INTRODUCTION

​​The Department of Anthropology at the University of Connecticut seeks to hire an Assistant Professor of Ecological Stewardship and Community-Centered Indigenous Research whose teaching, advocacy, and community engagement/participatory research address topics related to Native American/Indigenous environmental health or science; knowledge systems/epistemologies (e.g., rematriation and futurisms); Indigenous Rights; Federal Law and Policy related to Native Americans/Indigenous people; territorial heritages (including land use, land and water rights) or sovereignty, in any time period(s); Indigenous environmental ethics, philosophies, and practices; spiritual ecology; revitalization and decolonization practices; as well as social, political, and environmental justice. We especially welcome scholars with research and teaching interests in the Americas, the Pacific, and the Caribbean. Strong candidates may be from and/or trained by the communities with whom they work and conduct their research through an activism, service, and/or community-based framework.

Applicants must have a demonstrated record of successful work with Indigenous communities and experience working with tribal sovereignty and the Indigenous knowledge held by Indigenous peoples. The successful applicant will have a background in Anthropology and may also have expertise in related areas in the humanities, environmental sciences, computational sciences, and/or social sciences, including but not limited to the disciplines of Native American & Indigenous Studies, Environmental Health, Environmental Law & Ethics, Ethnic Studies, Information Science, and Society Studies. The successful applicant will be expected to employ Indigenous research methodologies, work with qualitative, quantitative, mixed, and/or design methods, and mentor undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds. Strong candidates will be able to teach large survey courses as well as more specialized courses on methods and field research. Ideally, candidates will also contribute to other units in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, such as the Africana Studies Institute, Native American and Indigenous Studies, El Instituto, and/or the Environment and Human Interaction research cluster. This hire will build on a recent cluster hire in Native American and Indigenous Studies as well as another search this year for a new scholar in Native American Literatures.

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

• Doctoral degree (or equivalent foreign degree) completed in anthropology or a closely related discipline by position start date.
• Teaching experience or demonstrated capacity to teach courses with documentation of a commitment to teaching.
• A strong record of scholarly productivity in the area of Ecological Stewardship, Environmental Law and Advocacy, Native American and Indigenous Studies, and Community-Centered Indigenous Research.
• An active community-engaged/collaborative research program and demonstrated record of successful work with Indigenous communities.
• The ability to contribute through research, teaching, and/or public engagement to the diversity and excellence of the Department and College.
• Effective communication skills (both written and oral).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Demonstrated history of or potential for external research funding.
• Experience teaching courses relevant to Indigenous environmental health, science, and justice; Indigenous epistemologies and practices; and/or community-based research.
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to teaching and/or mentoring a diverse student population.
• Ability to engage productively with faculty across disciplines.

APPOINTMENT TERM

This is a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track position with an anticipated start date of August 23, 2023. The successful candidate’s academic appointment will be at the Storrs campus. Faculty may also be asked to teach at one of UConn’s regional campuses as part of their ordinary workload. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience as well as disciplinary norms.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

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

TO APPLY 

Please apply online to Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/23226 and submit the following application materials:

• A cover letter,
• Curriculum vitae,
• Research and scholarship statement (innovative concepts that will form the basis of academic career, experience in proposal development, mentorship of graduate students, etc.);
• 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.);
• Writing sample and any supporting materials;
• Contact information for three (3) letters of reference. References will not be contacted without notification of the candidate.

Review of applications will begin on November 10, 2022, and continue until the position is filled. For more information please visit the unit website: Anthropology. For questions about this position, please contact Deborah Bolnick (deborah.bolnick@uconn.edu).

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

This position will be filled subject the 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.