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University of Houston Department of Geosciences

The Department of Geosciences is seeking applications to fill four tenure-track faculty positions and one visiting faculty position. Successful applicants will join an active and expanding faculty in geology, geophysics, and atmospheric science presently consisting of 25 tenure track faculty, 10 research faculty, and 6 postdoctoral research scientists.


Professor of Geophysics, Applied Seismology

The Department of Geosciences invites applications from distinguished geophysicists with an international reputation and strong record of research excellence to fill a position in Applied Seismology at the Associate or Full professor level. Applicants should have extensive practical experience in the application of seismic methods, seismic processing and interpretation, a broad background in the geophysical sciences, and a distinguished national/international reputation for innovative applied and basic research in reflection seismology.


The successful candidate will have access to a full range of geophysical teaching and research facilities within the Department of Geosciences. These include access to a fully capable rock physics lab, seismic acoustic and physical modeling facilities, a paleomagnetic lab, and field equipment including broadband seismometers, GPS and GPR equipment. Departmental computing facilities are advanced and include 2 Sun V880 servers networked to 40 SUN Ultra workstations and 25 PC/Linux workstation with 60 Tbytes of centralized disk space storage. The Department also maintains ten 48-node Xeon or Dual-core Beowulf clusters within its own high performance-computing center. The University maintains additional high-performance computing facilities and 3D visualization facilities. The department has access to many modern 3D seismic data sets and maintains multiple licenses to a full suite of commercial seismic processing, modeling and interpretation software provided by vendors including Schlumberger (Geoframe and Petrel), Paradigm Geophysical, Geocenter, Hampson-Russell, Prism Geophysics, Seismic Microtechnologies, Halliburton, PETRA, and others.


Assistant/Associate Professor of Geology, Stable Isotope Geochemistry

The Department of Geosciences invites applicants for a tenure track faculty position at the Assistant or Associate Professor level in the field of stable isotope geochemistry. The applicant's specific research interests can include but are not limited to global climate change, paleopedology, paleooceanography, paleoclimatology, paleothermometry, chemostratigraphy, biogeochemistry and limnology. We are particularly interested in applicants who can provide a bridge between our newly expanded Atmospheric Science Program and our long-established Geology and Geophysics programs.


The successful candidate will have access to modern analytical facilities including stable isotope (O, H, C, S) mass spectrometers, 40Ar/39Ar and (U+Th)/He facilities, ICP-MS equipped with a 213nm laser ablation microprobe ICP-OES, electron microprobe, SEM, TEM, XPS, clean labs, fully capable organic and petroleum geochemistry labs, a hydro-chemistry lab and rock and mineral preparation facilities.


Assistant Professor of Geology or Geophysics, Geodynamics

The Department of Geosciences at the University of Houston invites applications for a tenure-track position at the assistant professor level in the broad field of Geodynamics. We seek applicants who address fundamental problems in Geology and Geophysics. Research interests may include the geodynamics of the mantle, crust, and surficial processes. Preference will be given to individuals who take multidisciplinary problem-solving approaches and whose interests complement departmental areas of concentration including structure/tectonics, sedimentology/stratigraphy, petroleum geology, earthquake seismology, reflection seismology, rock physics, petrology and geochemistry, geochronology, remote sensing/GIS, potential fields, fluid-rock interaction. Graduate teaching responsibilities may include graduate and undergraduate courses with a geodynamic focus including tectonics, basin analysis, geophysics or other areas of the candidate's specialty.


The Department maintains a full suite of commercial GIS, remote sensing, seismic processing, seismic interpretation, 3D visualization and cross-section software, as well as state-of-the-art workstations and the largest high-performance computing capabilities within the University that facilitates quantitative approaches and advanced modeling. Access to field based equipment including GPR, ground based Lidar, GPS, and broadband seismometers, as well as geochronology, paleomagnetic, rock physics and seismic modeling labs is also available.


Assistant/Associate Professor of Atmospheric Science, Mesoscale or Synoptic Meteorology

The Department of Geosciences at the University of Houston (UH) invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in mesoscale or synoptic meteorology with interests in the tropical, coastal or urban meteorology. Either an experimentalist with a strong background in atmospheric observations or a numerical modeler experienced with regional climate or forecast modeling is desired. The selected applicant will be expected to teach graduate and undergraduate atmospheric science courses, direct graduate research, develop a strong externally funded research program, and maintain a strong peer-reviewed publication record as part of the Institute for Multidimensional Air Quality Studies (IMAQS). A Ph.D. degree in atmospheric science is required. The position is expected to be filled at the Assistant Professor level, but outstanding candidates at the Associate Professor level will also be considered.


IMAQS is an atmospheric science research group composed of interdisciplinary researchers committed to perform measurement and modeling studies of the complex issues of air quality and climate change (http://www.imaqs.uh.edu). Modeling efforts address many critical components such as emissions, meteorology, and atmospheric chemistry. Measurement programs emphasize dynamical, physical, and chemical characterization of the urban and coastal environments. The institute works closely with national, state and local leaders to identify key scenarios to run on modeling systems so that public policy is guided with the best science. The IMAQS measurement facilities include a 42-m tall flux tower and a 40-ft trailer for atmospheric chemistry measurements at the UH Coastal Center site, two sodar systems, RAS system, tethersonde and radiosonde systems and an ambient air chemistry measurement site on top of the 18 story dormitory Moody Tower building on the UH campus, which houses instruments for O3, NO/NOx, CO, PANs, VOCs, HCHO, HOOH, as well as a suite of UV and VIS spectrally resolved solar radiation instrumentation.


