The Faculty of Forestry and the Faculty of Land & Food Systems enthusiastically seek candidates who identify as Black for two jointly-appointed tenure-track Assistant Professors with an expected start date of July 1, 2024. These two positions are the first of three faculty hires forming the black Faculty Cluster in Food, Forests, and (Bio)Fuels. This opportunity forms part of the University wide Black Faculty Cohort Hiring Initiative.There is an urgent global need to address critical questions on how to sustainably and equitably meet future demands for food, manufactured wood products, and energy, while maintaining biodiversity and ecological functions of our global forests and farmlands. The Faculties of Forestry and Land & Food Systems Black Faculty Cohort Hire in Food, Forests and (Bio)Fuels will take an interdisciplinary approach to understanding these complex socio-ecological challenges and the future of bio-based food and fuel systems. Through our existing interdisciplinary research programs, which include scholars in natural and social sciences, our two faculties are uniquely positioned to contribute meaningfully to addressing the role of bioenergy in meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, this cohort would further the two faculties’ capacity to address SDGs on Affordable and Clean Energy, Climate Action, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Good Health and Well-Being, Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, Life on Land, and Zero Hunger.
The cluster’s interdisciplinary approach will have three pillars focused on ecology, policy, and economics. For the current solicitation, we seek two exceptional candidates for this cluster hire initiative: one in Ecology and one in Policy.
The Ecology position requires a minimum of a PhD or equivalent in any area of ecology, possibly including expertise in agroecology, soil science, microbial ecology and nutrient/carbon cycling, landscape ecology, and biodiversity monitoring across terrestrial, coastal, and freshwater aquatic landscapes.
Consideration may be given to promising applicants who are very near completion of a doctorate degree by the time of the appointment.
Candidates should be creative, innovative scientists, with demonstrated research accomplishments and evidence of commitment to effective teaching. Candidates will be expected to maintain a dynamic externally funded research program, and to take active roles in teaching and the supervision of trainees (undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers). Candidates will be jointly appointed between the Faculty of Forestry and the Faculty of Land & Food Systems. For more information on both the Faculty of Forestry and the Faculty of Land & Food Systems, please see the following links: https://forestry.ubc.ca/ ; https://www.landfood.ubc.ca/
Salary
The expected pay range for these positions is $115k-$135k annually.
The Application Process
Pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights Code, this search will be restricted to qualified Black scholars. We welcome applications from Black scholars who may also identify as Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) Peoples, multi-racial persons, persons with disabilities, women, and/or members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Candidates are invited to self-identify through the Applicant Diversity Survey, which takes approximately two minutes to complete. All questions are voluntary, with an option to decline to answer. Applicants who wish to be considered for this initiative must self identify as ‘Black’ to be considered eligible. All information collected by UBC will remain confidential and any reported data will be in aggregate form shared with the Search Committee co-chairs to track intersectional diversity and support an equitable and meritorious search process.
Applications should be submitted through UBC Career Website. Interested applicants must submit all of the following documents:
● Cover letter
● Current CV including list of publications;
● Research statement (2-3 pages single-spaced) describing your work to date and future plans including any research related to food, forests, and (bio)fuels.
● Statement of teaching interests, approach and philosophy (1-2 pages);
● UBC aspires to promote inclusive excellence by supporting and recognizing efforts to advance equity, diversity and inclusion as well as decolonization (EDID) through the academic and research ecosystem. Provide a brief (1-2 page) statement describing current and future commitments or interests related to EDID. Your comments may relate to lived/living experience, professional work or practice, academic and research activities, and/or community-engagement.
● Long-listed candidates will be asked to arrange for 3 letters of reference to be submitted to the search committee.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority for the position. To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University gathers information about applicants’ status as either a permanent resident of Canada or Canadian citizen. Applicants need not identify country of origin or current citizenship; however, all applications must include one of the following statements:
● Yes, I am a citizen or permanent resident of Canada
● No, I am not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada
Deadline for application is January 15, 2024.
Any inquiries, including for support in submitting your application, may be sent to search administrator Patty Renneckar at patty.renneckar@ubc.ca.
Career Interruptions
UBC acknowledges that certain circumstances may cause career interruptions that legitimately affect an applicant’s record of research achievement. We encourage applicants to note in their applications whether they would like consideration given to the impact of any such circumstances due to health, family, or other similar reasons in order to allow for a fair assessment of their research productivity.
Dual Career Inquiries
UBC is committed to supporting candidates within a dual career household. Inquiries about spousal/partner employment may be directed to the Office of the Provost & Vice President Academic at viceprovost.avpaa@ubc.ca.
Commitment to Accessibility and Accommodations
The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible work environment for all members of its workforce. Within this hiring process we will make efforts to create an accessible process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities).
If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the recruitment and hiring process or form more information and support, please visit UBC’s Center For Workplace Accessibility website at https://hr.ubc.ca/health-and-wellbeing/working-injury-illness-or-disability/centre-workplace-accessibility or contact the Centre at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca.
Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact search administrator Patty Renneckar at patty.renneckar@ubc.ca.
About Vancouver
UBC is located in Vancouver, British Columbia, a dynamic growing urban region of approximately 2.5 million on the west coast of Canada. A gateway to the Pacific Rim, Vancouver is recognized for its quality of life and environment, commitment to sustainability, and is consistently ranked as one of the most diverse cities in Canada, and one of the most livable cities in the world. UBC seeks to recruit and retain a workforce that is representative of Vancouver’s diversity, to maintain the excellence of the University, and to offer students richly varied disciplines, perspectives and ways of knowing and learning.