The College of Charleston’s Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences invites applicants with a Ph.D. in Vertebrate Paleontology or a closely related field for a tenure-track faculty position to begin in August of 2026. The successful candidate will have research and teaching interests in Paleontology or Paleobiology. The candidate must be able to teach introductory geology courses and an upper-division course, Paleobiology, as well as develop one or more courses in their field of specialty. The candidate is expected to develop their own research program and to seek external funds to support their research activities. The successful candidate will be expected to mentor College of Charleston students and direct student research projects, with an emphasis on local specimens and field sites. The candidate will also be the Curator of the Mace Brown Museum of Natural History at the College of Charleston, a public museum with world-class collections and facilities for specimen preparation, preservation, and display. Evidence of past curation, collections management, and museum experience is preferred. A Ph.D. is required at the time of employment. Credit toward an accelerated tenure clock is negotiable for candidates with previous experience in a tenure-track position.

The Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences has over 100 majors in Bachelor’s programs in Geology, Environmental Geosciences, and minors in Geology, Marine Geology, and Geoinformatics. The Department also offers a concentration in Paleontology. Faculty in the Department participate in the multidisciplinary Graduate Program in Environmental and Sustainability Studies, and other undergraduate majors, including Archaeology and Environmental and Sustainability Studies. Collaborative opportunities are available with faculty expertise in comparative anatomy, biomechanics, geochemistry, coastal and estuarine dynamics, environmental geology, geospatial sciences, paleoclimatology, paleoceanography, hydrology, natural hazards, geophysics and seismology, volcanology, tectonics, and petrology. Our GIS and Remote Sensing laboratories are integrated with the Low Country Hazards Center in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences Building.

Applicants for this faculty position should submit the following materials:

1. Statement of Interest Letter

2. Curriculum Vitae

3. Teaching Philosophy

4. Research Program Statement

5. Unofficial Graduate Transcripts

6. Contact information for at least 3 references

For more information about the department, visit our website. Applications will be reviewed beginning on November 14, 2025, and the position will remain open until filled.

For more information, contact: Dr. Vijay Vulava, Department Chair, Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, Email: VulavaV@cofc.edu

The College of Charleston is a public university in the heart of Charleston, SC. A primarily undergraduate institution with strong graduate degree programs, the university prides itself on excellence in education. The university enrolls over 10,000 undergraduate and 1000 graduate students. In its 2025 edition, U.S. News & World Report ranks the College as the No. 4 top public university in the south, the No. 5 ranked college for veterans among southern institutions, the No. 9 most innovative school in the region, and the No. 3 best college for undergraduate teaching in the south and a best value regional college. The College of Charleston offers a competitive state employee benefits package.

The College of Charleston is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of sex, gender (including gender identity and/or expression), pregnancy, race, religion, color, national origin, age, disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, and other classifications protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws. For more information, please visit eop.cofc.edu.