The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville (UTK) invites applications for the position of Professor and Department Head. The position is at the tenured, full Professor level and preferably starts August 1, 2021.

Located in East Tennessee, close to Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, UTK is a Research I University and is the flagship campus of the University of Tennessee system. EPS is housed in a new state-of-the art building and is comprised of an active group of tenure-track and research faculty, lecturers, post-doctoral associates, support staff, and over 150 graduate and undergraduate students. Research interests within the department span a wide range of geoscience topics, with particular emphasis and strengths in Environmental Earth Science, Geology, and Planetary Geoscience.  The Department’s current 5-year strategic plan can be viewed under the “About EPS” tab on the department website: http://web.eps.utk.edu.

The campus is located in one of the most beautiful areas of the country with easy access to miles of inland waterways, pristine state and national parks, diverse cultural opportunities, and a blend of convenient urban and rural living settings. Downtown Knoxville, adjacent to campus, is a thriving neighborhood filled with restaurants, shops, and indoor and outdoor entertainment venues, and is home to the Knoxville Symphony and Knoxville Opera, as well annual festivals like the Big Ears Music Festival, Jazz on the Square, and Shakespeare on the Square.

The requirements for this position are: (i) a Ph.D. in a relevant Earth Science discipline; (ii) a strong service record with demonstrated administrative experience and financial management skills; (iii) an established track record of obtaining external research funding; (iv) teaching and research experience in any area of Environmental Earth Science, Geology, and/or Planetary Geoscience. The successful candidate should be an inspiring, energetic, and well- organized leader who can interact effectively with all faculty, staff, and students within the department. The candidate should also have excellent interpersonal communication skills, high ethical standards, and be able to foster a collegial environment. They will be expected to build collaborative relationships with other programs and departments, advocate on behalf of the department with administrative units throughout the University, and to interact with external organizations. In addition, we seek a candidate able to demonstrate their commitment to equity and inclusion in higher education. We are particularly interested in candidates who can increase the participation of underrepresented students and/or faculty within the department and who will contribute to the diversity and intercultural goals of the Knoxville campus. Salary and benefits are competitive and will be commensurate with experience.

Please submit (i) a cover letter, (ii) Curriculum Vitae, (iii) vision statement incorporating administration, teaching, research, and diversity approaches, and (iv) contact information for three academic references via apply.interfolio.com/85122. Only electronic applications will be considered and acceptable file formats are .pdf or .docx.  We will start reviewing applications by May 1, 2021 until the position is filled. Questions about the position should be directed to the Chair of the Search Committee, Prof. Hanno H. Weitering (hanno@utk.edu).