Position Description

The Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment
Natural Resources and Environment

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Postdoctoral Associate

Building Systems - Thinking into the Environment & Sustainability Curriculum

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: We believe that achieving next-generation scientific breakthroughs requires an understanding of the world’s complex, interlocking systems. We believe that access to nutritious food and a healthy environment is a fundamental human right. We believe that ensuring a prosperous global future depends on the ability to support local people and communities everywhere. By working in and across multiple scientific areas, CALS can address challenges and opportunities of the greatest relevance, here in New York, across the nation, and around the world.

Natural Resources and the Environment is a section within the new Ashley School of the Environment and Global Development. This section is multidisciplinary with emphases in applied ecology, human dimensions of natural resource management, policy/governance and environmental justice. NRE is a major contributor of teaching and advising to the cross-college Environment & Sustainability major core curriculum.

Position Function

The section of Natural Resources and the Environment, within the Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Associate to lead the development, implementation, and assessment of active learning pedagogy that strengthens ‘systems-thinking’ throughout the cross-college Environment & Sustainability (E&S) major. This is a full-time position, based at the Ithaca campus. We expect the Postdoctoral Associate to be in residence in Ithaca. Initial appointment is for one year, with potential for renewal for a second year, contingent upon performance, available work and funding.

The Postdoctoral Associate will collaborate with instructors of Environment and Sustainability (E&S) core courses to: develop and integrate active-learning strategies that strengthen systems-thinking competencies; design formative and summative assessments of systems-thinking skills at the course and program levels; support scaffolding systems-thinking pedagogy across the E&S curriculum.

The position is supported by Cornell’s Active Learning Initiative (ALI). The Postdoctoral Associate will participate in ALI programming, including weekly fellows’ meetings and program evaluations such as surveys and classroom observations. Opportunities for co-teaching are available, though the Postdoctoral Associate will not be required to serve as an instructor of record. 

Anticipated Division of Time

• Course module and assessment development and implementation: 50%
• Literature review: 15%
• Workshop development: 15%
• Data analysis and writing: 20%

Requirements

• PhD in natural resources, environmental sciences, environmental policy, ecology, sustainability science or a related field.
• Demonstrated capability and interest in teaching and pedagogy, particularly active-learning approaches and pedagogy assessment design.
• Experience or interest in pedagogy research is also desirable.
• Background or interest in complex systems theory and applications, particularly in interdisciplinary social-ecological contexts, is strongly preferred.
• Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in undergraduate education.
• Interest in innovative and engaged learning approaches to sustainability education.

Supervision Exercised
This position does not have supervisory responsibilities but will have the opportunity to interact with and mentor graduate and undergraduate students.

To apply:

Please apply via Academic Jobs Online (https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/31747). 

Candidates should submit a CV, a cover letter that outlines relevant coursework, training and/or experience with social-ecological systems or complex systems topics, teaching and course development experience, relevant research interests and the names of at least three references.

Applications will be reviewed as received, continuing until a suitable applicant is identified.

CALS hiring range for this title is $65,000.

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College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
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