University of Vermont Hiring for Assistant Professor for Traditional Ecological Knowledge at Burlington, VT Full Time

Position: The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources (RSENR) at the University of Vermont (UVM) seeks applicants for a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor focused on traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). We seek a dedicated and inspiring new faculty member with experience in traditional ecological knowledge and/or Indigenous knowledge systems in relationship to climate change and adaptation. This can include issues related to water and land access and governance, environmental/social justice, and/or land restoration and adaptation. Candidates should have demonstrated cultural fluency in Indigenous knowledge systems and have a good working knowledge of Indigenous research methodologies. Strong candidates will have the requisite knowledge and experience to respect traditional protocols for community engagement and participate in ethical study of Indigenous knowledge systems. The Rubenstein School has a growing, vibrant, and engaged faculty and is looking for individuals who can contribute to our strong commitment to training the next generation of scientists and natural resource professionals using innovative research to address issues of social and environmental justice.Responsibilities: The successful candidate will be expected to make significant contributions to teaching (40%), research (40%), and service (20%). Research may focus on traditional ecological knowledge and Indigenous knowledge systems related to climate change impacts and adaptation, water and land access and governance, environmental/social justice, or land restoration with Indigenous communities, and should complement the scholarship and expertise of other faculty in the Rubenstein School. Service expectations include contributing to School and University committees and to the environmental profession at large. At the undergraduate level, the successful candidate will teach courses in the Rubenstein School (typically two per semester) and may contribute courses to any of the five majors in the Rubenstein School (Environmental Science; Forestry; Parks, Recreation, and Tourism; Sustainability, Ecology, and Policy; Wildlife and Fisheries Biology). The candidate will serve as an academic advisor for Rubenstein School undergraduate students (typically 20-30 students per year) and provide mentorship and guidance for thesis and research projects, internships, and independent studies. At the graduate level, the successful candidate will be expected to teach courses in the graduate curriculum, serve on graduate student thesis/dissertation committees, and supervise graduate students (M.S. and Ph.D.). The position will involve developing an extramurally funded, high-impact research program in the field of traditional ecological knowledge that addresses contemporary issues and leads to publications and presentations in peer-reviewed scholarly outlets or equivalent scholarship.Qualifications: Ph.D. or terminal degree in a field or discipline relevant to traditional ecological knowledge at the time of appointment. Applicants should have the capacity to deliver high quality and impactful teaching, mentoring, and advising of undergraduate and graduate students, and the ability to develop a successful, funded research program in traditional ecological knowledge and its relation to climate change adaptation, as demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications or equivalent scholarship. We seek candidates with a demonstrated ability to engage with Indigenous knowledge systems in a reciprocal, non-extractive way and who have a strong understanding of discourses and challenges related to Indigenous research ethics, decolonial methodologies, Indigenous identity, race-shifting, tribal sovereignty and citizenship, et al. Candidates should have strong analytical skills, creative and innovative approaches to science, and evidence of applied research. Candidates should also have experience developing collaborative relationships (e.g., with tribal communities, state and federal agencies, non- profit organizations, and private landowners) and a history of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in educational and research contexts.

The Rubenstein School is dedicated to promoting diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion. We apply an equity lens to our teaching, research, and service and believe deeply in creating a climate of inclusivity and empowerment where all faculty, staff, and students flourish.Application: Review of applications will begin on April 1, 2023 and will continue until the position is filled. We anticipate a start date of August 21, 2023. Applicants should submit to www.uvmjobs.com:
1. A letter of interest (3 pages maximum) that includes:
a. a summary of their research focus,
b. a statement of teaching philosophy,
c. a statement on diversity
2. a curriculum vitae; and
3. contact information for three references.Inquiries may be made to Dr. Jennifer Pontius, co-Chair, Traditional Ecological Knowledge Search Committee, at [email protected].The University is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive academic community through their teaching, scholarship, and service. Applicants should include information about how they will further this goal in their letter.The University of Vermont 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, protected veteran status, or any other category legally protected by federal or state law. The University encourages applications from all individuals who will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the institution.Setting: The campus of the University of Vermont is situated near Lake Champlain between the Green and Adirondack mountains and sits within a place of gathering and exchange, shaped by water and stewarded by ongoing generations of Indigenous peoples, in particular the Western Abenaki. Burlington, VT is consistently voted one of the best small cities in the US, with an increasingly ethnically and culturally diverse population. It was ranked as the #3 Green Campus by the Princeton Review. The Rubenstein School has 47 tenure-track, research, and teaching faculty, 975 undergraduates, and 120 graduate students in both Master’s and Ph.D. programs. The Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit is based in the Rubenstein School and large research groups include the Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory, Aiken Forestry Science Laboratory (jointly operated with the U.S. Forest Service, Northern Forest Research Station), and Gund Institute for Environment. UVM also has four university-owned research forests and ten natural areas in the state.

Job Open Date:

02/23/2023

Category:

Agricultural Sciences, Arts/Humanities, Biological/Biomedical Sciences, Environmental Sciences/Natural Resources, Interdisciplinary, Social/Behavioral Sciences, Academic/Faculty, Public Policy/Public Administration

Posting Number:

F2575PO

Department:

Rubenstein Sch Env & Nat Res/57000

Advertising/Posting Title:

Assistant Professor for Traditional Ecological Knowledge

FLSA:

Exempt

Position Number:

005878

Employee FTE:

1.0

Employee Term (months):

9