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INTRODUCTION

The Department of Geography at the University of Connecticut (UConn), Storrs invites applications for a new tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Geography with an emphasis on human-environmental interactions. The appointment will be part of a cluster hire on Environment and Human Interactions sponsored by UConn’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Areas of research and teaching focus may include (but are not limited to) climate change impacts and societal responses; socio-ecological systems modeling; natural hazards, disasters, and society; food, energy, and water (FEW); environmental planning and policy; environmental health; political ecology; and environmental justice. 

Our planet is undergoing changes that radically affect human experiences and societal well-being. Through this cluster hiring initiative on Environment and Human Interactions, the University of Connecticut seeks scholars committed to advancing knowledge about critical issues related to the environment and society and developing interdisciplinary strategies to mitigate, adapt to, and learn from 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. 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.

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.

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 Geography or a related field.
• Excellence in scholarly research in 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 in August 23, 2022. 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.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment at the University of Connecticut is contingent upon the successful candidate’s compliance with the University’s Mandatory Workforce COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.  This Policy states that all workforce members are required to have or obtain a Covid-19 vaccination as a term and condition of employment at UConn, unless an exemption or deferral has been approved. 

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/19572 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 your perspective on integrating multicultural experiences in instruction and research, the application of pedagogical techniques to meet the needs of diverse learning styles, your viewpoint on barriers to success for underrepresented groups in STEM as well as your past efforts to address these issues, and your plans to help create a diverse equitable, and inclusive research community at UConn);
• A sample of original written work,
• Three (3) letters of reference.

Evaluation of applicants will begin October 15, 2021, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. For instructions on how to apply, request references, and review your application, please refer to the FAQ page for applicants on Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/help/academicjobs/userdoc/link/app-faq.html.  Any questions regarding this position should be directed to Dr. Christopher Burton (christopher.burton@uconn.edu).

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

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.