Assistant Professor: Indigenous and Community Perspectives on Land, Ecosystem, and Cultural Stewardship

Oregon State University, United States

Updated: 27 days ago
Location: Corvallis, OREGON
Deadline: 31 Mar 2024

Position Details
Position Information


Department Forest Ecosyst & Society (FOR)
Position Title Assistant Professor
Job Title Assistant Professor: Indigenous and Community Perspectives on Land, Ecosystem, and Cultural Stewardship
Appointment Type Academic Faculty
Job Location Corvallis
Benefits Eligible Full-Time, benefits eligible
Remote or Hybrid option? Yes
Job Summary
The Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society in the College of Forestry invites applications for a full-time (1.00 FTE), 9-month, tenure-track, Assistant Professor – Indigenous and Community Perspectives on Land, Ecosystem, and Cultural Stewardship position.
Appointment at the Assistant Professor rank is anticipated; however, higher rank may be considered depending upon the qualifications of the successful candidate.
Any hiring at the rank of Associate Professor/Professor with indefinite tenure will be subject to a successful out-of-cycle tenure review process: https://facultyaffairs.oregonstate.edu/out-cycle-tenure-review-procedure .
We seek an individual with a research area grounded in Indigenous knowledge, with fluency in ethnobotany and/or ethnoecology, particularly as related to forest ecosystems. Candidates should ideally have expertise in the relationship between Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous sovereignty rights and public policy, and the relationships among Indigenous and local, community, and academic knowledge systems. Ideally, the faculty member in this position would seek to bridge the gap and explore the coexistence among diverse knowledge approaches.
The successful candidate will be expected to:
  • Maintain an externally funded research program that centers on Indigenous and community perspectives on land, ecosystem, and cultural stewardship. This research could encompass areas such as IK, ethnobotany, ethnoecology, and Indigenous Sovereignty Rights. The faculty member will contribute to the growing body of knowledge on how Indigenous Peoples and communities perceive, value, interact with, and steward their environments; offering insights into sustainable land and cultural stewardship practices and climate change adaptation strategies.
  • Teach undergraduate and graduate courses that incorporate Indigenous and community perspectives on land, ecosystem, and cultural stewardship. Courses may cover topics such as environmental justice, Indigenous rights and institutions, political ecology, public policy, and the interface between IK and Western science, sometimes referred to “Two-Eyed Seeing.” The faculty member should inspire students to engage critically with diverse knowledge systems and foster an inclusive learning environment.
  • Partner and collaborate closely with Indigenous communities and local/rural stakeholders in their research and teaching endeavors. Building strong partnerships based on mutual respect and reciprocity, the faculty member will work together with communities to address pressing environmental challenges and support community efforts in sustainable land and natural resource stewardship.
  • Advise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students, particularly those from Indigenous and underrepresented backgrounds. The faculty member will support students’ academic and professional growth, encouraging students to pursue research aligned with their passions and cultural backgrounds.
  • Actively participate in departmental, college, and university service initiatives to advance FES’s and COF’s mission and objectives.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice (DEIJ) issues in all aspects of academic and professional life. This includes promoting an inclusive and welcoming environment for students, staff, and faculty from diverse backgrounds and perspectives and helping build allyships across cultures.


OSU commits to inclusive excellence by advancing equity and diversity in all that we do. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.
Why OSU?
Working for Oregon State University is so much more than a job!
Oregon State University is a dynamic community of dreamers, doers, problem-solvers and change-makers. We don’t wait for challenges to present themselves — we seek them out and take them on. We welcome students, faculty and staff from every background and perspective into a community where everyone feels seen and heard. We have deep-rooted mindfulness for the natural world and all who depend on it, and together, we apply knowledge, tools and skills to build a better future for all.
FACTS:
• Top 1.4% university in the world
• More research funding than all public universities in Oregon combined
• 1 of 3 land, sea, space and sun grant universities in the U.S.
• 2 campuses, 11 colleges, 12 experiment stations, and Extension programs in all 36 counties
• 7 cultural resource centers that offer education, celebration and belonging for everyone
• 100+ undergraduate degree programs, 80+ graduate degrees plus hundreds of minor options and certificates
• 35k+ students including more than 2.3k international students and 10k students of color
• 217k+ alumni worldwide
• For more interesting facts about OSU visit: https://oregonstate.edu/about
Locations:
Oregon State has a statewide presence with campuses in Corvallis and Bend, the OSU Portland Center and the Hatfield Marine Science Center on the Pacific Coast in Newport.
Oregon State’s beautiful, historic and state-of-the-art main campus is located in one of America’s best college towns. Corvallis is located close to the Pacific Ocean, the Cascade mountains and Oregon wine country. Nestled in the heart of the Willamette Valley, this beautiful city offers miles of mountain biking and hiking trails, a river perfect for boating or kayaking and an eclectic downtown featuring local cuisine, popular events and performances.
Total Rewards Package:

