Position Summary:

The C.S. Mott Chair of Sustainable Agriculture, the Center for Regional Food Systems, and the Global Center for Food System Innovation at Michigan State University are looking to hire a Research Assistant Professor to help develop a research program in Africa-based city region food systems. The researcher will be expected to work with interdisciplinary research teams to examine the role local and regional food systems can and could play in addressing pressing issues around climate change, food security, fresh water sufficiency, urbanization, and workforce development. We are particularly interested in those who can address the intersection of these issues with city region food systems. This position is initially funded for a three year period pending acceptable performance each year.



Duties:

-Work with the C.S. Mott Chair and Associate Director of GCFSI to develop a research program regarding city region food systems globally:

-mapping regional food flows between adjacent rural areas and cities

-investigating intersection of climate change, fresh water, energy availability, and demographic shifts in selected city regions globally, but especially in Africa

-identifying health, agriculture, food systems linkages

-elucidating potential livelihood/entrepreneurship development as well as opportunity costs of globalization

-Oversee development of reports, peer-reviewed publications and other written documents regarding city region food systems, health/agriculture linkages, and other related topics

-Help develop funding for these research and associated engagement activities

_Develop outreach materials for academic and non-academic audiences

-The successful candidate will be affiliated with both the Center for Regional Food Systems and the Global Center for Food System Innovations
Faculty: Minimum Qualifications Support Staff: Minimum Requirements

Applicants will be evaluated for the following criteria:

-Disciplinary or interdisciplinary Ph.D.; Doctorate degree in appropriate fields with quantitative methodology.

-Broad reading of literature regarding sustainability, resilience, climate change, city region food systems, food system sustainability, food system and public health, fresh water sufficiency

-Quantitative methodologies for city region food system analysis

-Evidence of successful research including publications in peer-reviewed journals;

-Excellent writing and public speaking skills

-Visualization tools for sharing information

-Spatial data collection and mapping

-Academic background can be varied

-Experience working and completing research on the African continent

-Demonstrated interest in collaborative and interdisciplinary research.
Desired Qualifications: