Clinical Assistant or Associate Professor of Environmental Science

The Natural Resources and Environmental Science (NRES) Program at Purdue University is seeking a clinical Assistant Professor (12 month, non-tenure track) in Environmental Science, broadly defined.  The purpose of the position is to strategically expand a growing and vibrant NRES Program by providing a greater interdisciplinary perspective to existing NRES classes, developing new course offerings and undergraduate research experiences and potentially supporting an NRES presence within the new Purdue Indianapolis campus. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in environmental science and education using best-practice pedagogy. 

NRES is an interdisciplinary, undergraduate program within the College of Agriculture at Purdue University, that is housed within the Office of Academic Programs. It is governed by a Program Director with a 50% appointment in NRES, and a Governance Board of faculty representatives from around the College that are not supported by the Program. The successful candidate will have an appointment fully to the NRES program with opportunity to engage with other Departments in the College of Agriculture, including, but not limited to Forestry and Natural Resources, Horticulture and Landscape Architecture or Agronomy, based on the successful candidate’s experience and educational background.  Promotion will be determined by a primary committee to be convened by the Senior Associate Dean and Director of Academic Programs

Specific responsibilities of this position will include teaching AGR 12200 Intro. to Natural Resources and Environmental Science and NRES 42000 Environmental Internship Reporting and co-teaching NRES 49700 Current Topics in Environmental Science and NRES 33800 Environmental Field Skills.  In addition, the successful candidate will develop at least one new course to enhance the current NRES curriculum, in the area of sustainability, ecology, life cycle analysis and/or carbon footprints, depending on expertise.   Additional responsibilities include support of professional development initiatives for the NRES program, which may include participation in the NRES Ambassador program, facilitation of undergraduate research experiences and development of a student chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society and other relevant professional organizations, engaging with the NRES Affiliated Faculty (Governance Board) and others in support of the NRES Program. The potential exists for teaching distance courses.  The position will work closely with the NRES Director and Senior Associate Dean and Director of Academic Programs.

The Program: NRES was established in 1970 to offer a flexible science-based B.S. degree that includes coursework in the Colleges of Agriculture, Science, Engineering, and Liberal Arts. NRES is a truly interdisciplinary curriculum with academic offerings encouraged from throughout the University. The program combines broad environmental knowledge and technical competency, with understanding of the economic, policy and human factors of environmental management. It has been a magnet within the College of Agriculture for the nontraditional agriculture student and has attracted many students who began their studies in other disciplines, such as biology, engineering or liberal arts. The program currently supports approximately 190 undergraduate students.

The College: The NRES Program is an integral part of the College of Agriculture, one of the world’s leading colleges of agricultural, food, life, and natural resource sciences and ranked fifth in the world in the 2023 QS World University Rankings. The College is deeply committed to the three land-grant missions (teaching, research, and extension), to international activities and perspectives that span all missions, and to excellence in all we do. The College of Agriculture and the NRES Program are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Our leadership, faculty, staff, and students are engaged in many efforts that are consistent with this commitment.  The College has 11 academic departments in addition to the NRES program, and includes 309 faculty, 2889 undergraduate students, and 700 graduate students. The College’s current strategic plan can be accessed at Strategic Plan .

Qualified candidates must have a Ph.D. in environmental science, natural resources or a related environmental discipline. Degree requirements must be satisfied by the start of the appointment.

Candidates should have demonstrated effective teaching using best-practice pedagogy, potential for scholarly publications, and strong communication skills. Candidates should have knowledge of and experience with signature areas of the NRES program, including natural resource social science, planning, watershed management, sustainability science, ecosystem restoration or remediation.

Interested applicants must submit an application packet that includes a cover letter that speaks to the candidate’s qualifications for and interests in the position with contact information, a curriculum vitae that includes a summary of academic and other professional experiences, a statement of Teaching Philosophy including teaching research interests and the names and contact information for three professional references. All materials must be combined into one pdf and submitted electronically via the provided link. Review of applications will begin on March 1, 2024, and continue until a suitable candidate is identified. Address questions to the chair of the search committee, Dr. Laura Bowling ([email protected] ). A background check will be required for employment in this position.

Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.