Computational facilities available to the successful candidate are adequate for intensive numerical modeling research and include five 48-CPU Xeon Beowulf systems and a Sun dual-core 96 CPU Beowulf system devoted to atmospheric modeling. In addition, IMAQS and the Geosciences Department are key participants in the UH SUN Center of Excellence and the Geosciences Sun Grid Computing System. UH is on the Internet2 and ties into an ultra high speed network that connects to the participating universities in the Texas to the NLR network.


Visiting Assistant Professor of Geology

The Department of Geosciences at the University of Houston seeks a Visiting Assistant Professor of Geology to manage and co-direct the Geosciences Learning Center at the University of Houston. This position is renewable yearly for a period of up to three years based on satisfactory performance and annual personnel reviews. Responsibilities include managing the Learning Center, which is a tutoring and learning enhancement center for introductory geology classes in Physical Geology, Earth Systems, Historical Geology and Mineralogy. Duties also require coordinating graduate student teaching assistants and introductory labs, as well as teaching one physical geology lecture section per year. In addition, candidates are expected to carry on research in their field, seek external funding and maintain a strong record of peer-reviewed publication. Areas of interest that are broadly complimentary to current departmental research emphases in geochemistry/petrology, remote sensing /geoinformatics, sedimentology/paleontology, structure/tectonics and seismology are encouraged.


Tenure Track Assistant/Associate Professor of Atmospheric Science

The Department of Geosciences at the University of Houston (UH) invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in mesoscale meteorology with specialties in the air-surface interactions in the coastal and urban environments. Either an experimentalist with a strong background in the atmospheric boundary layer measurements or a numerical modeler experienced with regional climate modeling and/or land-surface modeling is desired. The selected applicant will be expected to teach graduate and undergraduate atmospheric science courses, direct graduate research, develop a strong externally funded research program, and maintain a strong peer-reviewed publication record as part of the Institute for Multidimensional Air Quality Studies (IMAQS). A Ph.D. degree in atmospheric science is required. The position is expected to be filled at the Assistant to Associate Professor level.


IMAQS is an atmospheric science research group composed of interdisciplinary researchers committed to perform measurement and modeling studies of the complex issues of air quality and climate change (http://www.imaqs.uh.edu). Modeling efforts address many critical components such as emissions, meteorology, and atmospheric chemistry. Measurement programs emphasize dynamical, physical, and chemical characterization of the urban and coastal environments. The institute works closely with national, state and local leaders to identify key scenarios to run on modeling systems so that public policy is guided with the best science.


Computational facilities available to the candidate are adequate for intensive numerical modeling research and include five 48-CPU Xeon Beowulf systems and a Sun dual-core 96 CPU Beowulf system devoted to atmospheric modeling. In addition, IMAQS and the Geosciences Department are key participants in the UH Sun Center of Excellence and the Geosciences Sun Grid Computing System. UH is on the Internet2 and ties into an ultra high speed network that connects to the participating universities in the Texas to the NLR network. The IMAQS measurement facilities include a 42-m tall flux tower and a 40-ft trailer for atmospheric chemistry measurements at the UH Coastal Center site, two sodar systems, tethersonde and radiosonde systems and an ambient air chemistry measurement site on top of the 18 story dormitory Moody Tower building on the UH campus, which houses instruments for O3, NO/NOx, CO, PANs, VOCs, as well as a suite of UV and VIS spectrally resolved solar radiation instrumentation.


Applicants are encouraged to visit the Department and IMAQS web sites for further information on facilities at www.geosc.uh.edu and www.imaqs.uh.edu. Candidates for this position should submit: 1) a letter of application including statements of teaching and research interests, 2) a curriculum vitae, 3) three letters of references (letters must be received from referees before applications will be considered), and 4) graduate school transcripts to the Faculty Search Committee, Department of Geosciences, Science and Research 1 Bldg., Rm. 312, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Rd., Houston, TX 77204-5007. The position will commence in the Fall of 2007. To ensure full consideration, complete applications should be received by January 15th, 2007. The position will, however, remain open for applications until filled.


Applications

The successful candidates for these positions must demonstrate strong potential to maintain vigorous research programs, to sustain strong records of peer-reviewed publication and external funding, to advise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students, and contribute to the teaching mission of the Department at all levels.


Candidates for all positions should submit: 1) a letter of application including statements of teaching and research interests, 2) a curriculum vitae, 3) three letters of references (letters must be received before the applications will be considered), and 4) an official Ph.D. graduate school transcript showing date of degree to:

Dr. John F. Casey, Chair,
Department of Geosciences
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Room 312 Science Research 1
University of Houston
4800 Calhoun Rd.
Houston, Texas 77204-5503


Signed reference letters may be submitted by referees as attached files via email to Kris Bullick. Further information can be obtained by viewing the departmental web page at http://www.geosc.uh.edu/ or by calling the Department at (713) 743-3399. Candidate evaluations will begin January 15, 2008 and continue until the positions are filled. We expect to fill the positions by Sept. 1, 2008.


The University of Houston is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.