San Jose State University
Assistant Professor, Human Geography and Technology
San Jose State University, San Jose, California, United States, 95199
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
Application Deadline January 31, 2026 (Applications accepted until filled or closed)
Position Summary 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.
Key Responsibilities
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.
Qualifications
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.
Application Procedure 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@sjsu.edu) or Search Committee Chair: Assoc. Prof. Ahoura Zandiatashbar – ahoura.zandiatashbar@sjsu.edu
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 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 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.
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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
Application Deadline January 31, 2026 (Applications accepted until filled or closed)
Position Summary 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.
Key Responsibilities
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.
Qualifications
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.
Application Procedure 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@sjsu.edu) or Search Committee Chair: Assoc. Prof. Ahoura Zandiatashbar – ahoura.zandiatashbar@sjsu.edu
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 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 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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr