Rowan University School of Earth and Environment Catalysts for Sustainability Fellow

Rowan University’s School of Earth & Environment is seeking a project-based Catalyst for Sustainability Fellow, who will propose and execute a project that advances solutions to the climate crisis and/or the biodiversity crisis. The successful candidate will hold a full-time, non-renewable, two-year faculty appointment in one of the school’s departments.

The proposed project should broadly fit into the foci of the school, which includes departments of Geology; Environmental Science (physical, ecological, and biological); Geography, Planning & Sustainability, and; Regenerative Food Systems. Projects may focus on research, innovation, application, or education. All projects should include a substantial component (up to 100%) of educational outreach and advocacy, and should align with the vision of the Catalysts for Sustainability initiative.

An advanced degree is required by September 1, 2023. We encourage applications from candidates that span the full range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary backgrounds. Relevant professional experience is a plus, as is a history of deep involvement in sustainability issues and advocacy.

In addition to executing on their proposed project, the successful candidate will be expected to teach courses and lead public-facing outreach efforts that address the humanistic, social science, and physical science dimensions of the global environmental crisis. Furthermore, the faculty member will be expected to participate in the Rowan Catalysts for Sustainability Committee through service work, attending committee events, and/or collaborating with other committee members. Early career scholars will be paired with a faculty mentor.

Rowan University’s newly launched Catalysts for Sustainability program is a highly visible initiative in which ten new faculty across the university will be hired to develop, advance, and communicate solutions to humanity’s most pressing existential threats posed by the climate and biodiversity crises. The university-wide cohort will lead and collaborate across colleges, disciplines, and communities, catalyzing new initiatives in sustainability research, advocacy, and education while leveraging existing strengths. This project builds upon Rowan University’s strategic pillars (access, affordability, quality, and serving as an economic engine) and furthers our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Successful candidates will demonstrate expertise related to the climate and biodiversity crises in one or more of the following areas: environmental justice; education and public engagement including storytelling; public policy and advocacy; discipline-specific sustainability scholarship and innovation; and sustainability practice.

Joint appointments, within the school or across the university, will also be considered where appropriate. This position is designed to be outward facing; we are seeking dedicated agents of change, and a willingness to work with governments, NGOs, and industry to solve real-world problems. For instance, this position could be used to launch an endeavor, such as a non-profit organization, conference series, scientific innovation, outreach/education platform, etc.

All candidates should submit: 1) Curriculum Vitae; 2) Cover Letter outlining suitability for the role (including approach to teaching; scholarship; public outreach; and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion); 3) Project Proposal (no more than 4 pages) that includes: A) Project Summary (including alignment with Catalyst initiative); B) Project Description; C) Expected Advances/Benefits of the Project; D) Plans to Sustain the Project Beyond the Two-Year Fellowship (if appropriate); E) Draft Budget & Schedule

Rowan University is a Carnegie-classified R2 Doctoral University, engaged in a university push towards R1. The university enrolls approximately 23,000 students. Its main campus is located in Glassboro, N.J., 20-miles southeast of Philadelphia. Philadelphia International Airport is 30 minutes away, and New York and Washington, DC are easily accessible by train from 30th Street Station. Rowan has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 100 public universities in the nation and was named the third fastest-growing public research university in the nation by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Note: Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the US, and the university will not sponsor an applicant for a work visa for this position.

Advertised: Nov 10 2022 Eastern Standard Time
Applications close: