Upstate New York HERC

The Department of the Environment (ENVS) in the School of Humanities and Sciences at Ithaca College invites applications for a full-time, tenure-eligible Assistant Professor position in environmental science. We seek an inspired and dedicated teacher who is also eager to involve undergraduates in an active research program. The teaching and research of this environmental scientist should be solutions-oriented, methodologically sound, and well-integrated with recent developments in environmental sustainability, policy, politics, and justice. The person hired for this position will join a department committed to place-based interdisciplinary experiential education and develop a robust locally-rooted teaching and scholarship program over time.

Position Responsibilities

The selected candidate will normally teach five courses per year. Within their regular annual teaching load, they will offer one of the following required Foundation courses for early-career Environmental Science majors: 

• Critical Skills in Environmental Research and Practice (ENVS 292, methods)
• Environmental Sentinels (ENVS 120, introductory natural history and field skills)
• Introduction to Environmental Science and Technology (ENVS 121)
• Human-Environment Geography (ENVS 220)

They will also offer an upper-level Intensive course for Junior and Senior Environmental Science majors in a subject area that complements one or more of the following focal areas:

• Climate change
• Freshwater or terrestrial ecology
• Geoscience or Earth system science
• Geographic information systems (GIS) or geographic information science
• Energy systems
• Methods

The ENVS “Intensives” are an innovative, collaborative teaching and learning approach based on student learning communities. We launched this initiative in 2023, and it has proven invigorating for faculty and enlightening for students. 

Flexibility in teaching is a must for ENVS faculty, given the breadth of disciplinary perspectives in the environmental field and the diversity of people (students, researchers, practitioners, and community members) engaged in current environmental issues. The candidate selected for this job should be willing and able to embark on pedagogical innovations to meet current and future demands of environmental science and our students.  While excellence in teaching is the top priority for all faculty at Ithaca College, a productive research program including peer-reviewed publications and attempts to secure extramural funding is also a criterion for tenure. 

One of our hallmarks is student-faculty collaborative research.  All ENVS faculty work with several students at a time in a research lab group or workshop. These collaborations are supported by three teaching load credits (equivalent to one course) per year. Examples of ongoing faculty-student collaborations are available on the ENVS Web site, including:

• Ecotoxicology
• Apiculture
• Hemp production
• Aquaponics
• Land conservation

In addition to teaching and scholarship, all Ithaca College faculty are expected to participate in service at the level of the Department, as well as at the level of the School, College, local community, or profession.

Required Qualifications

1. Ph.D. completed by August 15, 2025 in any field of environmental science 
2. Demonstrated strong desire and potential for excellence in undergraduate teaching

Desired Attributes (Expertise, Experience, and/or Interests)

• Integrative or interdisciplinary environmental science
• Place-based environmental science
• Experiential education in environmental science
• Ability to offer a Foundation course in the Environmental Science B.S. program
• Ability to offer an Intensive course in the Environmental Science B.S. program
• Geographic focus on the Cayuga Lake watershed or the Finger Lakes Region

About Ithaca College

At Ithaca College, a comprehensive residential campus community of 6,500 students, we strive to be at the forefront of the higher education landscape. Our strategic plan, IC 20/20, positions us to offer a distinct integrative learning experience that makes students ready for the personal, professional, and global challenges of our age. We seek candidates who embrace integrative learning and want to be a part of this exciting time in Ithaca College history. We encourage creative collaboration and innovation in our faculty and staff, providing support and resources for them to grow in their fields and lead students to their own innovative ideas and achievements. We welcome different ways of thinking and look for candidates with unique points of view and life experiences. We are inclusive of individuals with a wide range of cultural, personal, and professional backgrounds, talents, and skills. Our campus is a vibrant and rewarding community where diverse minds can learn, succeed, and excel. Nestled in the heart of New York State's scenic Finger Lakes region, Ithaca College sits atop South Hill overlooking picturesque Cayuga Lake and is just minutes away from the city ce...nter. Combining small town warmth and charm with the vibrancy of a college community, the thriving and culturally diverse city of Ithaca has been rated by Kiplinger’s as one of the top 10 places to live in the United States. To learn more about Ithaca College, visit us at ithaca.edu.

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