Description
The Department of Geography and the Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IAI) at the University of Georgia invite applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position starting August 2026. The position is a joint hire between the Department of Geography and IAI, with tenure home in Geography at the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.
We seek applicants whose research integrates uncrewed aerial system (UAS)-based remote sensing and geospatial artificial intelligence (AI) to advance autonomous Earth observation, environmental monitoring, and data-driven decision support. The ideal candidate will leverage emerging UAS and AI technologies to develop novel sensing and onboard processing frameworks, AI models, algorithms, and applications that bridge the physical and computational dimensions of the Earth system. The successful candidate will be expected to develop and maintain an active, externally funded research program and will have opportunities to collaborate with faculty across campus. Teaching responsibilities include undergraduate and graduate courses in the candidate’s area of expertise, as well as some combination of existing upper-level courses that meet the instructional needs of Geography and the IAI.
Applicants for an Assistant Professor position should hold a Ph.D. in Geography, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field with a strong record of high-quality publications. This tenure-track position starts on August 1, 2026, and is an academic-year appointment (9 months) with opportunities to supplement salary during the summer. Please see the requirements for Assistant Professors in the Unit Criteria for Promotion and Tenure for the Department of Geography.
The Department of Geography within the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences offers B.A., B.S., M.A., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Geography, B.S. degree in Atmospheric Sciences, and Ph.D. degree in Integrative Conservation (ICON)/Geography, as well as undergraduate/graduate Certificate Programs in Urban and Metropolitan Studies and Geographic Information Science and undergraduate Certificates in Local Food Systems and Climate Change Geographies. We are a broad-spectrum department with strong traditions in human, environmental, and techniques-focused geography. A number of faculty conduct research in remote sensing, ethical uses of drone technologies, geospatial analysis and GeoAI at a broad range of scales and applications, from global climate modeling and regional atmospheric/hydrological processes to local landcover changes, community mapping and drone imaging for precision agriculture. Geography researchers have access to resources of the Center for Geospatial Research (CGR) that include a number of drones and sensors for multispectral, hyperspectral and LiDAR data collection, along with field instruments, spectrometers, eddy covariance towers and weather stations for ground-based measurements, as well as virtual and augmented reality equipment. A new X-band weather radar system also was recently installed at nearby Georgia Gwinnett College by UGA and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Learn more about the UGA Geography Department and CGR at https://geography.uga.edu/ and https://cgr.uga.edu.
The Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IAI) is a separate, interdisciplinary research and instructional unit managing the A.B. in Cognitive Science and two graduate Artificial Intelligence degree programs housing a combined cohort of more than 300 students. The M.S. in AI is one of the oldest such programs in the country. The Ph.D. in AI was approved in 2022. The interdisciplinary nature of AI and Cognitive Science is reflected in the mission and composition of the Institute, with more than ninety Institute Faculty Fellows who come from a wide variety of departments and colleges across the UGA campus, thereby offering an exceptional environment to collaborate. The Georgia Advanced Computing Resource Center (GACRC) provides the UGA research and education community with an advanced computing environment, including the Sapelo2 Cluster with over 51,000 cores and petabytes of high-performance storage, to accelerate research requiring large-scale computing. More details about IAI and GACRC can be found on its website at https://www.ai.uga.edu and https://gacrc.uga.edu.
To apply, please go to https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/460091 and upload the following:
1) Cover letter addressing the candidate’s background relative to the responsibilities of the position;
2) Curriculum vitae;
3) Statement of research interests (to include multidisciplinary collaborations of interest);
4) Statement of teaching philosophy; and
5) Names and emails for three references as part of the application. Letters will only be requested later in the search process.
Applications will be accepted while the position remains open, however, all applications received by January 5, 2026, will receive full consideration. For questions about the position, contact Dr. Marguerite Madden (mmadden@uga.edu), Chair of the Search Committee, Department of Geography, University of Georgia.
The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences is the heart of UGA’s learning environment, advancing knowledge, research, and creative activity across more than 40 departments, schools, and institutes. With a vision for high-impact research and education, Franklin College prepares students for leadership and global engagement in a sustainable future. The College has a strong commitment to multidisciplinary research, collaboration and academic innovation.
Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, genetic information, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or protected veteran status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).
Requirements
Hold a Ph.D. in Geography, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field with a strong record of high-quality publications.
Leverage emerging UAS and AI technologies to develop novel sensing and onboard processing frameworks, AI models, algorithms, and applications that bridge the physical and computational dimensions of the Earth system.
Develop and maintain an active, externally funded research program and will have opportunities to collaborate with faculty across campus.
Teaching responsibilities include undergraduate and graduate courses in the candidate’s area of expertise, as well as some combination of existing upper-level courses that meet the instructional needs of Geography and the IAI.
