| The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia, seeks applicants for five tenure-track positions at the level of Assistant Professor in the thematic area of restoring and protecting global biodiversity. The Faculty of Science, together with the Faculties of Arts, Forestry, and Land and Food Systems, is sponsoring this unique cluster hire, which builds on existing excellence in this area at UBC. These new hires will join an interdisciplinary research and scholarship team focused on solutions-oriented approaches to biodiversity loss, and its connection to sustainability and adaptive capacity for humanity. For further information see https://biodiversity.ubc.ca/cluster-hire. As part of the cluster, we seek a Conservation and Restoration Scientist to be jointly appointed in the Departments of Botany, and Forest & Conservation Sciences, with opportunities for strong interaction with UBC’s Beaty Biodiversity Museum and Biodiversity Research Centre. Applicants must have completed their Ph.D. degree by June, 2021, show evidence of potential to develop a strong research program, and contribute to teaching and mentoring at graduate and undergraduate levels. In evaluating candidates, we may also consider evidence of leadership within the candidate’s community, contributions to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion, and the social or policy impacts of the candidate’s work. The Conservation and Restoration Scientist will conduct research broadly investigating how to conserve and protect biodiversity, and restore functioning ecosystems in a changing world. Applicants should have an interest in integrating fundamental research on restoring biodiversity, ecosystem functions or adaptive capacity, with applied research on conservation and restoration strategies that involve engagement with communities, industry or governments. Their expertise will be in ecology (including applied ecology), conservation, evolutionary biology, forestry, geography, or related disciplines. We encourage applicants who use a range of empirical or theoretical approaches, applying them to real-world problems from local to global scales, in terrestrial or aquatic ecosystems, and working in plant, animal or fungal systems. The successful candidate will be expected to develop an independent research program and contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching and training, and academic service in their departments. They will also work collaboratively with other members of the Biodiversity Solutions (https://biodiversity.ubc.ca/cluster-hire) team to develop approaches to solving social-ecological challenges related to biodiversity conservation. Applicants should demonstrate a strong interest or experience in conducting collaborative, interdisciplinary work, through existing or proposed research, teaching, leadership, service, community engagement, outreach or other relevant activities. We recognize that candidates may have had diverse trajectories that could include interruptions and leaves, for example related to care-giver responsibilities, and we value this diversity. Applicants should submit: Cover letter (up to 2 pages) that addresses: How your expertise, scholarship and planned research would advance the research vision of the Biodiversity Solutions (https://biodiversity.ubc.ca/cluster-hire) team, How you have demonstrated a strong interest or experience in conducting collaborative, interdisciplinary work, How you have displayed leadership through existing or proposed research, teaching, service, community engagement, outreach, contributions to equity, diversity and inclusion, or other relevant activities. Curriculum vitae. Statement (up to 2 pages) describing your current and proposed research program and showing how your work can connect to understanding of biodiversity or solutions to biodiversity crises. Statement (up to 1 page) of teaching interests and accomplishments, addressing how you could teach core undergraduate courses in the biology and/or forestry program. Statement (up to 1 page) identifying your past contributions to equity, diversity and inclusion, along with their ability to work with a culturally diverse student body (giving specific examples where possible); as well as your philosophy of, and potential future contributions to enhancing equity, diversity and inclusion. Up to three representative publications. Names and contact information for three referees. Equity, inclusion and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We particularly encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Métis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. Applicants will be asked to complete an equity survey. The survey information will not be used to determine eligibility for employment, but will be collated to provide data that can assist us in understanding the diversity of our applicant pool and identifying potential barriers to the employment of designated equity group members. Your participation in the survey is voluntary and confidential. This survey takes only a minute to complete. You may self-identify in one or more of the designated equity groups. You may also decline to identify in any or all of the questions by choosing "not disclosed." All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Review of applications will begin 30th November 2020 and continue until the position is filled. Further Information: The anticipated starting date for positions is July 1, 2021, or as soon as possible thereafter, dependent on immigration and travel restrictions. The UBC Vancouver campus is situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam people. UBC is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top public universities in the world. UBC embraces innovation and challenges to the status quo. UBC is dedicated to ensuring that diversity, equity and inclusion are embedded throughout the university’s academic and work life, recognizing that significant work remains to be accomplished. For example, UBC’s vision is to be a world leader in the implementation of Indigenous people’s human rights and is guided in a mission of reconciliation as articulated and called for by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. It is firmly committed to recruiting Indigenous faculty, students, and staff as outlined in its Indigenous Strategic Plan (https://aboriginal-2018.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2020/09/UBC.ISP_C2V13.1_Spreads_Sept1.pdf). As one of the world's leading universities, UBC creates an exceptional learning environment that fosters global citizenship, advances a civil and sustainable society, and supports outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada and the world. The Botany Department, with 30 research faculty members, is one of the strongest botanical/plant-science-focused departments in North America, offering a wide range of research and educational programs (https://www.botany.ubc.ca/). Specializations range from molecular to biodiversity research. The Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences (https://fcs.forestry.ubc.ca/) has an award winning, multidisciplinary faculty exploring a broad range of human impacts on the natural world, forest resources, ecosystem services, and values that human societies derive from nature. The successful applicant will also join the Biodiversity Research Centre (http://www.biodiversity.ubc.ca/). The centre includes more than 90 faculty across the two UBC campuses (Vancouver and Okanagan) and provides exceptional opportunities to interact with an outstanding and collegial research community, develop strengths in research and graduate teaching, study and contribute to the Beaty Biodiversity Museum's collections (http://beatymuseum.ubc.ca/), and participate in the Museum’s educational programs and outreach efforts. The Beaty Biodiversity Museum comprises a research collection of over 2.1 million natural history specimens over several major collections - Spencer Entomological Collection, Cowan Tetrapod Collection, Fossil Collection, Fish Collection, Marine Invertebrate Collection and the UBC Herbarium, which holds major collections of bryophytes, lichens & fungi, macroalgae and vascular plants. |
Application Materials Required:Submit the following items online at this website to complete your application:
- Cover letter
- Curriculum Vitae
- Research statement
- Teaching statement
- Publication list
- Equity and Diversity Statement
- Three references (no actual letters, just names and email addresses
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Further Info:https://www.botany.ubc.ca/https://fcs.forestry.ubc.ca/ 6270 University Blvd
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4