Department

About the University

Established in 1965, Metropolitan State University (MSU Denver) was founded to serve students who were underrepresented in higher education whose life paths and experiences did not fit the traditional mold. Sixty years later, the University continues to serve over 16,000 of Colorado’s extraordinary and diverse students, providing them with the foundation on which to build their unique aspirations. As the third largest public institution of higher education in Colorado, MSU Denver is a model university for today’s college students.

Proud of its federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution that also offers graduate programs (gHSI) and the only Seal of Excelencia certified institution in Colorado, the University serves the most diverse undergraduate student population in the state, as well as the most first-generation students. Through affordable, flexible, and holistic education, MSU Denver helps students build essential skills grounded in a multicultural and global perspective that lead to undergraduate and graduate degrees, and career and life success.

At MSU Denver, we are committed to our CADRE values: Community, Access, Diversity, Respect, and Excellence. We strive to create a supportive and inclusive environment where all community members are valued and belong. Our dedication to breaking down barriers to education, fostering open dialogue, and promoting world-class scholarship ensures that we provide exceptional services and innovative learning opportunities for our students, faculty, and staff. 

About the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

The Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences offers a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science (ENV), as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science with Secondary Teaching Licensure. In addition, we offer a minor in Environmental Science and a new, completely online, interdisciplinary Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sustainability (EASO). The Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences is home to 9 tenure track faculty and 4 lecturers across five degree-granting programs. The candidate will complement the department’s strengths in Environmental Science, Environmental Sustainability, Geography and GIS, Applied Geology, and Meteorology.

MSU Denver and the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences are committed to educational equity and promoting a culture of access and inclusion for our students, staff, and faculty. We seek to sustain a community where all individuals are respected, feel a sense of belonging, and are provided with proper resources and training to be successful. This success is not limited to our discipline-specific education, but also to the broader development of our students as engaged contributors to their communities and society.

Position Summary

The Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Metropolitan State University of Denver invites applications for a full-time, non tenure track lecturer position in Environmental Science. This is a renewable, 9-month contracted faculty position beginning in fall 2027 which requires presence in Colorado on MSU Denver's Auraria campus for in person teaching and other activities.

Typically, lecturers teach 30 credits each year (or the equivalent). A reduced teaching load may be offered for other performance expectations and support, based on department need.

We seek candidates with expertise in waste management, environmental remediation, life-cycle analysis, and/or environmental data science. The successful candidate will be committed to teaching excellence in both online and face-to-face formats, in the context of a diverse, urban, modified open-access university.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the position entail:

• Typically, teaching 30 credit hours per year (or the equivalent), which may include: Introduction to Environmental Science, Environmental Remediation, Waste Management, and/or courses to be developed in candidate’s area of specialty
• The candidate will be expected to contribute to assessment and curriculum development within the ENV and EASO programs
• Providing academic advising and career mentorship to undergraduate majors and minors

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Environmental Science or a closely related discipline at the time of appointment
• Ability to teach undergraduate courses in environmental remediation and waste management as evidenced by teaching experience, academic transcript, work experience, or other demonstrated experience
• Ability to develop and teach undergraduate courses in life cycle analysis, environmental modelling and data science, and/or other courses in the candidate’s area of expertise
• Ability to teach in both online and face-to-face modalities

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in Environmental Science or a closely related discipline at the time of appointment. ABD applicants will be considered with evidence of degree conferral by the start of the fall 2027 semester
• Experience teaching courses, in one or more of the following areas: waste management; environmental remediation; life-cycle analysis; and environmental data science and computational modeling
• Teaching experience in both online and face-to-face formats
• Experience in course and curriculum development, specifically online learning
• Experience with programming, computational modeling, and/or data science
• Ability to engage students in undergraduate research, e.g., via Course-Embedded Undergraduate Research Experiences (CURE’s), and/or other high impact practices
• Experience working with diverse populations. We seek a candidate with the ability to work with the educational needs of a diverse urban population including (but not limited to) students of color, LBGTQIA students, students from low-income backgrounds, first-generation college students, students with disabilities, undocumented students, nontraditional students, student veterans, and English-language learners.

We encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every preferred qualification. We are most interested in finding the candidate who will best contribute to our department, our mission, and the University. 

Salary for Announcement

The salary range for this faculty position is $56,000 - $63,000 at Lecturer level. The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based upon a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, education, experience, discipline, specialty, and training.

MSU Denver offers excellent benefits that include medical, dental, retirement, tuition benefit, free RTD pass, and more. For a brief overview of these options, please visit our Benefits section.

Instructions to Apply

To apply, please complete an application online through our career site and search for JR105937: https://www.msudenver.edu/careers

To support a thorough evaluation of your qualifications and potential contributions as a faculty member, please upload the following required materials:

• Curriculum vitae
• Letter of application addressing your qualifications for the position
• Unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts
• Statement of teaching philosophy highlighting teaching experience, pedagogical approach, and how you would engage a diverse student body in the classroom (2 pages maximum)
• Please provide a list of the names and contact information for three professional references

Important Note: Due to volume of applications received, only applications completed as outlined above will be considered. Please ensure you have uploaded all required documents into the "Resume/Cover letter" section of the application. A maximum of 5 files can be uploaded; you may combine all documents into one pdf file if needed.

Official transcripts will be required of the candidate selected for hire.

Deadline

Priority will be given to applications received through Wednesday, December 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM MST; applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Closing Date

Open Until Filled

Posting Representative

Posting Representative Email

Benefits

The University’s benefits package is comprehensive and offers medical, vision and dental, free RTD pass, tuition reimbursement, as well as a life and supplemental insurance plans, retirement plans and other programs, such as access to a long-term disability (LTD) plan. Visit MSU Denver’s benefits website to learn more.   

For a brief overview, please see: https://www.msudenver.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MSU-Benefit-Summary.pdf. 

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at [email protected].

Background Checks

Metropolitan State University of Denver is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students, and visitors.  To Assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background checks on all finalists for positions at the University prior to employment.

Diversity Statement

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. Our student population consists of nearly 58% first generation students and over 50% students of color. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver.

We create an equitable learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We greatly value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. It requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a culture of belonging for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.