Assistant Professor of Environmental Education and Behavior

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL, USA 🇺🇸

JOB NO: 530533
WORK TYPE: Tenure-Track Faculty
LOCATION: Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)
CATEGORIES: Biology/Life Science, Education/Training/Instructional Design, Agricultural Sciences
DEPARTMENT: 60460000 – AG-SCHL FOR, FISH, & GEOMATICS

CLASSIFICATION TITLE:Ast Prof
JOB DESCRIPTION:The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF .This is a 9-month tenure-accruing position that will be 40% teaching (College of Agricultural and Life Sciences) and 60% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) available in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. Tenure will accrue in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS).Duties will include research and teaching relating to environmental education and behavior. Research duties include developing a collaborative, internationally recognized, and externally funded research program focused on environmental education and behavior change that advances environmental literacy, civic engagement, and improved environmental conditions and human well-being. Teaching responsibilities will include developing and teaching one undergraduate course and one graduate course related to environmental education. One or more of these courses will be accessible to a variety of distance students. The faculty member will have the opportunity to develop these courses based on their expertise along with an awareness of the variety of backgrounds and perspectives of SFFGS students.We define environmental education broadly to include the wealth of topics that broaden society’s understanding of environmental and natural resource issues. These would include topics associated with urban areas and climate change in both formal and non-formal venues for youth, adults, and educators (e.g., PreK-12 teachers, extension agents, nonformal educators). The faculty member is encouraged to design their research, teaching, and service commitments to build relationships that enhance the learning opportunities and engagement of vulnerable or underserved communities in the areas of environmental education.The faculty member will participate in undergraduate education and graduate education by chairing graduate committees, serving on graduate committees, supervising thesis and dissertation research, supervising undergraduate research, and publishing research results with their students. The successful candidate will also be expected to publish teaching-related scholarship, produce learning tools, and engage in professional development activities related to teaching and advising. Faculty are encouraged to support and participate in the CALS Honors Program and international education.Because of the IFAS land-grant mission, all faculty are expected to be supportive of, and engaged in, all three mission areas—Research, Teaching, and Extension—regardless of the assignment split specified in the position description. Therefore, the faculty member will contribute to the extension mission of the University by collaborating with other faculty members, county extension faculty, state and federal agencies, private stakeholders and professional associations related to environmental education.Background Information:The School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS) has teaching, research, and Extension education programs in three broad areas: Geomatics; Forest Resources and Conservation; and Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. The SFFGS has 70 faculty members, 60 administrative and programmatic staff, 250 graduate students, and 350 undergraduate students. The School offers bachelor’s degrees in Geomatics, Forest Resources and Conservation, Natural Resource Conservation, and Marine Sciences; thesis and non-thesis master’s degrees in all focal areas, including a number of innovative distance education master’s programs; and Ph.D. degrees in all focal areas.The University of Florida is a Land-Grant, Sea-Grant, and Space-Grant institution, encompassing virtually all academic and professional disciplines, with an enrollment of more than 56,000 students.  UF is a member of The Association of American Universities.  The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences includes the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Florida Sea Grant program, and encompasses 16 on-campus academic departments and schools, 12 Research and Educational Centers (REC) located throughout the state, 6 Research sites/demonstration units administered by RECs or academic departments, and Florida Cooperative Extension Service offices in all 67 counties (counties operate and maintain). The School of Natural Resources and Environment is an interdisciplinary unit housed in IFAS and managed by several colleges on campus.  UF/IFAS employs nearly 4,500 people, which includes approximately 990 salaried faculty and 1,400 permanent support personnel located in Gainesville and throughout the state. IFAS, one of the nation’s largest agricultural and natural resources research and education organizations, is administered by a Vice President and four deans: the Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Dean for Extension and Director of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the Dean for Research and Director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Dean for the College of Veterinary Medicine.  UF/IFAS also engages in cooperative work with Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.Florida boasts a variety of fauna and flora common to both southern temperate and subtropical climates and is replete with springs, rivers, backwater streams, lakes, freshwater and saltwater marshes, mangrove fringes, cypress swamps, hardwood hammocks, sandhills, scrub, pine flatwoods, and rangeland.  Nested between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, Florida has more than 2,000 kilometers of coastal beaches and estuaries.  Special features include the Florida Keys, which constitute an archipelago of picturesque subtropical islands, and the unique Everglades, or “river of grass,” which sprawls across the southern peninsula.  As a gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America, Florida provides convenient access to tropical and temperate environments in the southern hemisphere, and diverse expertise on campus. Gainesville is a small city with culture and character directly linked to the university. Attributes of Gainesville include proximity to many natural areas, year-round cycling possibilities, expansive media, and many cultural and historical landmarks. Cost of living in Gainesville is slightly below the national average, making it an attractive place to live.
EXPECTED SALARY:Commensurate with Education and Experience
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:We welcome applicants from any disciplinary perspective and methodological tradition whose scholarship focuses on environmental education and behavior change. Applicants should be able to work collaboratively to address interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research questions.A doctorate in environmental education or related discipline from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent accreditation or all-but-dissertation (ABD) by July 31, 2024 is required. The successful candidate should show: evidence of scholarly expertise related to environmental education, with a record of research publications in scholarly journals; demonstrated experience in teaching environmental education and natural resource related courses in undergraduate and graduate curricula relevant to students in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, and familiarity with and use of varied and innovative teaching approaches to engage students and ensure student learning.The ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams with faculty from departments and colleges outside the home academic unit (e.g., College of Education, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, Department of Natural History) is essential. Candidates should have demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication, skill in working with a variety of stakeholders, and procurement of or potential to secure extramural funding. Also, successful applicants should show a commitment to teaching, mentoring students, and promoting a welcoming environment to a variety of students and stakeholders. Examples of demonstrating these skills include but are not limited to number, quality, and feedback resulting from: courses instructed, presentations, engagement in professional organizations like NAAEE; workshops administered, papers/articles published, working with a wide variety of audiences, and research projects in which the candidate led or participated.Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values of excellence, discovery & innovation, inclusion, freedom & civility, community, and stewardship. 
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:Experience applying and practicing environmental education programming and/or postdoctoral experience is preferred not required. 
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit materials by April 30, 2024.  The position will remain open until a viable applicant pool is determined.
Employment Conditions
This position is available August 15, 2024 and will be filled as soon as an acceptable applicant is available.  Compensation is commensurate with the education, experience, and qualifications of the selected applicant.
Nominations
Nominations are welcome.  Nominations need to include the complete name and address of the nominee. This information should be sent to:
Please refer to Requisition # 530533
Dr. Alison Adams
Chair, Search and Screen Committee
University of Florida
School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences
PO Box 110410
Gainesville, FL 32611-0410
Telephone:                               (352) 226-1198
Electronic Mail:                      alison.adams@ufl.edu
Application Information
Individuals wishing to apply should go online to Careers at UF and submit:
Cover letter that states applicant’s interest in the position and qualifications relative to the credentials listed above
Full curriculum vitae
Statements of:
Teaching and/or mentoring philosophies (or teaching portfolio if applicable)
Research (including two samples of publications)
Contact information (including email addresses) for 4 individuals willing to write letters of recommendation who can speak to applicant’s teaching, research, mentoring, and outreach experience.
Unofficial transcripts
Selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible.  Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. The University of Florida is a public institution and subject to all requirements under Florida Sunshine and Public Record laws.
The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Institution. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a variety of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.
HEALTH ASSESSMENT REQUIRED:No

ADVERTISED: 28 Feb 2024  Eastern Standard Time
APPLICATIONS CLOSE: Open until filled


POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

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