Skip to main content

This job has expired

Faculty - Citizen Science

Employer
Bard College
Location
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
Salary
commensurate with experience.
Closing date
Jul 6, 2020

View more

Discipline
Life Sciences, Environmental Science
Position Type
Contract
Job Type
Faculty
Organization Type
Academia

Citizen Science at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY is seeking instructors for January 2021.  Citizen Science is an innovative program designed to provide opportunities for students in their first year of college to develop their personal science literacy through hands-on, real-world coursework and projects. We ask…

  • What does it mean to be scientifically literate?  
  • What is the role of citizens when it comes to weighing in on important scientific issues?  
  • How can citizens find the scientific information they need in order to meet the challenges they face in their lives and respond to the scientific issues of their day?  
  • What are the skills we all need in order to adequately and thoroughly interpret scientific claims, and how can we be sure that the conduct, analysis, and interpretation of science are not unduly influenced by political or other potentially distorting factors? 

Inspired by stories from places like Flint, MI, and Hoosick Falls, NY, the 2021 Citizen   Science program will tackle urgent, present-day questions related to water and work to place these conversations within the ‘new world order’ that has resulted from the 2020 Pandemic. We will explore the properties of water, as well as how these properties influence the contamination (and decontamination) of drinking water. We will also consider in what ways social, historical, and political factors are at work even when we think we are engaged in “objective” science.

Using laboratory investigations and active classroom discussions during these few intensive January weeks, the focus will be on the creation, analysis, and interpretation of scientific evidence.  The program consists of a common core of coursework and one of four lab strands: Research, Community Action, Science Communication and Science Education. Faculty will be assigned to teach one of these lab strands based upon their expertise and the needs of the program.  For details on the different labs visit http://citizenscience.bard.edu/ 

Successful candidates will possess or be near completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent in a STEM related discipline and be willing to engage students of all disciplines in a common educational experience. No specific background in the science of water is required.  Prior teaching experience is not a requirement. Candidates with evidence of training in or experience that aligns with one of the four lab strands will be given special consideration. 

 All hired faculty will be required to attend mandatory training of approximately 50 hours.  A combination of remote and on-campus training will be provided (as the NY on Pause laws allow). Planning and consideration of remote instruction for the Citizen Science program will be discussed during training.

Faculty will be required to arrive on campus [1] for the Citizen Science program no earlier than January 7, 2021 for pre-program work. The program runs through Friday, January 29, 2021. Travel, food and dormitory housing will be provided for any on-campus training and the entire January session. Faculty will receive a stipend payable at the end of the January session.  

[1] Assuming local health laws allow on-campus instruction.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.  We will give preference to applications received by Thursday, June 4, 2020.  Submit completed applications through http://apply.interfolio.com/76008. Please include the following:

  • Your current CV 
  • Three letters of recommendation (see link above for information on Letter Writers) 
  • A letter of interest specific to this unique program which gives a sense of your philosophy on teaching and pedagogy as well as your approach to diversity and inclusion.  We particularly invite you to address the four cornerstone questions of the program as represented at the beginning of this document. 

All applicants must be authorized to work in the United States, and are responsible for determining their own eligibility. Applications received after June 4, 2020 will be accepted and considered on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. 

Bard College is a private liberal arts institution with approximately 2,000 students, located in New York’s Hudson River Valley. Additional information about the Citizen Science program can be found on our website, citizenscience.bard.edu. 

Bard College is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome applications from those who contribute to our diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental, or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information.

 Bard is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accmmodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.

Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert