Associate of Full Professor in Societal Adaption and Resilence to Climate Extremes

How to Apply

The position will be filled at the associate or full professor (tenured) level, beginning Fall 2027.

Applications should include (1) a cover letter; (2) CV; (3) a concise (up to 2-page) personal statement describing your vision and plans for research and teaching; and (4) a list of three names of academic references with contact information. Please do not include letters of recommendation with your application; we will contact references as needed.

Employment will require both a criminal background check and an institutional reference check regarding any misconduct. Candidates will be required to submit a self-disclosure form as well as an authorization to release information form.

To apply, submit application materials in Interfolio, via this link: https://apply.interfolio.com/195496.

Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2026, and continue until the position is filled.

Mission Statement

SEAS's mission is to contribute to the protection of the Earth's resources and the achievement of a sustainable and just society. The School contributes new scientific knowledge, visionary leadership, and trained professionals toward that end. The faculty of the School is diverse, with natural scientists, social scientists, engineers, and designers working collaboratively in an integrative setting. A professional school set within a major research university, SEAS provides a model of interdisciplinary and applied research and a focal point of research, teaching and societal engagement on sustainability. The School focuses on key cross-cutting sustainability themes, including climate and energy; water; food, land use, and agriculture; conservation and restoration; and cities, the built environment, and mobility. There are many opportunities for research collaborations across the University of Michigan, including with academic units like Earth and Environmental Sciences, Civil Engineering, Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, and the School for Public Health, as well as with institutes and research centers like the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise, the Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute, the Center for Land Surface Hazards (CLaSH), the William Davidson Institute, and the SEAS-led NOAA GLISA Partnership.

The School offers a Ph.D. as well as both research and professional M.S. degrees in seven specializations: ecosystem science and management; geospatial data science; sustainable systems; environmental policy and planning; behavior, education and communication; environmental justice; and sustainable development. The School also offers a Master's degree in Landscape Architecture (M.L.A.). The student body includes over 500 M.S./M.L.A. and 60 doctoral students. SEAS also co-manages an undergraduate Program in the Environment and participates in dual master degree programs with the Schools of Architecture and Urban Planning, Business, Engineering, Law, Public Health, and Public Policy. Additional information about the School can be found at www.seas.umich.edu.

At SEAS we are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable environment that respects diverse experiences, promotes generous listening and communications, and discourages and restoratively responds to acts of discrimination, harassment, or injustice. To learn more about SEAS and our values, please visit our website at https://seas.umich.edu/about/seas-values.

Job Summary

The School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) at the University of Michigan is seeking applicants for a full-time, nine-month, tenure-track faculty member to advance social science research and engagement on societal adaptation and resilience to hazards and extremes driven by climate change. We invite applications from candidates working in domestic and/or global context. The position will be filled at the Associate or Full Professor level as part of the University of Michigan Look to Michigan Faculty Expansion Program involving faculty hires in SEAS, Earth and Environmental Science, and Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering.

Specific topics of interest include governance, institutions, and management of societal risks of extreme events; innovative risk and vulnerability assessment; adaptation planning; monitoring and evaluation of mitigation and adaptation strategies; engaged research partnerships; knowledge coproduction or other forms of knowledge-to-action research; policy and program innovation; and attention to equity. We are looking for scholars with research relevant to Environmental Policy and Planning; Behavior, Education and Communication; Environmental Justice and/or Sustainability and Development specializations at SEAS.

Candidates must hold a PhD and be an internationally recognized scholar with training in human-environment geography, political science, public policy, applied economics, planning, or a related field. Candidates must have a strong record of transdisciplinary research; scholarly publication; teaching in a multidisciplinary setting; engaged research strategies to generate actionable knowledge, such as action research and co-production for societal impact; and national and international recognition. We are particularly interested in candidates who will help solve real-world sustainability challenges through internal and external partnerships, including by elevating cross-campus interdisciplinary collaborations to attract the funding and partnerships needed for transformative impact.

The successful candidate will be expected to:

1. Develop a widely recognized research program that attracts external funding and contributes to the interdisciplinary mission of the School;
2. Support SEAS's teaching mission at both graduate and undergraduate levels, including mentoring and supervising doctoral and master's students;
3. Contribute to the stewardship of SEAS, the University, relevant professions and society through service, collaboration and engagement.

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Underfill Statement

This position is posted as Assistant Professor/Associate Professor/Professor. The rank of the selected candidate will depend upon candidate's qualifications.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.