Working Title: Assistant Professor in Applied Environmental Science and Sustainability (Two Positions)

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Instructional / Teaching Faculty

Position Status: Full-Time

College/Division: College of Integrated Science and Engineering

Department: 100060 - Integrated Science and Technology

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 11/25/2024

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. The university is committed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The Integrated Science and Technology (ISAT) program within the School of Integrated Sciences (SIS) at James Madison University invites applications for two tenure-track or renewable term appointments (RTA) positions, at the Assistant Professor rank, to begin August 2025. SIS is home to undergraduate majors in ISAT, Geography, and Intelligence Analysis; a Cyber Intelligence certificate program; and an international Master of Science in ISAT program with a concentration in Environmental Management and Sustainability. ISAT also supports five environmental minors.

This search is part of a broader SIS-wide initiative with the theme of, “Technology for Resilient Futures.” While these two positions will primarily support the ISAT Environment and Sustainability concentration, integrated activities across SIS are expected. We seek new colleagues with expertise in science and technology, as applied to sustainability, broadly defined. We are particularly interested in those with experience and interests that intersect with sustainable agriculture, natural resources and management, environmental policy, field technologies, and/or waste systems.

The ISAT Program is an ABET-accredited, multidisciplinary, applied science program with roughly 300 undergraduate majors. ISAT prepares graduates with modern problem-solving skills through the strategic integration of technology, natural and social sciences, humanities, and systems thinking. Students in the ISAT program declare a concentration in one of six areas: Applied Biotechnology, Applied Computing, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Industrial & Manufacturing Systems, or Public Interest Technology & Science. Faculty share a commitment to intellectual growth in support of true integration and leveraging their strengths to actualize impactful and socially engaged STEM education and scholarship.

For more information about our School and its programs, please visit: https://www.jmu.edu/cise/sis/

Duties and Responsibilities:

Candidates must demonstrate a strong aptitude and affinity for teaching and mentoring undergraduates and the ability to teach innovative and engaging courses within ISAT. We specifically seek colleagues who can contribute across the school by leveraging applied sustainability science in the context of sociotechnical systems.

A typical teaching load is three courses per semester, equivalent to 60% of a faculty member’s effort, with support for diverse research and scholarship activities. Primary teaching assignments will include courses with an emphasis on global environmental issues, basic chemistry, ecology, and pollution of air, water, and land at the introductory (ISAT 100, 112, and/or 160), intermediate (ISAT 320 and 321) and upper levels (400-level concentration courses). We encourage faculty to propose and develop courses in their specific areas of expertise. We value participation in other SIS programs, and support opportunities to teach courses in Geography, and at the graduate level through MS-ISAT.

Candidates must demonstrate potential to grow and sustain an active scholarly program that provides opportunities for ISAT undergraduates to get involved, aligns with the ISAT model of complex problem-solving, and supports the theme of “Technology for Resilient Futures.” While research interests may focus on any of a wide variety of environmental sub-fields, the candidate should demonstrate experience connecting that research to and collaborating with a broader scholarly community to address large-scale, complex environmental problems.

We are particularly interested in new colleagues specializing in sustainable agriculture; land, water, and/or other natural resources; and/or waste systems. Experience with environmental policy and/or field technologies is preferred, as is an eagerness to engage students in multi-semester undergraduate capstone projects, independent research, and Honors College theses. These projects provide opportunities for diverse teams of students and faculty to explore, develop, and expand scholarly interests. For more information about ISAT capstone projects and examples of past projects, please see: https://www.jmu.edu/cise/isat/research.shtml

Successful candidates will also support the ISAT and University mission of fostering an inclusive environment and removing barriers to participation. All faculty engage in service and leadership activities to support the school, college, and university.

Qualifications:

We encourage candidates with broad environmental training and diverse skill sets to apply. Experience as an environmental professional beyond academia—e.g., industry, consulting, government, or the non-profit sector—is valued, but not required. Candidates must possess one of the following:
• A Ph.D. in an environmentally relevant academic field by August 2025 is required for tenure-track appointments.
• A Master’s degree and significant professional experience in an environmentally relevant field is required for renewable term appointments (RTAs).

Successful candidates must also demonstrate:
• A commitment to engaged learning, innovative pedagogies, continuous improvement, and inclusive practices in the context of undergraduate education and mentoring.
• Ability and enthusiasm to teach a wide variety of courses within the ISAT-Environment and Sustainability concentration, especially, and including foundation level general education courses. Examples of the latter include ISAT 100, 112 and 160. Some of these courses are offered as large sections. More advanced courses include ISAT 320/321 and 400-level concentration courses.
o Preferred teaching qualifications include applying expertise to regional issues and environments, experience with environmental policy and/or field techniques, and the ability to contribute to the Geography or MS-ISAT programs.
• Strong potential for developing an active scholarly program that augments the strengths of the ISAT program and is accessible to a diverse student body.
o Preferred scholarly qualifications include a track-record of external funding and productive research collaborations.
• A strong interest in getting involved with and helping to steer program and unit-level shared governance at all stages of their career.

We are eager to meet candidates who recognize the value of holistic problem-solving and responsible innovation through integration and can contribute to our team in a wide variety of ways. If this is you, please apply!

Additional Posting Information:

The following documents are required for application:
• A cover letter outlining how the candidate’s professional experiences/qualifications align with the job duties/responsibilities and ISAT’s focus on holistic complex problem-solving, and one’s commitment to widening undergraduate student access to STEM education (2 pages maximum)
• Curriculum Vitae
• Statement of teaching philosophy and methods (2 pages maximum)
• Statement of scholarly interests and approach to mentorship (2 pages maximum, uploaded under "Other Document #1")
• Names and contact information for three references, who must be able to address teaching experience and interests

As we build our community, we seek candidates who have a demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment. For more information about the JMU School of Integrated Sciences and its programs, please visit: https://www.jmu.edu/cise/sis/

JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.