General Summary:
The School for the Environment (SFE) at the University of Massachusetts Boston is seeking candidates for a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Environmental Justice to begin September 1, 2024. We invite scholars to apply who study the systemic, racist and colonialist policies and practices and the mechanisms through which these result in disproportionate environmental burdens placed on those with the least political power. The most severe impacts are often realized in communities of color and low-income communities in the US and other exploited groups around the globe. Environmental burdens may include exposure to toxic chemicals, degradation of indigenous lands, and exposure to climate change-related hazards. The preferred candidate will deeply engage with communities to identify communities’ research needs, develop impactful research questions, and methodologies with those communities. We particularly welcome community-based participatory research approaches that further communities’ organizing efforts to end injustices and inequalities.
The preferred candidate will use mixed qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and transdisciplinary problem-solving approaches. We are especially interested in candidates with research interests that integrate traditional ecological knowledge, indigenous perspectives, and/or focus on the role of indigenous movements in environmental justice. The candidate will have the opportunity to interact with UMB’s diverse social and environmental justice institutes including the Collaborative of Asian American, Native American, Latino and African American Institutes, Urban Harbors Institute, Sustainable Solutions Lab, and Mass Bays National Estuary Partnership. These institutes as well as faculty within the SFE have strong connections to a host of local, state, and national environmental organizations and are eager to collaborate on impactful research and seek external funding opportunities.
The successful candidate will develop and maintain an externally funded, community engaged research program in Environmental Justice that involves undergraduate and graduate students. The candidate will be invited to contribute to the university’s Grand Scholarly Challenges by collaborating with diverse faculty across the university on the themes of “Climate Equity and Coastal Urban Areas” and “Advancing a Just Society.”
The successful candidate will be expected to teach and mentor students across the Environmental Studies and Sustainability BA and Environmental Science BS, MS, and PhD programs. The candidate will also have the opportunity to participate in developing a new Environmental Justice minor and assist in its management. The candidate will serve on committees within the university and develop strong engaged scholarship with environmental justice communities within the New England Region.
Qualifications:
Environmental Justice is an inherently interdisciplinary field and therefore we invite applicants from a range of fields. For example, we welcome candidates with a PhD or equivalent degree in public health, anthropology, sociology, economics, environmental science, law, urban planning, or related fields. Experience could include environmental health, environmental history, environmental policy and management, political ecology, ecological economics, environmental law or planning, or indigenous studies. The candidate should be able to integrate multiple disciplines to study complex environmental justice issues.
The School for the Environment’s
(SFE) mission is to generate, communicate, and activate knowledge aimed at promoting the health, sustainability, and resilience of coastal ecological systems and communities. SFE pursues its environmental health and justice research, teaching, and outreach agenda through a transdisciplinary approach designed to enhance the problem-solving capacity of local communities and institutions. SFE’s faculty support three undergraduate programs (community development, environmental science, environmental studies), three master’s degree programs (environmental science, marine science, urban planning and community development), and PhD Programs in environmental science and marine science. SFE is also home to the Urban Planning and Community Development (UPCD) Department, and we suspect the successful candidate to have strong interactions with UPCD faculty and students.
Application instructions:
Interested individuals can initiate the application process by visiting the UMB’s Career Portal at: https://employmentopportunities.umb.edu/boston/en-us/listing/. After completing the University’s basic employment application, candidates can upload the following documents:
- Cover letter
- CV
- Complete contact information for three academic references
Application Deadline
For maximum consideration by the SFE Search Committee, materials should be submitted, via the UMB Employment Portal, by Friday, November 17, 2023 before 12 am (EST).
For More Information
Helen Poynton, Professor, School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston at: helen.poynton@umb.edu or 617-287-7323.
UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the ADA/504 Coordinator Andrea Haas or 617-287-5148.
