The School of Meteorology (http://meteorology.ou.edu) and the School of Aviation (https://www.ou.edu/ags/aviation) at the University of Oklahoma invite applications for the American Airlines Professorship, an Associate Professor position (tenured or tenure-track) focused on Aviation Meteorology. Both Schools are housed within the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences. The Mission of the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences is to offer the following: innovative and multi-disciplinary education, research, and outreach programs in an environment that empowers students, faculty, and staff to seek  solutions to grand environmental and humanitarian challenges;  to advance technology and propel knowledge that addresses our changing planet; and to develop engaged individuals for rewarding careers in the private sector, academia, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and entrepreneurship.

In Aviation Meteorology, we seek an innovative scholar to contribute to research, curriculum development, and teaching within the field of aviation meteorology. The ideal candidate will have expertise within one or more of the following areas: i) monitoring and forecasting efforts to support aircraft operations in extreme environments, such as wildfires, volcanic eruption, high ice water content, etc.; ii) use and/or development of unmanned aircraft systems to observe the atmosphere; iii) use and/or development of numerical models to predict aviation hazards such as convective storms, turbulence, icing, fog, etc.; iv) use cross-campus collaborations as appropriate to develop and/or deploy airborne instrumentation to measure important atmospheric parameters such as meteorological state variables, precipitation, clouds, aerosols, and trace gasses.

The Committee Chair for this search is Dr. Jens Redemann, [email protected]. 

The School of Meteorology is currently composed of 29 faculty and has a long and distinguished history of excellence in various sub-fields of Meteorology. Our vision, i.e., to “Develop the School into a globally-engaged, student-centered atmospheric science program to advance the Nation’s Weather, Water, and Climate enterprise, by leveraging our strengths in research, education, and community engagement” is articulated in the recently developed Strategic Plan (SP2030).

The School of Aviation currently has 4 faculty members and is ranked as the top "university to consider when pursuing a degree in Aviation" by Flying Magazine. Our mission is to provide Aviation majors with the knowledge and skills of a competent pilot, air traffic controller, and/or industry professional along with education and business concentrations that provide long-term competitive professional advantages. The School of Aviation is also one of 33 institutions worldwide with AABI-accredited programs. 

The University of Oklahoma is a Carnegie-R1 comprehensive public research university known for excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement, serving the educational, cultural, economic and health-care needs of the state, region, and nation from three campuses: Norman, Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City and the Schusterman Center in Tulsa. The University of Oklahoma enrolls over 30,000 students and has more than 2700 full-time faculty members in 21 colleges. 

Norman is a vibrant university town of around 130,000 inhabitants with a growing entertainment and art scene. With outstanding schools, amenities, and a low cost of living, Norman is a perennial contender on “best place to live” rankings. Visit http://soonerway.ou.edu and https://www.ou.edu/dam/provost/documents/facultyflipbook.pdf for more information. Within an easy commute, Oklahoma City features a dynamic economy and outstanding cultural venues adding to the region’s growing appeal.

Applicants must possess a PhD in Meteorology, Atmospheric Science, Aviation, or a related discipline at the time of appointment and possess a record of scholarly achievement consistent with the expectations of an Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma. The successful applicant will be awarded the American Airlines Professorship, which is endowed with a modest amount of annual funding to use at the candidate’s discretion. The candidate will be expected to establish a vigorous, independent research program, to develop and teach courses on Aviation Meteorology, and to contribute to mentorship and advisement of students in the undergraduate and graduate degree programs of the School of Meteorology and School of Aviation.

To apply, submit as one single pdf document a comprehensive cover letter (not to exceed 10 pages), current curriculum vitae, and a list of at least 3 people who can serve as references to the link here: http://apply.interfolio.com/141109. The cover letter may address approach to teaching (e.g., past instructional and mentorship experiences, and plans/goals for teaching at the University of Oklahoma including the following: existing and proposed courses, inclusive excellence), research (e.g., prior contributions to research and goals for developing a research program at the University of Oklahoma), service (e.g., a vision for internal service to the academic unit, the College and the University, and for external service to our scientific community and other stakeholders), and graduate student mentorship.  

Screening of applications will begin on 22 March 2024, and will continue until the position is filled.