Tenure Track Faculty Position
Assistant Professor in Remote Sensing / GIS / Geospatial Technology
Department of Geological Sciences
College of Science
Salary Range: $90,812 - $94,812
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona invites applications for a tenure track faculty position in the Department of Geological Sciences.
Cal Poly
Pomona is one of three polytechnic universities in the 22-campus California State University (https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/faculty-staff/labor-and-employee-relations/Documents/unit3-cfa/2022-2026-CFA-CBA.pdf) system and among 12 such institutions nationwide. Since its founding in 1938, Cal Poly Pomona students participate in an integrative experiential learning education that is inclusive, relevant, and values diverse perspectives and experiences. With a variety of degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, and professional disciplines, the university is well known for its learn- by-doing approach and Teacher Scholar Model. (https://www.cpp.edu/cafe/new-faculty-resources/teacher-scholar.shtml)
The university is noted for its scenic and historic 1,400-acre campus, which was once the winter ranch of cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg. We acknowledge that Cal Poly Pomona resides on the territorial and homelands of the Tongva and Tataavium people who are the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar.
The university’s nearly 30,000 students are taught and mentored by the campus’s more than 1,400 faculty as part of 54 baccalaureate and 29 master’s degree programs, 11 credential and certificate programs, and a doctorate in educational leadership.
Highly regarded among its peer institutions, Cal Poly Pomona is No. 2 in the U.S. News and World Report rankings of top public regional universities in the West and was named the No. 28 best value college in the nation by Money Magazine.
Cal Poly
Pomona, a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, stands as a national leader in promoting social mobility (https://www.socialmobilityindex.org/), and was placed among the 25 top institutions in the country in awarding bachelor’s degrees to minoritized students by Diverse Issues in Higher Education. In 2022, the campus launched the Black Thriving Initiative, (https://www.cpp.edu/bti/index.shtml) recognizing that Cal Poly Pomona’s future as a university is linked to the success of its Black community. More information about our Principles of Community can be found here (https://www.cpp.edu/principles-of-community/index.shtml).
The Cal Poly Pomona campus is located less than 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles at the intersection of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. It is within an hour’s drive of beaches, mountains and deserts. For additional information about the university, please visit www.cpp.edu, (https://www.cpp.edu/) and for more about faculty life, please see YourLife@CPP. (https://www.cpp.edu/yourlife/index.shtml)
Student Population: Cal Poly Pomona is the number one polytechnic university in the nation for student diversity and economic mobility. Our caring and inclusive campus community is committed to helping anyone who dreams of success achieve it. In Fall 2024, Cal Poly Pomona served more than 25,000 students and close to 2,000 graduate students, mostly residents of California.
Over half of Cal Poly Pomona students are first-generation college students, 70% receive financial aid, and 42% are low-income students. The university enrolls 57% percent of historically underrepresented students. Our diverse student body identifies as 54% Hispanic/Latinx, 21% Asian, 13% White, 4% two or more races, 3% unknown, 2% African American/Black, 2% International, less than 1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and less than 1% Native American.
Forty-five percent of students enroll in our STEM majors and our top five enrolled programs across the university include mechanical engineering, computer science, civil engineering, psychology, as well as finance, real estate, and law.
College of Science: The College’s mission is to educate, mentor, and inspire students through scientific inquiry and hands-on learning. It offers 15 undergraduate degree programs and six Master’s degrees across seven academic departments that include: Biological Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Computer Science, Geological Sciences, Kinesiology & Health Promotion, Mathematics & Statistics, and Physics & Astronomy. Our Center for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (CEMaST) supports K-16 education locally and nationally to increase STEM success and participation for all.
The College of Science has approximately 150 full-time faculty, 40 staff, and 4[[HD1]](#_msocom_1) ,400 active majors. Our commitment to the teacher-scholar model results in our college being the largest recipient of extramural grant funding on campus. We encourage a broad range of applicants who are committed to enhancing a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to an inclusive campus environment.
The Department: The department offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology, subdivided into Emphasis Areas of Geology, Geophysics/Earth Exploration, and Environmental Geoscience, as well as a Master of Science degree in Geology. The Department faculty currently consists of five tenured and tenure-track professors and numerous adjunct faculty, several of whom have industry ties. The Geology faculty currently provides high quality instruction and career preparation to about 90 undergraduate majors and 30 M.S. candidates.
Through hands-on learning methods, faculty-mentored research, and exposure to current technology, our students acquire skills applicable to careers in the Geosciences and related disciplines. The department’s programs provide a global perspective for problem solving, decision making and leadership roles in a changing world. Learning is balanced between lecture, laboratory, research, and field experiences.
