Department: School of Environment and Natural Resources
Position: Rural Sociology
Rank: Assistant Professor
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Description: Assistant Professor of Rural Sociology
The School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR) at The Ohio State University is seeking an assistant professor of Rural Sociology to begin in Fall 2016. This position is a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track position (70% teaching, 30% research) intended to build capacity in our school’s social science expertise and interdisciplinary work in the areas of development sociology, community sociology, and environmental and natural resource sociology. Preference will be given to candidates with demonstrated expertise and research interest in one or more of the following areas: processes of social change (domestic or international), inequality, food and agriculture, political economy/ecology, rural communities, including resilience and/or adaptation to climate change, and other environmental and natural resource challenges.
The successful candidate will be expected to develop an extramurally-funded and nationally-recognized research program with strong theoretical and methodological grounding and to apply sociological research and theory to real world problems. The candidate will provide both graduate and undergraduate advising and instruction and contribute to professional and university service.
Expectations and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: teach undergraduate course(s) consistent with the undergraduate programs of the School, including responsibility for introduction to rural sociology and other courses focused on community, environment, and development (domestic or international); teach graduate course(s) consistent with the mission and curriculum needs of the School of Environment and Natural Resources graduate program and the Rural Sociology specialization; contribute to the research goals of the School of Environment and Natural Resources and the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; advise undergraduate students, primarily in the Environment, Economy, Development and Sustainability major, as well as graduate students in the Rural Sociology or Environmental Social Science specializations; secure extramural funding and publish in refereed journals and other appropriate venues; work collaboratively with other university faculty/personnel, including on interdisciplinary teams, and with researchers in government agencies, non-government organizations, and citizen groups to advance the land grant mission of the university; serve the university and professional communities through appropriate activities.
Qualifications: The ideal candidate should have an earned doctoral degree in rural sociology or sociology or equivalent. Preferred qualifications include program, teaching, and research experience; experience developing or working with interdisciplinary research teams; and experience in mentoring students from diverse backgrounds and members of historically underrepresented groups. Candidates should include in application materials a statement addressing their experience in these areas, and how they can help us achieve our goals.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: The Ohio State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, disability status, or protected veteran status. The university, the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the School of Environment and Natural Resources are committed to establishing a culturally and intellectually diverse environment and we encourage all members of our learning community to reach their full potential. We are responsive to dual-career families and strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through institutionalized policies. We are an NSF Advance Institution and a member of the Ohio/Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia Higher Education Recruitment Consortium.
Salary/Support: Salary is dependent on qualifications and experience. The Ohio State University offers one of the most comprehensive benefits packages in the nation, which includes medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; tuition authorization; paid vacation and sick leave; ten paid holidays; and State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS) or an Alternative Retirement Program. A start-up package, including discretionary funding, will be provided.
To apply: Send a curriculum vita and a letter of interest summarizing your qualifications, areas of expertise, research interests, teaching philosophy, and career goals. Please include a statement addressing how you match our preferred qualifications and how you can help us achieve our goals. Also include in the application packet digital copies of or links to three relevant publications or professional reports. Provide contact information for three qualified references but do not have letters of recommendation sent until we request that you do so. Application materials (with the exception of letters of recommendation, which will be requested later) should be sent in a single file as an email attachment to: Dr. Cathy A. Rakowski, Search Committee Chair at ENRFacultySearchRuralSoc@osu.edu Initial consideration will be given to applications received by September 30, 2015. Review of applications will continue until the position has been filled.