Job Description

Instructional Faculty in Earth Systems Science and Engineering – KAUST, Saudi Arabia

The Physical Science and Engineering (PSE) Division at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) invites applications for an Instructional Faculty Position in Earth Systems Science and Engineering at its campus in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.

The position supports the educational mission of the Earth Systems Science and Engineering (ESSE) Program, particularly its two degree programs: Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering, and Earth Science and Engineering.

KAUST seeks an educator with a PhD, an established record of teaching excellence in higher education, and the ability to deliver engaging instruction across general geosciences, geology, and geophysics.

The successful candidate will teach fundamental courses, including field-based courses and laboratory-based lectures, and cover a range of geoscientific data-collection and data-analysis methods and tools.

Applicants should demonstrate a strong commitment to interactive teaching, accelerated learning, and modern teaching approaches.

Institution: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Division: Physical Science and Engineering (PSE)
Program: Earth Systems Science and Engineering (ESSE)
Position: Instructional Faculty
Location: Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
Minimum Qualification: PhD
Primary Focus: Higher Education Teaching
Application Opening Date: 1 November 2026
Application Deadline: 31 December 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Application System: Interfolio

About King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology is an international graduate research university dedicated to advancing science and technology through interdisciplinary research, education, and innovation.

Located on the western shores of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia, KAUST offers an academic environment supported by advanced research facilities and interdisciplinary scientific programs.

According to the University’s advertisement, KAUST ranked first in the Times Higher Education Arab University Rankings for three consecutive years, from 2023 to 2025.

KAUST describes its institutional environment as offering:

• Advanced research facilities.
• Generous baseline research funding.
• Internationally competitive salaries.
• Comfortable living conditions for individuals and families.
• Opportunities for interdisciplinary education and research.

These are general institutional descriptions; the advertisement does not specify a salary or individual research funding allocation for this instructional appointment.

Further information about KAUST:

https://www.kaust.edu.sa

About the Physical Science and Engineering Division

The Physical Science and Engineering Division comprises five academic programs:

1. Chemical Engineering.
2. Chemistry.
3. Earth Systems Science and Engineering.
4. Materials Science and Engineering & Applied Physics.
5. Mechanical Engineering.

The advertised instructional faculty position is based in the Earth Systems Science and Engineering Program.

Further information about the PSE Division:

https://pse.kaust.edu.sa

Earth Systems Science Instructional Faculty – Position Overview

The successful candidate will support teaching and learning across the Earth Systems Science and Engineering Program.

The appointment focuses on delivering fundamental geoscience education and supporting the Program’s two degree pathways.

Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering

The instructional faculty member will contribute to the educational mission supporting the Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering degree program.

Earth Science and Engineering

The position will also support the Earth Science and Engineering degree program.

Across these programs, the successful candidate is expected to deliver foundational instruction in geosciences, geology, and geophysics.

Key Teaching Responsibilities

1. General Geosciences

The successful candidate will teach fundamental courses in general geosciences.

This includes instruction in foundational Earth science concepts appropriate to the Program’s educational requirements.

2. Geology

The position includes teaching fundamental geology courses.

Candidates should be capable of delivering geology instruction appropriate to the academic programs served by ESSE.

3. Geophysics

The appointed faculty member will also teach fundamental geophysics courses.

The advertisement identifies geophysics as a core area of instructional responsibility.

4. Field-Based Teaching

Field-based courses are an explicit component of the position.

The successful candidate must be prepared to contribute to teaching activities that involve field-based geoscience education.

The advertisement does not specify particular field locations, fieldwork schedules, or equipment requirements.

5. Laboratory-Based Lectures

The role includes laboratory-based lectures and instruction.

Candidates should demonstrate the ability to support learning through laboratory-based educational activities.

The source does not identify specific laboratory courses or equipment.

6. Geoscientific Data Collection

The successful candidate will teach a variety of data-collection methods and tools relevant to Earth Systems Science and Engineering.

The advertisement does not prescribe particular instruments, software packages, or data-acquisition technologies.

7. Data Analysis Methods and Tools

The position also includes instruction in data-analysis methods and tools.

Candidates should be prepared to teach relevant analytical approaches within the Program’s geoscience education activities.

No specific programming language, data-analysis platform, or software certification is identified as mandatory.

Teaching Philosophy and Educational Approach

KAUST particularly values applicants who demonstrate enthusiasm for modern and effective teaching approaches.

Interactive Teaching

The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate a passion for interactive teaching.

This involves a commitment to engaging students actively in the learning process.

Accelerated Learning

The University also expects enthusiasm for accelerated learning.

The advertisement does not prescribe a particular accelerated-learning framework or methodology.

Modern Teaching Paradigms

Candidates should demonstrate an interest in using modern teaching paradigms.

The source does not require a specific instructional technology, learning management system, or teaching certification.

Applicants may use their teaching statement to explain how their experience and educational approach align with these expectations.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must meet the following requirements.

PhD Degree

Candidates must hold a PhD degree.

The advertisement does not specify an exact doctoral discipline.

However, the successful candidate must be capable of teaching the advertised subjects in general geosciences, geology, and geophysics.