Our department is proud to enable economic mobility with a high rate of geoscience employment among our graduates. For more information, see the Department website: <https://www.cpp.edu/sci/geological-sciences/>
Position Description: The department is seeking new faculty (as Assistant Professor) specializing in remote sensing / GIS / geospatial technology, particularly as applied to earth science problems. The successful candidate will have a strong commitment to excellence in teaching and research. We invite applications from geoscientists whose research incorporates data from ground-based remote sensing or observations from uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) or satellites, and the position is open to a broad range of research specializations, such as natural hazards, active tectonics, geoinformatics, environmental geoscience, economic geology, and/or climate change.
Teaching responsibilities will typically consist of a mix of geoscience courses at the lower division, upper division, and graduate levels, and will include classes in Geographic Information Systems, Remote Sensing, or other specialty courses in the candidate’s area of expertise. The successful candidate is expected to engage undergraduate and graduate students in scholarly activities and will be encouraged to develop an extramurally funded research program. Established ties to research institutions, industry or government agencies are beneficial.
The applicant is also expected to produce scholarly publications, assist in curriculum development, advise students, serve on department, college, and university committees, and engage in professional activities. We seek candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community and are committed to teaching in an inclusive environment.
Minimum requirements include:
A PhD from an accredited university in Geology, Geophysics, Environmental Geoscience or a directly related science or engineering discipline (degree must be conferred by the start date of the position).
College or university teaching experience, at least at the level of a teaching assistant.
Demonstrated potential to establish an active earth science research program with undergraduate and master’s students that broadens our current disciplinary expertise.
Experience with data collection and/or analysis using modern remote sensing instrumentation and GIS software.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with students, staff, and faculty from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds
Preferred/Desired Qualifications:
University teaching experience as the instructor of record with evidence of excellence in teaching.
Experience involving undergraduate and graduate students in research.
Publication record appropriate for experience level of the candidate.
Interest in including the use of the Department’s existing UAV and remote sensing equipment in research and teaching.
Established ties to research institutions, industry and/or government agencies.
Experience in writing proposals for external funding.
Interest in developing intradepartmental and cross-campus collaborations.
Application Process:
A completed application will consist of
Cover letter in which you describe your interest in the position, relevant experience, and how you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications;
Curriculum vitae;
Teaching Philosophy statement (2-page max) that addresses Cal Poly Pomona’s commitment to excellence in education (see above);
Research Statement (2-page max);
The names and contact information for at least three individuals that can serve as references;
Unofficial transcripts
Finalists for the position will be:
expected to attend an on-campus interview, which will consist of a research presentation and an interactive teaching demonstration with students and faculty;
required to provide official transcripts for highest degree before the on-campus interview;
required to provide three letters of reference dated within the last two years;
The position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to completed applications received no later than December 1, 2026.
Please direct inquiries to Nick Van Buer (
[email protected]) or Bryan Murray (
[email protected])
Applications accepted only via PageUp (https://careers.pageuppeople.com/873/po/en-us/filter/?search-keyword&work-type=instructional%20faculty%20%e2%80%93%20tenured%2ftenure-track&job-mail-subscribe-privacy=agree)—online application portal—for University hires.
Disclosures
Education Code 89521 Requirements:
Pursuant to Education Code 89521 (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC§ionNum=89521.) applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.
Background Check:
A background check (including a criminal records check) must be satisfactorily completed. Offers of employment are conditional and may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.
Out of State Employment:
In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California. It is also expected that faculty establish an on-campus presence to fulfill their responsibilities.
Mandated Reporter:
The person holding this position is considered a "mandated reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
International Candidates:
Cal Poly Pomona is not currently sponsoring faculty for H-1B work status if they are subject to the $100,000 fee established under the Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers issued on September 19, 2025. For faculty already in the United States who hold a valid nonimmigrant visa (such as F-1, J-1, or O-1), Cal Poly Pomona is able to consider filing a petition to change their status to H-1B based on the current determination that the fee does not apply. For questions, please contact the Office of Faculty Affairs at
[email protected].
We strongly recommend that faculty review their individual circumstances carefully with their personal immigration legal counsel.
Clery Act:
In compliance with state and federal crime awareness and campus security legislation, including the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, California Education Code section 67380, and the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), Cal Poly Pomona’s Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report are available for viewing at Cal Poly Pomona’s Annual Security Report (https://www.cpp.edu/pdfs/annual_security_report.pdf)and Cal Poly Pomona’s Annual Fire Safety Report (https://www.cpp.edu/housing/documents/2025-annual-fire-safety-report-cal-poly-pomona.pdf).
EEO Statement:
This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly Pomona provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities.
Cal Poly
Pomona complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.
Cal Poly Pomona is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs.
At Cal Poly
Pomona, excellence is built on talent, merit, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.
Reasonable Accommodation:
We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the ADA Coordinator by email at
[email protected] (mailto:
[email protected]). For more information, go to Employment Notices (https://www.cpp.edu/eoda-hr/departments/hrpar/employment-notices.shtml).
Other Notices:
For other important employment notices, we invite you to visit Cal Poly Pomona’s Employment Notices (https://www.cpp.edu/eoda-hr/departments/hrpar/employment-notices.shtml) web page.