Assistant Professor, Human Geography and Technology

Position Details

Position Rank and

Title:

Assistant Professor, Human Geography and Technology

School/Department Name:
Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies

Compensation:
Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $85,000-$95,000

Faculty employee benefits are very competitive for the higher education sector.

Target

Start Date:

August 17, 2026

January 31, 2026 (Applications accepted until filled or closed)

The School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies at San José State University (SJSU) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position specializing in Human Geography and Technology. The successful candidate’s teaching and research should be grounded in core geographic concepts (e.g., place, scale, territory, mobility). We seek a teacher-scholar whose research and teaching actively engage with issues related to underserved and marginalized communities.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a commitment to fostering equity, inclusion, and social justice through their scholarship and pedagogy, with a particular focus on how geographic processes impact underrepresented groups from the local to global level, and who has expertise in critical technology studies and qualitative research methods.

The successful candidate will develop and maintain an active research agenda in human geography, employing qualitative research methods such as ethnography, interviews, participatory action research, or narrative analysis. They should be capable of addressing critical issues such as urban inequality, environmental justice, migration, housing, healthy communities, or community empowerment, with a particular emphasis on how geography can inform public policy and planning practices that support vulnerable communities.

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in human geography, cultural geography, natural geography, and qualitative research methods, and other areas aligned with the candidate’s expertise and departmental needs.
• Mentor and advise students and promote inclusive teaching practices.
• Establish and maintain a productive research agenda.
• Contribute to departmental and university service activities, including committee work, curriculum development, and community engagement.
• Collaborate with faculty, students, and community stakeholders to develop research that supports social justice and addresses the needs of marginalized communities.

• A Ph.D. in Geography or a closely related field.
• Prior experience in postdoctoral research or academic teaching.
• Expertise in qualitative research methods and a demonstrated focus on issues affecting underserved communities.
• Strong commitment and/or experience teaching and mentoring students in a diverse academic environment.
• Evidence of potential for significant scholarly contributions in human geography.
• Demonstrated expertise teaching in person and online courses.

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• Letter of interest
• Curriculum vitae
• Institutional excellence statement (dedicated statement or addressed in letter of interest)
• Statement of teaching interests/philosophy
• Research plans
• Three references with contact information

Inquiries may be directed to the School Director (Prof. Katherine Kao Cushing – katherine.cushing) or Search Committee Chair:
Assoc. Prof. Ahoura Zandiatashbar – ahoura.zandiatashbar

San José State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of Age, Ancestry, Caste, Color, Disability, Ethnicity, Gender, Gender Expression, Gender Identity, Genetic Information, Marital Status, Medical Condition, Military Status, Nationality, Race, Religion, Religious Creed, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Sex Stereotype, and Veteran Status. This policy applies to all San José State University students, faculty, and staff as well as University programs and activities.

Reasonable accommodations are made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.