Assistant Professor in Satellite Remote Sensing of Ecosystems

 Department of Atmospheric and Earth Science

The University of Alabama in Huntsville

About the Position: The Department of Atmospheric & Earth Science (AES) at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) invites applications for a tenure-earning faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor in Satellite Remote Sensing of Ecosystems. We seek a scientist who applies satellite remote sensing, geospatial analysis, and geospatial/environmental intelligence methods to the structure, function, and change of ecosystems. Areas of interest are broadly construed and include vegetation structure, function, and phenology; biodiversity and habitat; ecosystem responses to climate variability, hydroclimatic extremes, disturbance, and land use change; ecosystem carbon, water, and nutrient cycling; land–atmosphere interactions, and coastal, wetland, and terrestrial ecosystem change. The position is applications-focused, and we especially welcome candidates whose work complements existing departmental strengths. The successful candidate would build an externally funded research program with agencies such as NASA, NSF, and DOE, as well as private foundations, and build collaborations within AES and with the Earth System Science Center (ESSC), and with local partners from NASA MSFC programs and NOAA. Primary responsibilities include research, teaching, and service to the department, university, and profession.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

   - Ph.D. in Earth system science (ESS), geography, ecology, forestry, environmental science, remote sensing, or a related field by the start date.

   - Demonstrated expertise in satellite remote sensing and geospatial analysis applied to ecosystems.

   - Record of peer-reviewed publications appropriate to career stage.

   - Potential to develop an externally funded research program that supports graduate students.

   - Strong commitment to student success at both the undergraduate and graduate levels through teaching and mentoring.

Preferred Qualifications:

   - Postdoctoral or equivalent research experience.

   - Experience preparing proposals to federal agencies.

   - Experience with multi-sensor satellite data (e.g., optical, thermal, lidar, radar), integration of satellite observations with in situ measurements and Earth system models, and scalable cloud, high-performance computing, or machine-learning workflows.

   - Teaching experience in remote sensing, GIS, or ecosystem science.

   - Experience working with government, defense, or stakeholder partners on applied problems.

Position Responsibilities:

   - Establish an independent, externally funded research program with national visibility.

   - Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the ESS and geospatial program curricula of the AES department, including new courses.

   - Mentor, advise and fund undergraduate, M.S., and Ph.D. students via external research awards.

   - Contribute to AES curriculum development at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

   - Provide service to the department, college, university, and profession.

Appointment Date: August 2027

About the Department: UAH's Department of Atmospheric & Earth Science is co-located with NASA Marshall Space Flight Center's Earth Science Branch in the National Space Science and Technology Center on the UAH campus. AES offers B.S. and M.S. programs in Atmospheric and Earth Science with concentrations in Earth System Science (ESS) and Atmospheric Science (ATS), and an ATS Ph.D. program. The department includes 15 full-time faculty, 20+ affiliate faculty, and enrolls 40+ graduate and 90+ undergraduate students. Faculty expertise spans severe weather, lightning, and radar meteorology; atmospheric chemistry and air quality; satellite remote sensing and geospatial informatics; climate and land-atmosphere interactions; human-ecosystem dynamics; and numerical modeling. The faculty also includes the Alabama State Climatologist. AES is renowned for excellence in environmental and atmospheric research and education, preparing students for impactful careers in academia, government, and industry.

 About the College: The College of Science at UAH is home to eight academic departments, including Atmospheric & Earth Science; Biological Sciences; Chemistry; Computer Science; Engineering Technology; Mathematical Sciences; Physics & Astronomy; and Space Science.  The College offers a range of rigorous, research-focused academic degree programs at the Bachelors, Masters, and PhD levels. We take pride in the innovative research our faculty and students perform, which is often conducted in collaboration with our community partners in Cummings Research Park, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, and Redstone Arsenal. We strive to ensure low costs for students while maintaining high-quality standards, and by offering different course modalities, we serve the needs of various types of learners. The College actively promotes the professional development of our faculty and staff, encourages innovation in teaching, and seeks to create a welcoming and supportive environment that enables all of us to improve and realize our potential. We invite you to explore the UAH College of Science website for more information.

About the University:  Founded in 1969, The University of Alabama in Huntsville is one of America’s premier doctoral-granting, comprehensive universities known for addressing some of the world’s most critical technological challenges. UAH, a part of the University of Alabama System, offers an environment where students are able to explore, discover, create and communicate knowledge. UAH has eight colleges, more than 100 areas of study, and 17 high-tech research centers and institutes. Located in the heart of the Technology Hub of the South, UAH serves as the anchor tenant of the second-largest research park in the United States, Cummings Research Park. UAH boasts storied partnerships with Redstone Arsenal, NASA and the Department of Defense. The institution is a member of the Gulf South athletic conference. UAH is where technology and human understanding converge to prepare students to transform their future.  Learn more about the University on the UAH website.

About Huntsville: Defense, space, telecommunications, biotechnology, diversified manufacturing and a variety of emerging specialties provide challenging work in Huntsville, also known as the Rocket City. The area enjoys a favorable cost of living and quality of life in the Southeast. More than 1.2 million people reside in the Huntsville metro area, and it is now the largest city in Alabama. From outdoor recreational activities to an enhanced arts and entertainment community, Huntsville contributes to a wonderful way to live, work, and play.  More information about our city is available on the City of Huntsville website.

Application Procedure and Deadline: Applications received by January 4, 2027 will receive priority consideration; review will continue on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Please submit the following as PDF files:

1. Cover letter indicating area(s) of interest.
2. Curriculum vitae.
3. Research statement.
4. Teaching statement describing teaching interests and advising/mentoring philosophy.
5. References: Names and contact information for at least three references.
 

Submission:  Email materials to Dr. Lawrence Carey, Professor and Chair, Department of Atmospheric & Earth Science, at aes-chair@uah.edu. Inquiries about the position may be directed to Dr. Leiqiu Hu, Search Committee Chair, at leiqiu.hu@uah.edu.  Please refer to the log number 27-28-5011 when applying.

 The University of Alabama in Huntsville is an equal opportunity employer (EOE), including an EOE of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.