Assistant Professor in Earth Sciences - Geophysics

Announcement Number

Announcement Number FAC – VA – 27018

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Working Title Assistant Professor in Earth Sciences – Geophysics

Brief Position Overview

The Department of Earth Sciences at Montana State University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Geophysics. Applicants from all areas of geophysics are welcome; we are especially interested in candidates who apply geophysical methods to solid Earth problems and who integrate advanced computational approaches.

Faculty Tenure Track

Faculty Tenure Track Yes

Faculty Rank

Position Number

Position Number 4A3276

Department

Department Earth Sciences

Division

Division College of Letters & Science

Appointment Type

Appointment Type Faculty

Contract Term

Contract Term Academic Year

Semester

If other, specify From date

If other, specify End date

Union Affiliation

Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining

FTE

FTE 1.0

Benefits Eligible

Salary Salary commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications

Contract Type

Contract Type MUS

If other, please specify

Recruitment Type

Recruitment Type Open

The Department of Earth Sciences at Montana State University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Geophysics, with an anticipated start date of August 2027. We seek a geophysicist whose research applies geophysical methods to solid Earth problems.
The successful candidate will develop an externally funded research program that complements and expands departmental strengths in tectonics, sedimentology and stratigraphy, structural geology, volcano logy and magmatic systems, energy resources and critical minerals, Earth surface processes, and geospatial science. We welcome applicants from all areas of geophysics, including but not limited to seismology, potential fields, electromagnetism, geodynamics, geophysical engineering, environmental geophysics, geodesy, and near-surface geophysics.
Research may address seismicity and seismic hazards, tectonics, volcano logy, near-surface, applied, and exploration geophysics, and/or energy resources and critical minerals. We are particularly interested in candidates who integrate field research with advanced computational methods, including artificial intelligence and machine learning.
The position expands departmental capacity in geophysics and computational Earth Sciences and strengthens geophysics training across the undergraduate and graduate curriculum. Montana’s geologic setting—from the Yellowstone volcanic system to mineral resources and seismic hazards—offers abundant opportunities for field-based and computationally intensive research in a department with exceptional access to the Northern Rockies and Greater Yellowstone region.
The successful candidate will have access to MSU’s Tempest high-performance computing cluster and opportunities to collaborate across Montana State University and with statewide and national partners, including the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, ongoing airborne geophysical mapping initiatives, and MSU’s participation in the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
We seek a colleague who will contribute actively to a highly collegial, collaborative, interdisciplinary, and student-focused department and demonstrate a commitment to mentoring and supporting students from all backgrounds.

• Carry a full teaching load under the Department of Earth Sciences workload plan, currently a 2/1 split between semesters (3 courses per academic year).
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in geophysics and related Earth Sciences subjects. Expected contributions include large introductory Earth Sciences courses…