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Endowed Chair/Professorship

Employer
JobElephant
Location
San Antonio, Texas
Salary
Salary commensurate with experience.
Closing date
Jan 29, 2021

View more

Discipline
Life Sciences, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Other, Education
Position Type
Full Time
Job Type
Faculty
Organization Type
Academia

Endowed Chair/Professorship in the College of Sciences in Data-driven Climate Change Impact Research

Job ID: 5454

Our changing climate is one of the most urgent issues facing our world now and for the foreseeable future. It is driving fundamental changes in all aspects of macro-biological and environmental systems on the entire planet. In turn, those changes impact all aspects of human activity - from food production and living environment design to governance - all of which impact equitable distribution of finite resources. These challenges are particularly profound in South Texas, Bexar County, and San Antonio given existing structural economic and political inequities related to race/ethnicity. As a community-minded, Hispanic Serving Institution research university, UTSA must be a scholarly leader in all aspects of meeting this challenge. UTSA is committed to advancing the next generation of leaders from Hispanic/Latino and other historically underrepresented groups by being a model for student success, a great public research university, and an exemplar for strategic growth and innovative excellence (see https://www.utsa.edu/strategicplan/). A Top 25 Rising Young University (Nature Index, 2019), UTSA is a proud part of the University of Texas System, known worldwide for its quality and impact.

To that end, the endowed chair/professorship in the College of Sciences (COS) will nucleate our leadership at the interfaces of biology, ecology and environmental science systems, as they open windows on the impact of climate change on our local community. The ideal candidate is a well-recognized scholar with a national reputation for teaching and scientific research related to environmental impacts of climate change on the communities and ecosystems in the semi-arid and arid southern borderlands of the United States. At this macro-system level, the key technical challenge is the collection, organization, modeling, and/or analysis of large datasets with high dimensionality. Hence, we are particularly interested in someone who is well versed in the application of integrative approaches, using mathematical modeling and data analytics, and transdisciplinary-based inquiry to enhance our understanding of the climate system, nutrient cycles, ecosystem functions, and biodiversity. While advancing their own research program, this eminent scholar will work with other UTSA scholars and community leaders on collaborative projects that address such basic scientific issues as well as community impacts of climate change. Current or under development UTSA multi-college/multi-institution units relevant to this position include the School of Data Science (SDS), the MATRIX AI Consortium for Human Well-being, the Institute for Water Research, Sustainability, and Policy (IWRSP), and the NASA MIRO Center for Advanced Measurements in Extreme Environments.

As a pacesetting sciences faculty member within a Hispanic-thriving and urban-serving institution, the chair holder will be someone who shares UTSA's excitement, commitment, and willingness to innovatively prepare students from disadvantaged and/or underrepresented communities for the 21st century workforce of San Antonio, South Texas, and the world. The successful applicant will be a tenured professor within the College of Sciences (COS) with a joint appointment in the Department of Mathematics and one of the life sciences departments.

Read more about this position and COS, including new asset-based, experiential and culturally aware pedagogical approaches and multi-college/multi-institution units relative to this position here.

Please contact Dr. David R. Silva mailto:(davidr.silva@utsa.edu), Dean of the College of Sciences and Dr. Bernard Arulanandam mailto:(bernard.arulanandam@utsa.edu), Vice President for Research, Economic Development, and Knowledge Enterprise, for nominations or questions.

Qualifications

Earned Doctoral Degree (Ph.D.) in Biology, Environmental Science, Ecology, Biological Data Science, Geoscience, Data Science, Climate Science, or analogous.

Demonstrated record of commitment to the education/training of students from traditionally under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds. Demonstrated experience working with Hispanic/Latino students is desirable.

Demonstrated record of scholarly activity in the use of data-driven research into the impact of climate change on ecosystems and communities, with research competencies and capabilities commensurate with an endowed chair/distinguished tenured professor appointment. Leadership experience with collaborative teams and success in federally funded transdisciplinary efforts also are required. A focus on the arid and semi-arid borderlands of the American Southwest is desirable.

Given the positive impact of diverse leadership in inspiring, mentoring, and enabling successful outcomes for students from historically underrepresented groups, particularly those who identify as Hispanic/Latino, candidates from historically disadvantaged and underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Qualifying candidates will be considered for funding from the Texas state Governor's University Research Initiative (GURI) as well as The University of Texas System's Faculty Science and Technology Acquisition and Retention (STARs) program.

Nomination and Application Instructions

Nominations should be sent to the contacts listed above.

Applicants should submit their application packages via the UTSA HR website by clicking here (https://apptrkr.com/2083965). Application packages must contain the following: (a) curriculum vitae, (b) teaching and research statement including a discussion of the role equity and inclusion play in an academic environment (four-page limit), (c) copies of three publications, and (d) complete contact information for at least three professional references.

Applications received by January 15, 2021, will be given first consideration; applications received after that date will be reviewed until the position is filled. Applicants selected for interviews must show proof that they will be eligible and qualified to work in the United States by the time of hire. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Tenure is contingent upon Board of Regents' approval. UTSA is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer.

Salary

Compensation will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. UTSA employees enjoy a competitive, comprehensive, and family-friendly benefits package.

To view the full job posting and apply for this position, go to https://apptrkr.com/2083965

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