the university’s Department of Information Technologies (DOIT) to resolve issues affecting GES computing resources.
UMBC ranks in the top 15% of national universities in the diversity of its student body and emphasizes an inclusive workplace for faculty and staff. Applicants should document a commitment to equity and diversity and describe how their teaching and work environment will foster an inclusive and equitable educational environment. Applicants must hold a minimum of a Masters Degree at the time of appointment. While the focus of our search is for a Lecturer with expertise in geospatial analysis and lab management, we welcome applicants from a broad range of fields and disciplines, including GIS, urban and regional planning; public health; environmental health; environmental studies; environmental science; human or physical geography; black/Africana studies; indigenous studies; and other ethnic or regional studies disciplines.
UMBC is listed in the most recent Carnegie ranking as a Research University, High Research Activity. The Department has grown to more than 250 majors in recent years, with more than 60 graduate students in M.S., M.P.S., and Ph.D. programs. Faculty interests span topics from human geography to environmental science and management, and several faculty explicitly incorporate issues of social and environmental justice in their research and teaching. Collaborative opportunities include faculty in Africana Studies, American Studies, Biological Sciences; Chemical, Biochemical & Environmental Engineering; Computer Science & Electrical Engineering; Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies; Global Studies; Interdisciplinary Studies; Language Literacy and Culture; Public Policy; Sociology, Anthropology, Health Administration & Policy; and the multi-campus Marine, Estuarine & Environmental Sciences program. Other opportunities at UMBC include the Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology (JCET) a research consortia formed by UMBC and NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center; the Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education (CUERE), a research center focused on the environmental, social and economic impacts of urban and suburban landscape transformation; and the U.S. Geological Survey Water Science Center for the MD-DE-DC region. UMBC is in close proximity to Washington D.C. and a broad array of federal, state, and local agencies as well as to other research institutions along the Washington-Baltimore-Philadelphia corridor. We encourage applicants to visit our department site ges.umbc.edu for additional information.
Applications should be submitted on Interfolio via https://apply.interfolio.com/87297 and should include:
- Cover letter with description of qualifications that include the following sections:
- commitment to equity and diversity in teaching and program management;
- teaching experience, along with any evidence of teaching excellence such as sample lessons, syllabi, or peer/student evaluations (appended as supporting documents); and
- technical and applied geospatial experience such as lab management, computer hardware troubleshooting, applied projects or similar
- Resume/CV;
- Separate document with names/contact information of three references.
Questions can be directed to Joseph School at school@umbc.edu. Formal review of applications will begin on June 16, 2021 and will continue until the position is filled. UMBC is especially proud of the diversity of its student body, and we are strongly committed to increasing faculty and staff diversity. We seek and encourage applications from underrepresented groups, including: BIPOC, women, persons with disabilities, and persons of minority sexual orientation or gender identity. UMBC is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.
For a PDF version of this announcement click here.