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Position Rank and Title: Assistant Professor, Urban Spatial Data Science

School/Department Name: Social Sciences/Environmental Studies/Urban and Regional Planning

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $86,000 - $90,000     

Faculty employee benefits are very competitive for the higher education sector.  See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details about the CSU’s excellent benefits package.

Target Start Date: August 2025

Application Deadline: November 15, 2024. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled or closed.

Department Summary

The Department of Environmental Studies/Urban and Regional Planning at San José State University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Urban Spatial Data Science (GIScience). Candidates with expertise in GIScience and one or more of the following areas are encouraged to apply: land-use planning, critical geography, social or environmental justice, public health, community development, economic development, and/or international development.

The programs in Urban and Regional Planning and Environmental Studies cover the undergraduate degrees of BA, BS (Environmental Studies), BA (Geography), BS (Geographic Information Systems), BA (Global Studies); and Masters degrees in the following areas: MS (Environmental Studies), MUP (Masters in Urban Planning), MPA (Masters in Public Administration, MA (Geography). Many graduates of our programs continue their connections with the department and form strong alumni ties to faculty and students. This creates a wealth of internship, conference, and full-time job opportunities. Faculty are nationally and internationally recognized experts in subjects including GIS, community development, transportation, social-ecological systems and energy justice. Further information about the two departments can be found on the following websites: https://www.sjsu.edu/urbanplanning/ and https://www.sjsu.edu/envs/.

Urban and Regional Planning programs at San José State University (SJSU), founded in 1970, are home to an interdisciplinary and highly research-active team of scholars and engaged practitioners. The department is in a growing and building phase, having recently expanded to include the Geography and Public Administration programs. Degrees offered include a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Geography, a Master of Science in Geospatial Science (MsGIS) a GIS Minor, an Urban Studies Minor, and a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning (accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board). The programs also offer graduate certificates, including an advanced certificate in Geographic Information Science.  The successful applicant will be expected to take a leadership role in Geography and GIS degree programs, as well as contribute to the Urban and Regional Planning degree programs.

This position is an excellent opportunity for scholars interested in launching a career at a teaching-centered institution that prepares leaders who affect transformative change and create just, sustainable, and vibrant communities.

The Department of Environmental Studies/Urban and Regional Planning is part of the College of Social Sciences, which is committed to equitable and inclusive teaching and learning. The College sees faculty and student success as inextricably linked, and strives to provide culturally-sustaining, and academically-affirming approaches to supporting and engaging students and faculty. We provide opportunities for faculty development around asset-based, holistic student success, and support scholarship of engagement that addresses issues that affect our campus and community. In all of our endeavors, we strive to build leadership capacity and foster a culture of support and belonging for faculty, staff, and students.

The Department of Environmental Studies/ Urban and Regional Planning and San José State University value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service can only be fully realized by faculty, students, and staff who share our commitment to these values. SJSU enrolls more than 36,000 students, many of whom are historically underserved, and around 45% are first-generation and 38% are Pell-recipients. SJSU is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPISI) Serving Institution. The university’s commitment to social justice extends from its vibrant, inclusive campus to an international network of over 275,000 alumni. As such, San José State is committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty so our disciplines, students, and the community can benefit from multiple ethnic and gender perspectives.

Successful candidates will demonstrate evidence of a commitment to equity and inclusion through their research, teaching, and/or service. We ask that all applicants include a Diversity Statement with their application package. A guide to writing this statement can be found at SJSU Diversity Statement Guidelines, along with information about how these statements will be evaluated.

For further information about the Urban and Regional Planning Department, please visit our website: www.sjsu.edu/urbanplanning

Required Qualifications

• Successful applicants must have earned a PhD in Geographic Information Science, Geography, Urban Planning, or a related discipline from an accredited institution before they start their appointment in August 2025
• Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to serving the educational goals of a highly diverse student body
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

Special consideration will be given to candidates who have:

• Used proprietary and/or open-source tools to leverage the power of big data and advanced spatial analytics
• Significant programming experience (e.g., Python) and/or experience working with big data and data visualization tools (e.g., Hadoop, R, Tableau, machine learning, agent-based modeling and predictive analytics)
• Experience using remote sensing technology.
• Teaching and research/practical experiences in web mapping and web/app development using JavaScript, html, or css for web-based tool developments
• Interest in leveraging the locational advantages of the Bay Area to work on complex and novel problems in GIScience with an urban/regional focus.
• Interest  in partnering with departmental colleagues on research in one or more of the following thematic areas: housing, public health, land use, environmental planning/policy, economic development, urban design, transportation, participatory planning, sustainability, or immigration/globalization
• A track record of grant proposal writing and project management experience
• A demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively, including across disciplines
  
  

Responsibilities

• The successful candidate will be expected to maintain a strong record of teaching, research, and service, following the guidelines and norms articulated by the university and by the Department of Urban & Regional Planning
• The successful candidate will  teach a mix of undergraduate and graduate courses in GIScience topics, as well as other courses in geography and/or urban planning
• The faculty member will share student advising responsibilities related to GIS course offerings
• The candidate will be expected to maintain an active research agenda. Finally, the successful candidate will be actively involved in shaping the development and growth of the Spatial Analytics and Visualization Center (the SAVI Center at SJSU)
• Candidate will participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committee and other service assignments
• Candidate must demonstrate awareness and experience understanding the needs of a student population of great diversity – in age, cultural background, ethnicity, primary language and academic preparation – through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies and advisement.
  
  

Other Duties

Note that all San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, some faculty duties may lead to designation as a Campus Security Authority (CSA). CSAs are required to complete Clery Act training and to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution.

Faculty employees must complete CSU employee training as assigned and required based on their role (e.g., Data Security, FERPA, Preventing Discrimination and Harassment, Title IX, Health and Safety). The President may recommend or require compliance with safety measures that decrease the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission or illness and allows the core mission and activities of the campus to continue.


Application Procedure

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

• Cover letter that describes the reasons you are interested in this specific position
• Academic CV
• Two scholarly publications (sole-authored publications preferred) that showcase your research and writing skills
• Statement of your teaching philosophy, including best practices for supporting historically marginalized students in the field of spatial data science 
• Statement of your research plans
• Names and contact information of at least three academic references who can speak to your potential for university teaching, research, and service and have agreed to write letters on your behalf

Inquiries may be directed to: Dr. T. William Lester, Associate Chair: thomas.lester@sjsu.edu  

Conditional Offer

The work for this faculty position is located in the State of California and requires commuting to the campus. Employment is contingent upon US residence and proof of eligibility to work in the United States. Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current employee who was conditionally offered the position.

San José State University: Silicon Valley's Public University

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley — one of the most innovative regions in the world — San José State University is the founding campus of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system and the first public university in the West. Recognized as a leading transformative educational institution, San José State is an essential partner in the technological, economic, cultural, and social development of Silicon Valley, the Bay Area, and California. SJSU is a top-200 school nationally in research funding and second highest in research productivity in the CSU system. Cutting-edge research, world-class scholarship, student-centered learning, diverse communities, and commitment to social justice, allow SJSU to provide life-changing opportunities and advance the public good locally and globally.

Equal Employment Statement

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.

Campus Security and Fire Safety Notification

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is available at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.