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Assistant Professor in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy

The Humphrey School of Public Affairs is committed to academic excellence and diversity within the faculty, staff, and student body. The School inspires, educates, and supports innovative leaders to advance the common good in a diverse world. The school is NASPAA-accredited and is ranked nationally in the top ten for schools of public affairs. The School is widely recognized for its role in examining public issues and shaping public policy and governance at the local, state, national, and international levels. The Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy Area (STEP) at the Humphrey School focuses on public issues arising at the intersection of science, technology, environment, and society that shape economic development, environmental sustainability, human health and well-being. 

We seek applications for a faculty position at the Assistant Professor level in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy (STEP). Recent Ph.D. recipients, candidates who have received their Ph.D. by the time of appointment, and current pre-tenure assistant professors (early or advanced) are invited to apply. 

With this STEP area search, the Humphrey School seeks innovative scholars with disciplinary backgrounds in public policy, public affairs, economics, political science, urban planning, environmental sciences, natural sciences or engineering fields, who are working in the domain of science, technology and environmental policy. Candidates should hold a Ph.D. by August 2018 and have received training in the STEM disciplines (e.g., physical and natural sciences, engineering, or environmental studies) at the advanced undergraduate or graduate level. We seek candidates whose approach to teaching and research is innovative and inclusive in terms of race, gender, class, and ethnicity.

This is a broad search within the STEP area. Research areas of possible interest include (but are not limited to): U.S. and global environmental policy and governance, sustainable development, sustainable urban systems, smart cities, energy and transportation technology policy, energy transitions, food policy, risk analysis and management, management of food-energy-water interactions, and “big data” governance. Candidates should have a strong research and publication record that demonstrates capacity for conducting interdisciplinary, innovative scholarly research that is methodologically sound, of high-impact and engaged with public policy and communities of practice.

Candidates should have a demonstrated commitment to exceptional graduate-level teaching in the STEP curriculum at the Humphrey School. Possible courses to be taught include Energy and Environmental Policy, Emerging Technologies and Society, Urban Food Systems Science and Policy, and Risk Analysis. Other courses aligned with the candidate’s research interests may be designed. Successful candidates should demonstrate capacity to engage practitioners and the public in research, education, and outreach activities. An interest in working complementarily with and across other units at the Humphrey School and other colleges at UMN will be considered positively. Additionally, candidates should be able to provide leadership to the Humphrey School’s masters and Ph.D. programs and be passionate about preparing students for careers in public affairs.

The Humphrey School offers a unique Master of Science degree in STEP (MS–STEP) designed for students with undergraduate training in the physical sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. In addition, we offer Master of Public Policy (MPP) and PhD degrees that have a concentration in STEP. We recognize that the complexity of society’s grand challenges – rapid urbanization, climate change, sustainable energy transitions, governance of emerging and/or disruptive technologies – requires innovative leadership and collaboration among academia, communities, government, businesses, and non-profits, anchored on interdisciplinary, systems-based, grounded scholarship.

Our STEP faculty lead (or have recently led) several NSF, EPA, and community-sponsored research initiatives pertaining to sustainable infrastructure and cities, climate change policy, green chemistry, energy transitions, and water policy. Research in the STEP area connects naturally with other areas at the Humphrey School including Urban and Regional Planning, Global Policy, Social Policy, and Public & Non-Profit Leadership, as well as with other units across the UMN campus, such as Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Public Health, and Law. Many STEP faculty are affiliated with the Institute on the Environment, a leading, interdisciplinary institute at the UMN that promotes translational research in sustainability. More information about ongoing work in the STEP area can be found at http://www.hhh.umn.edu/areas-expertise/science-technology-environmental-policy.

Applications should include curriculum vitae, the names and addresses of three references, a sample of recent research, a cover letter, and two of statements on research and teaching interests and experience. The teaching and research statements should be no more than 2 pages each. Please combine the cover letter, two-page research statement, and two-page teaching statement into one .pdf. 

Applications will be reviewed beginning October 16, 2017. The position will remain open until filled. Please submit applications online at: https://www.myu.umn.edu/employment. Address cover and reference letters to: Search Committee for Science, Technology, Environmental Policy Area, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, c/o Human Resources, HHH152, 301-19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455.

Salary will be commensurate with experience. Benefits include health, dental, faculty life/disability insurance, retirement, and social security. The starting date for this appointment is August 27, 2018 or as soon thereafter as possible.

 

The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities and employment without regard to race, creed, religion, color, sex, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, public assistance status, or sexual orientation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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