Assistant Professor of Ecosystem Conservation - Department of Environmental Science & Policy
Position overview
Application Window
Open date: August 16, 2024
Most recent review date: Friday, Nov 15, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.
Final date: Tuesday, Apr 1, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
The Department of Environmental Science and Policy in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Davis is recruiting an Assistant Professor of Ecosystem Conservation with an emphasis on conceptual innovation and field-based ecological approaches. This is an academic year (9-month), tenure track Assistant Professor position that includes an appointment in the California Agricultural Experiment Station (AES). Faculty members who hold an Agricultural Experiment Station appointment have a responsibility to conduct research and outreach relevant to the mission of the California Agricultural Experiment Station. Participation in outreach programs and performance of university service are also expected.
The appointee is expected to establish a competitively funded research program in field-based conservation ecology to address critical emerging issues in the science of conserving biodiversity and/or restoring ecosystems. Modern conservation requires innovative approaches that address rapid climate-driven change, social goals including equity and justice, and critical linkages between local and global-scale processes. We seek a person whose field-based research on these challenges engages stakeholders and supports the development of practical solutions. An ideal candidate would address multiple species and/or multiple ecosystem elements (e.g., human, biological, physical) and might collaborate with social scientists. Examples of research areas could include climate change adaptation and mitigation; management of lands for ecosystem services; biodiversity conservation in human-modified environments; and restoration of ecosystem resilience.
The appointee will be responsible for teaching ESP170, Conservation Ecology Policy; ESP123, Ecological Field Methods; and the current course load of 2.5 courses per year on a quarter system. The successful candidate will be active in graduate teaching and advising in one or more graduate groups, undergraduate student mentoring, and curricular development. Participation in and development of public outreach and/or community engagement programs, and performance of departmental and university service are expected. This position is expected to collaborate with Cooperative Extension specialists and advisors and with appropriate public stakeholders.
This recruitment is conducted at the assistant rank. The resulting hire will be at the assistant rank, regardless of the proposed appointee's qualifications.
Initial review of applications will be conducted using anonymized versions of the Statement of Research Accomplishments and Interests and the Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Applications demonstrating sufficient potential based on this review will be advanced to full review.
The University of California is committed to creating and maintaining a community dedicated to the advancement, application, and transmission of knowledge and creative endeavors through academic excellence, where all individuals who participate in university programs and activities can work and learn together in a safe and secure environment, free of violence, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, or intimidation. With this commitment, UC Davis conducts a reference check on all first-choice candidates for Academic Senate Assistant Professor or Lecturer with Potential for Security of Employment, Steps 4, 5, or 6, or Acting Professor of Law positions. The reference check involves contacting the administration of the applicant’s previous institution(s) to ask whether there have been substantiated findings of misconduct that would violate the University’s Faculty Code of Conduct. To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search for assistant professor to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled “Authorization to Release Information” into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration. Although all applicants for faculty recruitments must complete the entire application, only finalists considered for Academic Senate Assistant Professor or Lecturer with Potential for Security of Employment, Steps 4, 5, or 6, or Acting Professor of Law positions will be subject to reference checks.
UC Davis supports Family-friendly recruitments. UC Davis covers travel expenses for a second person to accompany an invited faculty recruitment candidate who is a mother (or single parent of either gender) of a breast or bottle-feeding child less than two years of age.
http://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/programs/work-life/index.html
UC Davis recognizes the necessity of supporting faculty with efforts to integrate work, family and other work-life considerations. To recruit and retain the best faculty, the campus sponsors a Work Life
Program that provides programs and services that support faculty as they strive to honor their commitments to work, home and community. http://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/programs/worklife/index.html
The UC Davis Partner Opportunities Program (POP) and Capital Resource Network (CRN) are services designed to support departments and Deans’ offices in the recruitment and retention of outstanding faculty. For information about POP, please visit https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/partner-opportunities-program-pop. For information about the CRN, please visit https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/capital-resource-network. Please note eligibility for these programs may be based on policy and funding availability.
Qualifications
Ph.D. or equivalent degree in biological or environmental sciences at time of appointment.
• Post-doctoral experience preferred.
• Evidence of leadership and organizational skills relevant to the development of a successful research, teaching and outreach program in field-based conservation ecology.
• Evidence of scholarship during graduate and post-graduate activities.
• Demonstrated ability or potential to obtain extramural support for research activities.
• Interest, understanding, and commitment to contributing to diversity. Demonstrated ability to contribute to diversity and inclusion of groups that are underrepresented in the academy through extension education, research, and/or service would be a plus.
o Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will be assessed by their general quality and the candidates’ understanding, awareness, contributions, and plans for future efforts related to diversity and inclusion.
• Demonstrated ability or potential to develop course curricula, instruct undergraduate and graduate courses, and to present information to scientific audiences.
• Willingness and interest to advise undergraduates.
• Demonstrated ability or potential and interest to mentor M.S. and Ph.D. students.
• Evidence of communication skills and collegiality consistent with effective departmental, campus and professional citizenship.
• Interest, understanding, and commitment to the objectives of a land-grant university and the Agricultural Experiment Station including mission-oriented research and a substantive outreach engagement programming.
Application Requirements
Required application materials include: 1) curriculum vitae including publication list, 2) up to three publications, 3) transcripts if the applicant is within five years of Ph.D. degree, 4) statement of research accomplishments and future research plans relevant to conservation ecology, 5) statement of teaching accomplishments and philosophy, 6) Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and 7) the names, addresses, including e-mail, of four professional references and 8) an Authorization to Release Information form Additional inquiries should be directed to Dr. Andrew Sih at asih@ucdavis.edu
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V. including publication list
Up to 3 Publications
Transcripts - -if the applicant is within five years of Ph.D. degree
(Optional)Statement of Reasearch Accomplishments and Future Research Plans Relevant to Conservation Ecology
Statement of Teaching Accomplishments and Philosophy
Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion documented in the application file will be used to evaluate applicants. Visit https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/faculty-equity-and-inclusion for guidelines about writing a statement and why one is requested.
Authorization to Release Information Form - A reference check will be completed only if you are selected as the first choice candidate. Download, complete, sign, and upload the form: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/shortcuts/authorization_release_form
- 4-6 required (contact information only)
Help contact: katramos@ucdavis.edu
About UC Davis
UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus (http://breathefree.ucdavis.edu/).
We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.
For the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20
For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination
Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available at: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify
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