Track Record of Teaching Excellence

Applicants must demonstrate a track record of teaching excellence at higher education institutions.

This is a central requirement of the position.

Evidence of teaching effectiveness is particularly relevant because the application requires student evaluations covering the previous three years.

The advertisement does not specify a minimum number of years of university teaching experience.

English Communication Skills

Applicants must demonstrate excellent oral and written English communication skills.

The advertisement does not specify a minimum IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent English-language examination score.

Research Requirements

This is advertised as an instructional faculty appointment supporting the educational mission of ESSE.

Unlike research-focused faculty vacancies, the supplied advertisement does not list the following as minimum qualifications:

• A specified number of research publications.
• A citation threshold or minimum h-index.
• Previous competitive research grant funding.
• Experience supervising doctoral dissertations.
• An established independent research program.
• A research plan.

Applicants should therefore be assessed primarily against the stated PhD, teaching excellence, communication, and instructional expectations.

The advertisement does not explicitly exclude research activities; it simply does not identify them as mandatory selection criteria.

Academic Rank and Appointment Conditions

The vacancy is titled Instructional Faculty Position in Earth Systems Science and Engineering.

The source does not identify a specific rank such as:

• Lecturer.
• Assistant Professor.
• Associate Professor.
• Full Professor.

It also does not specify:

• Tenure-track or tenured status.
• Contract duration.
• Full-time or part-time designation.
• Expected appointment start date.
• Numerical teaching load.
• Minimum years of experience.

Applicants should consult the official recruitment listing for further information about appointment conditions.

Salary and Institutional Support

KAUST describes its institutional environment as offering internationally competitive salaries, advanced research facilities, and generous baseline research funding.

However, the vacancy does not specify:

• Salary amount or range.
• Housing allowance or housing entitlement.
• Relocation allowance.
• Contract duration.
• Specific benefits for instructional faculty.
• An individual research funding allocation.

Applicants should confirm the terms applicable to this particular appointment during the recruitment process.

Required Application Documents

Applicants must submit their applications online through Interfolio.

The following materials are required.

1. Cover Letter

A cover letter supporting the applicant’s candidacy for the instructional faculty position.

2. Curriculum Vitae

A current CV that includes:

• List of courses developed.
• List of courses taught.

These two lists are explicitly required and should be included in the CV.

The advertisement does not separately require a publication list.

3. Teaching Statement

A teaching statement describing the applicant’s educational experience and approach to teaching.

Maximum length: 3 pages, including references.

The page limit applies to the entire statement, including any references.

4. Potential Referees

Contact information for at least five potential referees.

For each referee, applicants must provide:

• Name.
• Affiliation.
• Email address.

The advertisement requests contact information rather than five reference letters at the initial application stage.

5. Student Evaluations

Applicants must submit student evaluations from the previous three years.

This is an explicit application requirement and provides evidence relevant to the advertised teaching excellence criterion.

The source does not specify an alternative submission procedure for candidates who do not possess evaluations covering the full period.

Application Deadline

31 December 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET)

The position opened for applications on 1 November 2026.

Applicants should observe the stated time zone when planning their submission.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through KAUST’s official faculty recruitment process using the Interfolio online application system.

Official KAUST Faculty Positions Page:

https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/about/faculty-positions

Applicants should locate the Instructional Faculty Position in Earth Systems Science and Engineering and complete the online application.

Before submitting, applicants should ensure that:

• Their CV includes lists of courses developed and courses taught.
• Their teaching statement does not exceed three pages, including references.
• Contact information for at least five potential referees is provided.
• Student evaluations from the previous three years are included.
• Their cover letter and other required documents are uploaded.

The supplied advertisement does not provide a direct vacancy-specific Interfolio application URL.

Job Summary

Field	Details
Employer	King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Division	Physical Science and Engineering (PSE)
Program	Earth Systems Science and Engineering (ESSE)
Job Title	Instructional Faculty in Earth Systems Science and Engineering
Location	Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
Academic Rank	Not specified
Appointment Type	Instructional Faculty
Employment Type	Not specified
Tenure Status	Not specified
Primary Focus	Teaching and Learning
Degree Programs Supported	Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering; Earth Science and Engineering
Teaching Disciplines	General Geosciences, Geology, Geophysics
Field-Based Teaching	Expected
Laboratory-Based Teaching	Expected
Data Collection Instruction	Expected
Data Analysis Instruction	Expected
Teaching Approaches	Interactive Teaching, Accelerated Learning, Modern Teaching Paradigms
Minimum Qualification	PhD
Teaching Experience	Track record of excellence in higher education required
English Language	Excellent oral and written communication required
Research Publications	Not specified as a requirement
Research Funding	Not specified as a position requirement
Research Plan	Not requested
Teaching Statement	Required; maximum 3 pages including references
CV Requirements	Lists of courses developed and courses taught
Referees	At least five potential referees
Student Evaluations	Previous three years required
Other Required Documents	Cover Letter
Salary	Institution describes internationally competitive salaries; amount not specified
Contract Duration	Not specified
Start Date	Not specified
Application System	Interfolio
Opening Date	1 November 2026
Application Deadline	31 December 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Official Application Information	https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/about/faculty-positions