Description

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