Assistant Professor of Polar or Cryospheric Sciences

Requisition Number:

75289

Location:

Boulder, Colorado

City

Boulder

State

Colorado

Employment Type:

Faculty

Schedule:

Full-Time

Date Posted:

12-Oct-2026

The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor in polar and/or cryospheric sciences. CIRES has identified cold region science as a key priority for building on its existing strengths. This new tenure-track faculty position is open to any aspect of polar and/or cryospheric science.

We seek an Assistant Professor who will lead a research group that generates and analyzes data leading to novel scientific and/or engineering insights pertaining to cold regions. Relevant research methods include remote sensing, in-situ observations, and numerical modeling. Relevant research specialties include but are not limited to the atmosphere, ocean, biology, snow, sea ice, ice sheets and glaciers, and permafrost. Applicants with potential for interdisciplinary research activities that span multiple specialties are preferred.

This role will join CIRES to advance environmental science, especially as it relates to cold region processes in earth system change and variability. The faculty member will contribute to dynamic activities across CIRES as well as partner institutes, departments, centers and programs at CU Boulder. The faculty line for this position is rostered in CIRES, with a tenure-track affiliation and instructing/service responsibilities in a relevant academic department.

Academic departments that could serve as the tenure home include:
Aerospace Engineering, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Earth Science, Environmental Studies, and Geography. The departmental affiliation will be decided in consultation with the new hire.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) is an internationally recognized leader in innovative environmental science and research and is located at the University of Colorado Boulder. At CIRES, more than 900 environmental science professionals work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people's relationship with the planet. CIRES has a partnership of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of Colorado Boulder.

Areas of expertise include weather and climate, biology and ecosystems, changes at Earth's poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earth sciences, and more. Our vision is to excel as an international leader in conducting cross-cutting environmental research of the highest quality while bridging fundamental science and service to society. We build leaders, scientists, communicators, and teams dedicated to developing sound and trusted information to address environmental challenges.

We embrace a positive and inclusive culture, recognizing that CIRES thrives when our people do.

CIRES researchers work in ten CU Boulder academic departments and eight NOAA laboratories and centers. CIRES has eight centers where this hire can productively engage:
Center for Education, Engagement, and Evaluation (CEEE), Center for Microbial Exploration, Earth Lab, Earth Science and Observation Center (ESOC), Environmental Data Science Innovation and Inclusion lab (ESIIL), National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (NCCASC) and Western Water Assessment (WWA). Together, our mission is to conduct innovative research that advances our understanding of the global, regional, and local environments and the human relationship with those environments, for the benefit of society.

• Maintain an active, externally funded research program, supervise and mentor graduate students, instruct at undergraduate- and graduate-student levels, and contribute professional service both within the university and to their professional research community. The typical distribution of effort for tenure-track faculty is 40% instructing, 40% research, and 20% service. Instructing responsibilities will be aligned with the needs of the…