In support of ongoing efforts to enhance research capacity in addressing global challenges of Human-Environment Systems, Boise State University announces a cluster hire of four tenure or tenure track positions. These positions are part of a statewide, NSF-funded, initiative to build expertise in coupled human-environment systems. With Boise State’s new proposed College of Innovation and Design as a home, these candidates will have the opportunity to create a new center focusing on the application of quantitative methods to coupled human-environment systems to answer complex social, science, and engineering questions. The center will weave together biophysical and social science knowledge and skills to develop quantitative approaches and solutions.

Research: Successful candidates will be able to 1) build a highly collaborative research program, 2) secure extramural funding and 3) develop innovative tools to implement and communicate solutions to human-environment systems-level problems.  In addition, the new faculty will have the opportunity to contribute to an existing NSF-funded research effort (NSF Award # IIA-1301792) to better understand how landscapes and associated ecosystem services will evolve under the stressors of population growth and climate change. Diverse perspectives and a strong collaborative environment are goals of this initiative.

Research areas of interest include computational analysis and mathematical modeling to predict changes to ecosystem services; forecasting and scenario building; novel visualization approaches; innovative experimental design and statistical analyses; natural resource policy and management; and spatial landscape ecology at the human-environment interface. Additional areas of interest include: big data processing and analysis; application of high performance computing; innovative data mining and social network analysis; analysis of multi-scale data (space and time) with remote sensing; and environmental science informatics.

Teaching: the successful candidates will develop innovative, scholarly, and collaborative approaches to teaching undergraduate and graduate students. Successful candidates may develop hybridized, flipped, and online class formats as well as short courses and workshops. Courses will be offered through multiple departments and/or the proposed College of Innovation and Design. Teaching responsibilities will be aligned with the candidates' quantitative training and will emphasize the interface of human-environmental sciences. 

We expect to hire faculty with core expertise in both biophysical and/or social sciences with a demonstrated expertise in using  quantitative methods to better understand the interface of human-environment systems as described above. Hires will be made at the Assistant Professor level, with exceptional candidates exhibiting a proven record of excellence in obtaining extramural research funding, scholarly productivity, and teaching being considered for hire at the Associate Professor level.

Minimum Qualifications: PhD, at the time of appointment, in biophysical or social sciences, with an emphasis on quantitative methods and approaches.  

Salary and benefits: Salary is competitive within the Western region and commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus an excellent benefits package is available for eligible employees, for more information visit: http://hrs.boisestate.edu/careers/benefits/ .

If you are interested in this position:  Please submit in one document: a cover letter, CV, contact information for three professional references, and 3 publications as representative sample work. In the cover letter, you should address the following items in this order: 1) your qualifications for this position, especially application of quantitative methods; 2) your capacity to develop an integrated research and education program to solve problems at the interface of human-environmental systems; and 3) evidence and interest in collaboration. Candidates wishing to be considered for employment at the level of Associate Professor should specifically identify so in the cover letter. The document should be e-mailed to innovation@boisestate.edu.  The subject line of the email must start with RA-0014-14

Review of documents will begin November 1, 2014, and will continue until filled.

To learn more about these positions:

Boise State University, powered by creativity and innovation, stands uniquely positioned in the Northwest as a metropolitan research university of distinction:  http://www.boisestate.edu/

The city of Boise offers an exceptional quality of life to its residents:  http://www.boiseidaho.gov/notes-info/boise-list-of-lists/

The College of Innovation and Design:  http://academics.boisestate.edu/college-innovation-design/

The NSF-Funded Research Effort: https://www.idahoecosystems.org/

For more information about the Cluster Hire:  http://coid.boisestate.edu/cluster-hire-in-human-environment-systems/