Description

The Department of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment at Northern Illinois University invites applications for an assistant, associate, or full professor in the field of atmospheric science. The position will begin in August of 2026 and may be offered as tenure track or with tenure, based on the candidate’s documented record of achievement, and subject to approval from the Department, College, University, and NIU Board of Trustees.

We are seeking a scholar whose research interests complement existing Department strengths in numerical modeling, weather and climate extremes, climate variability and change, artificial intelligence, climate analytics, or other related areas. The Department is particularly interested in candidates who can integrate applied atmospheric science using machine learning, statistics, or other forms of data analytics into their teaching and scholarship.

The successful candidate is expected to seek external funding in support of scholarship; a successful applicant at the associate or full professor level should have a well-established record of externally funded research and teaching excellence.

Preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate a willingness to collaborate with faculty in our Weather, Climate and Society Research Group, our broader Department, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Convective Storms (CIRCS), and/or the Northern Illinois Center for Community Sustainability (NICCS) hub.

Earth, Atmosphere and Environment offers programs leading to the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees, and currently has 14 faculty members, whose research and teaching interests are described on our web site at https://go.niu.edu/eae.

NIU is a public research university in DeKalb, an affordable and growing community that is a commutable distance from Chicago and Rockford metropolitan areas. The proximity of DeKalb to Chicago provides easy access to Chicago’s Technology and Research Corridor (e.g., Argonne, Fermi, many Fortune 1000 companies, etc.), the arts and extensive nature preserves and parks. Our 16,000+ student body is diverse, with many first-generation and racially and culturally diverse students. NIU is dedicated to fostering an inclusive academic environment where all students, faculty and staff thrive.

Requirements

The successful candidate will contribute to the development of meteorology and climate science undergraduates in the Department’s B.S. programs as well as teach, mentor, and advise Earth, Atmosphere and Environment students at the M.S. and Ph.D. levels. The individual will be expected to teach a two-course weather dynamics sequence and other courses that align with their expertise and Department needs. Student engagement is a key component to NIU’s mission. As such, the desired candidate will aid in the development of unique learning opportunities that enhance STEM education and outreach.

• Candidates must hold a Ph.D. in atmospheric science, meteorology, or related field by the time of appointment.
• A record of publications in respected, peer-reviewed academic journals.
• Evidence of strong research skills and commitment to quality education.
• To be considered at the associate or full professor level, a well-established research portfolio, including externally funded, independent research and an extensive peer-reviewed academic journal publication record.
• Experience in programming, data visualization, machine learning, statistics, and/or other data-driven techniques.
• Evidence of applied and/or interdisciplinary research experience.
• Evidence of high-quality teaching and experiential learning engagement with diverse students at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.
• Prior grant writing experience.
• Experience in mentoring students and/or postdocs.
• Evidence of commitment to service to the science community at a commensurate level with rank.