Assistant Professor, Environmental Policy & Politics (Tenure-Track)

Assistant Professor, Environmental Policy & Politics (Tenure-Track)

George Mason University’s Department of Environmental Science and Policy (ESP) in the College of Science is seeking an enthusiastic and energetic individual for a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Environmental Policy & Politics beginning in August 2022.

George Mason University, a Carnegie Research I institution, is the largest, most diverse, and innovative public university in Virginia with more than 38,000 students from all 50 states and over 135 countries. Located in Fairfax, Virginia, Mason is part of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, offering easy access to the scientific and political resources of the nation’s capital. Mason has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and it strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason’s academic and culturally inclusive environment.

Responsibilities:

This position will strengthen departmental expertise on domestic U.S. environmental policy and politics in relationship to one or more of the following focal areas: water and watersheds, planetary health, conservation, climate change and energy, and environmental justice. Candidates with strong research and teaching capacity in quantitative methodologies, such as data analytics, agent-based modeling, and social network analysis, are especially encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will be expected to establish a strong extramurally funded research program and provide mentorship to students in the department’s undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. This position aligns with ESP’s focus on boundary-spanning and co-production of knowledge across science, policy, and society. As such, the candidate is expected to contribute to George Mason University’s commitment to transdisciplinary research. We especially encourage submissions from researchers who have experience engaging local, state, or federal policy systems to support and bring about changes that improve environmental or sustainability outcomes. The expected teaching responsibility for this position is two courses per semester. Service activities within ESP and the College of Science are expected.

Preference will be given to candidates who express an interest in expanding collaborative efforts such as the growing partnership between ESP and the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, partnering with the Institute for a Sustainable Earth (ISE), furthering the department’s own initiatives in conservation and sustainability, and building new partnerships to develop transdisciplinary projects.

Required Qualifications:

·       Successful completion of a Ph.D. in political science, public policy, public administration, or a related field prior to the first day of the appointment;

·       Demonstrated expertise in quantitative social science methods;

·       The ability to share the department’s commitment to transdisciplinary education and research;

·       An established record of scholarly activity demonstrated by publication record in peer-reviewed journals;

·       Demonstrated potential to establish an independent extramurally funded research program;

·       Commitment and interest in teaching lecture courses at undergraduate and graduate levels;

·       Strong commitment to mentoring and supervising undergraduate and graduate students;

·       Effective interpersonal communication skills;

·       The ability to collaborate with other natural scientists and social scientists in research, teaching and outreach.

Preferred Qualifications:

·       Demonstrated experience in developing successful externally-funded research collaborations;

·       A record of seeking and securing extramural research support evidenced by proposal submission and/or recipient of funding awards;

·       Demonstrated successful teamwork in a collaborative environment.

About us:

ESP is well known for its truly transdisciplinary faculty focused on environmental natural and social sciences. ESP also includes additional graduate program faculty from across the university and numerous affiliated environmental professionals. The following degrees are awarded: B.S. in Environmental Science, B.A. in Environmental and Sustainability Studies, M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Public Policy. The Department also partners with the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation in Front Royal, VA, to offer graduate level courses in biodiversity and conservation. Mason’s Institute for a Sustainable Earth (ISE) provides a unique opportunity for the selected candidate to work in a collaborative manner across disciplines at Mason and with external partners nationally and internationally.

For more information about the department, visit us online at: https://science.gmu.edu/academics/departments-units/environmental-science-policy/

For more information about the College of Science, visit: https://science.gmu.edu/

For more information about the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, visit https://smconservation.gmu.edu/

For more information about the Institute for a Sustainable Earth (ISE), visit https://ise.gmu.edu/

Special Instructions to Applicants  

·       For full consideration, applicants must apply for position number F5894Z at https://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online application; and include:

·       cover letter

·       CV

·       research statement – please address diversity, equity, and inclusion in your statement

·       teaching philosophy – please address diversity, equity, and inclusion in your statement, and

·       names and email addresses of professional references (minimum 3, from academic institutions)

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.