Multiple Tenure-Track or Tenured Faculty Positions in Sustaining Biodiversity at University of Utah

Biodiversity, the richness of life on Earth, past and present, is declining at unprecedented rates, accelerated by human activity. The need for outstanding research and broad-reaching public education related to biodiversity and its preservation is urgent.
The University of Utah is establishing a faculty cluster where biodiversity research is combined with learning research for a novel interdisciplinary emphasis that strongly supports the University’s commitment to sustainability. Each faculty position will be jointly hired between the Natural History Museum of Utah and any of the following departments/institutes participating in the cluster: Anthropology, Biology, Computer Science, Educational Psychology, Geography, Geology & Geophysics, and the Scientific Computing & Imaging Institute. Research is expected to be based, in part, on the Museum’s unique resources of scientific collections (plants, vertebrates, entomology, paleontology, and archaeology) and access to the public. Although research experience in the Western US is not required, it is expected that successful candidates will conduct some portion of their research in the Intermountain West.
We are seeking applicants for one or two tenure-track or tenured faculty positions at the Assistant or Associate rank to begin in July 2016. An additional two or three hires are planned for 2017 to complete a total of four faculty in the cluster. Candidates should have an excellent and sustained record of research (both field and laboratory), a demonstrated ability to generate extramural funding, demonstrated understanding of working in a Museum environment, and experience in working with diverse researchers from across the disciplinary spectrum. We will hire one faculty member in learning sciences, and three in some combination of the other fields described below:
Informal Learning Science
Research emphasis on STEM learning in informal contexts (particularly regarding museum collections, environments, and research foci), potentially including learning at every life stage, bridging formal and informal learning environments, citizen science, leveraging digital technologies to enhance learning opportunities in multiple contexts, and/or analyzing/assessing cognitive learning processes as well as outcomes.
Conservation Biology
Areas of research emphasis could include ecological and evolutionary responses to habitat loss and climate change, ecological and evolutionary responses to invasive species, identifying and ameliorating threats to endangered species, strategies and methods of restoring habitat and ecosystem functionality, and/or citizen science.
Paleoecology
Research emphasis on fundamental questions of process and response in ecosystems to past and present global change, and/or applying quantitative tools to understand geospheric and biospheric interactions over ecological and geological timescales.
Biodiversity Genomics
Areas of research emphasis could include documenting changes in the genetic make-up of species over time (including the use of ancient DNA), phylogenetic systematics, biogeography, coevolution, species domestication, evolutionary responses to changing environments, population genetics, symbiosis, conservation genetics, and/or community phylogenetics. Applicants should have experience in current genomic techniques and analysis.
Visualization
Research emphasis on information visualization, scientific visualization, visual analytics, human-computer interaction, or image cognition for knowledge discovery and interpretation. Competitive applicants will have a research focus relevant to biodiversity, conservation, and/or the fields of Geography and Geovisualization, as well as interest in use of visualization for public engagement.
Responsibilities include: (1) meaningful collaboration with faculty in the Sustaining Biodiversity cluster as well as faculty at NHMU and in the relevant academic department; (2) development and maintenance of an ongoing program of scholarly research; (3) design, teaching, and coordination of core courses in the relevant academic department; (4) teaching of graduate level courses in area of specialization; (5) advisement and supervision of graduate students; (6) development of research funding proposals to appropriate national agencies and foundations; (7) participation in Museum public programming; (8) engagement with the public and with Museum collections, and (9) participation in faculty governance at the department, college, and university levels.
Appointments will be split equally between the Museum and one pertinent academic department, with the exception of the visualization position, which will be appointed in combination with the Museum, SCI Institute, Geography, and/or other academic department. Retention, promotion and tenure decisions will be made according to the academic department’s criteria with input from the Museum. Candidates must have a completed Ph.D. by time of appointment.
Review of applications will begin October 1, 2015, and continue until the positions are filled. Applicants should submit an application on-line at https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/43404 including a statement of research, teaching, and programmatic interests, as well as a curriculum vitae, and the names and email addresses of three references. Further information may be found at https://nhmu.utah.edu/sustaining-biodiversity, and questions may be directed to the Museum’s Executive Director, Sarah George (sgeorge-AT-nhmu.utah.edu).
The University of Utah is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and educator. Minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified veterans. Reasonable disability accommodations will be provided with reasonable notice. For additional information about the University’s commitment to equal opportunity and access see: http://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/.