Assistant Professor, Environment and Human Interactions

JOB DESCRIPTION

The University of Connecticut’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences invites applications for four positions at the level of Assistant Professor as part of a cluster hire in the Environment and Human Interactions. This initiative also includes two appointments at the Associate or Full Professor level. We seek a range of scholars on subjects including (but not limited to) pollution, water supply, climate change, policy, and society’s response.

Our planet is undergoing changes that radically affect human experience and society. Through this initiative on the Environment and Human Interactions, the University of Connecticut seeks scholars committed to advancing knowledge about critical issues and developing interdisciplinary strategies to mitigate environmental and societal harm. This cluster hire promotes meaningful engagement among physical, natural and social scientists through the potential for collaborative teaching, research, and outreach initiatives. Individuals should have research and teaching interests focused on one or more of the following areas: Analytical/Environmental Chemistry, Marine Sciences/Oceanography, Geography, Environmental Anthropology, Environmental Politics and Sustainability, Environmental Policy, and/or Environmental Inequalities and Justice. The successful candidate will be expected to establish and maintain a strong program of research and publication.

Applicants may be hired in the following departments: Anthropology, Chemistry, Geography, Marine Sciences, Political Science, Public Policy, and/or Sociology.  They may also be jointly appointed across departments within CLAS and/or affiliated with a College-level or University-level program, center or institute. Scholarship at UConn on the environment, including policy and societal influence and impact, is facilitated by a number of entities, including Connecticut Institute for Climate Resilience and Adaptation, Environmental Studies Program, Human Rights Institute, Institute of the Environment, Connecticut Initiative for Environmental Research of Offshore Wind, and Eversource Energy Center.

Successful candidates will be expected to contribute to research and scholarship through high-quality publications in top-tier venues and through superior teaching and mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students. Successful candidates will highlight a commitment to equity and be expected to broaden participation among members of under-represented groups; demonstrate through their research, teaching, and/or public engagement multiple perspectives as the foundation of a rich learning experience; integrate diverse experiences into instructional methods and research tools; and/or provide leadership in developing pedagogical techniques designed to meet the needs of diverse learning styles, populations, and intellectual interests. We seek candidates with a demonstrated capacity to work across disciplines and stimulate interdisciplinary collaborations through research, teaching, and/or service.

Founded in 1881, UConn is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution and member of the Space Grant Consortium. It is the state’s flagship institution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs, CT, four regional campuses throughout the state, and 13 Schools and Colleges, including a Law School in Hartford, and Medical and Dental Schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. The University has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including nearly 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professional students. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity) institution, among the top 25 public universities in the nation. Through research, teaching, service, and outreach, UConn embraces diversity and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. UConn promotes the health and well-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments of the state and beyond. The University serves as a beacon of academic and research excellence as well as a center for innovation and social service to communities. UConn is a leader in many scholarly, research, and innovation areas. Today, the path forward includes exciting opportunities and notable challenges. Record numbers of undergraduate applications and support for student success have enabled the University to become extraordinarily selective.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. in Anthropology, Chemistry, Geography, Marine Sciences, Political Science, Public Policy, Sociology, or other relevant discipline by August 2021 (equivalent foreign degrees are acceptable).
• Excellence in scholarly research in the area of environment and/or human interactions.
• Teaching experience or a demonstrated capacity and commitment to undergraduate and graduate instruction.
• Deep commitment to promoting diversity through pedagogy, research, and/or public engagement.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Commitment to teaching courses on topics relevant to the environment and human interactions at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Commitment to teaching and/or mentoring a diverse student population.
• Potential for disciplinary innovation and/or interdisciplinarity in research and teaching.
• Ability to engage productively and collegially with faculty across disciplines.
• History of or potential to attract external funding for collaborative, interdisciplinary research.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, 9-month, tenure track position with an anticipated start date of August 23, 2021. The successful candidate’s academic appointment will be at the main UConn Storrs or one of the regional campuses. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

TO APPLY

Please apply online to Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/17334 and submit the following application materials:

• A cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Research and scholarship statement
• Teaching statement (including teaching philosophy, teaching experience, commitment to effective learning, concepts for new course development, etc.)
• Commitment to diversity statement (including broadening participation, integrating multicultural experiences in instruction and research and pedagogical techniques to meet the needs of diverse learning styles, etc.)
• 3 letters of reference

• A sample of original written work

Evaluation of applicants will begin December 15, 2020 and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Any questions regarding this position should be directed to one of the co-chairs of the hiring committee: Eric Brunner (eric.brunner@uconn.edu) or Julie Granger (julie.granger@uconn.edu).

At the University of Connecticut, our commitment to excellence is complemented by our commitment to building a culturally diverse community.

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check. 

These positions will be filled subject to budgetary approval.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.