Oregon State University offers a comprehensive benefits package with benefits eligible positions that is designed to meet the needs of employees and their families including:
• Medical, Dental, Vision and Basic Life. OSU pays 95% of premiums for you and your eligible dependents.
• Free confidential mental health and emotional support services, and counseling resources.
• Retirement savings paid by the university.
• A generous paid leave package, including holidays, vacation and sick leave.
• Tuition reduction benefits for you or your qualifying dependents at OSU or the additional six Oregon Public Universities.
• Robust Work Life programs including Dual Career assistance resources, flexible work arrangements, a Family Resource Center, Affinity Groups and an Employee Assistance Program.
Future and current OSU employees can use the Benefits Calculator to learn more about the full value of the benefits provided at OSU.
Key Responsibilities
50% – Research/Scholarship:
Conduct research and scholarship on Indigenous and Community Perspectives on Land, Ecosystem, and Cultural Stewardship. Develop, manage, and maintain an active, externally funded program of nationally and internationally recognized research and scholarship. Synthesize and communicate results of this research through outlets including refereed journals, books and book chapters, scientific meetings, professional workshops, and other outlets. Build research partnerships and allyships across cultures. Supervise Graduate Assistants and other research faculty as needed.
30% – Instruction/Teaching/Mentoring:
Teach approximately three, academic-quarter courses per year. Teaching assignments may be adjusted to reflect College of Forestry needs, including on-campus and online (E-campus) instruction. Recruit, supervise, support, mentor, and serve as major advisor for 2–4 Master’s and/or PhD students. Mentor undergraduate students and provide opportunities for their involvement in conducting research to help foster professional development and placement.
10% – Outreach:
Participate in the larger OSU effort on behalf of COF to develop socially just research partnerships with Tribal Nations that include co-stewardship.
10% – Service:
Participate annually in departmental, college, and university level affairs and governance; including leadership in curriculum and program development. Serve as a mentor to other faculty and staff in the department. Service is also expected in support of industry, academic organizations, facilitating student-industry interface and other professional groups and associations.
What You Will Need
  • An earned PhD by the start of the appointment with a focus on Indigenous Knowledge, ethnobotany, ethnoecology, Indigenous sovereignty rights and public policy, or related field – particularly as related to forest ecosystems.
  • Demonstrated potential to effectively teach undergraduate and graduate level courses (online and in-person) and mentor students.
  • Demonstrated potential for developing and managing an active research program in Indigenous Knowledge on land, ecosystem, and cultural stewardship. For example, potential to write proposals for competitively funded grants and securing research funds.
  • Demonstrated potential to conduct effective research as evidenced by published work in refereed journals, books, book chapters, or other forms of scholarship.
  • Evidence of effective interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal) enabling collaboration with a broad spectrum of students, teachers, researchers, industrial professionals, stakeholder groups, and Tribal Nations.
  • Experience working directly with Tribal Nations on natural resource sustainability and cultural stewardship, and STEM programs.
  • Life experiences, training, and/or education that demonstrates a commitment to promoting DEIJ.


This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.
This position requires driving a university vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the university; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver’s license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions as per University Policy 05-030.
What We Would Like You to Have
  • Research or work experience in evaluating and bridging the gap between diverse knowledge approaches; including IK and Western scientific approaches, sometimes called “Two-Eyed Seeing.”
  • Positive experience mentoring students, postdocs, and/or peers.
  • Experience with online or alternative teaching modalities.
  • Evidence of potential to develop an externally funded research program.
  • Evidence of direct experience working with Pacific Northwest Tribal Nations.
Working Conditions / Work Schedule
  • Travel may be required for research, teaching, and outreach.
  • Field research may require working outdoors in uneven and rugged terrain to collect field data or samples.
  • Work schedule and location are flexible to meet the requirements of active research projects.
  • Remote work is permissible.
Pay Method Salary
Pay Period 1st through the last day of the month
Pay Date Last working day of the month
Recommended Full-Time Salary Range Salary is commensurate with education, skills, and experience.
Link to Position Description
https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/position_descriptions/149153

Posting Detail Information


Posting Number P07714UF
Number of Vacancies 1
Anticipated Appointment Begin Date 09/16/2024
Anticipated Appointment End Date
Posting Date 01/25/2024
Full Consideration Date 03/15/2024
Closing Date 03/31/2024
Indicate how you intend to recruit for this search Competitive / External - open to ALL qualified applicants
Special Instructions to Applicants
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by March 15, 2024. Applications will continue to be accepted after the full consideration date, until a sufficient applicant pool has been achieved or the position is filled. The closing date is subject to change without notice to applicants.
When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:
1) A Curriculum Vitae; and
2) A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position.
3) Transcripts: Transcripts must be submitted for all required and/or related courses. All courses must be from accredited colleges, universities, or private vocational schools. The online application system will allow you to attach your transcripts if the PDF file is 9MB or less. Transcripts must be received by the closing date. If you have trouble uploading your transcripts, reach out to the contact listed.
4) Statement of Research
5) Statement of Teaching
You will also be required to submit the names of at least three professional references, their e-mail addresses and telephone numbers as part of the application process.
For additional information please contact:
Michael Nelson
[email protected]
OSU commits to inclusive excellence by advancing equity and diversity in all that we do. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.
OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.
OSU is a fair chance employer committed to inclusive hiring. We encourage applications from candidates who bring a wide range of lived experience including involvement with the justice system. This job has “critical or security-sensitive” responsibilities. If you are selected as a finalist, your initial job offer will be contingent upon the results of a job-related pre-employment check (such as a background check, motor vehicle history check, sexual misconduct reference check, etc.). Background check results do not automatically disqualify a candidate. Take a look at our Background Checks website including the for candidates section for more details. If you have questions or concerns about the pre-employment check, please contact OSU’s Employee and Labor Relations team at [email protected] .

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