Assistant or Associate Professor of Environmental Law and Policy

Job Description

Virginia Tech’s Urban Affairs and Planning Program in the School of Public and International Affairs, in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences invites applicants for a 9-month research, teaching, and service tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant or Associate Professor rank in the area of environmental law and policy as part of a campus wide Invasive Species Destination Area cluster hire located on the Blacksburg, Virginia, campus.

We seek candidates whose research focuses on environmental policy or law and whose scholarship is in a domain that does or could include invasive species.

The ideal candidate’s work may draw on a range of disciplinary and methodological approaches.

Teaching responsibilities may include undergraduate and graduate courses in environmental law; environmental policy; science-policy interactions;

planning law; and invasive species law, policy, and management. It is anticipated that courses delivered by the successful candidate will be of interest to students across Virginia Tech.

The candidate will have the opportunity to develop new elective courses at the intersections of invasive species, law, policy, management, the environment and sustainability, and social justice and equity.

The candidate is also expected to contribute to Virginia Tech’s +Policy Network and its Science, Technology & Engineering in Policy (STEP) program.

We are especially interested in applicants whose scholarly work includes demonstrated collaboration with historically marginalized communities and who can help to advance the ISWG’s efforts to address justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The individual will be a core member of Virginia Tech’s Invasive Species Destination Area. This is a university-wide initiative to foster growth in transdisciplinary research to develop solutions to a complex global problem of invasive species that directly or indirectly impacts the lives or livelihoods of people, costing the global economy in excess of $1 trillion annually.

This position is part of a cluster hire that includes faculty in environmental law and public policy, technology development, predictive modeling, and research and extension.

The successful candidate is expected to leverage the expertise of the Invasive Species Destination Area community at Virginia Tech and engage in team science with associated faculty.

The individual will also have the opportunity to contribute to the development of a center of excellence focusing on invasive species science, technology, management, outreach, and policy.

Required Qualifications

• JD or PhD in public policy, law, or related discipline.
• Demonstrated scholarly achievement and ability to work across multiple disciplines and topical areas in environmental policy or law.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct and present original research related to environmental policy or law in peer-reviewed and internationally recognized journals.
• Demonstrated experience or potential for team science collaborations, including academics in other disciplines, state or federal agencies, NGOs, and / or private industry.
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in teaching and research.

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise with invasive species policy and research.
• Experience developing and delivering courses related to environmental law or environmental policy.
• A track record of societal impact through a strong research program and research results that inform both scholarly discourse and practice.
• Demonstrated record of research and / or teaching addressing needs of under-represented communities, including racial, ethnic, and religious minorities, immigrants, those with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Application Materials

Applicants should submit a cover letter that addresses : (1) their current and future research agendas, including vis-à-vis invasive species;

2) an overview of their teaching experience and qualifications; and (3) how they can support Virginia Tech’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Applicants should describe how their teaching, service, and research has supported the success of students and / or colleagues;

and / or describe the impact others have had on them as relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, complete applications must include : a full curriculum vitae, two samples of written work, and names and contact information for three references.

Questions about the position should be directed to the search committee chair : Todd Schenk (). The search will remain open until the position is filled, but to be assured full consideration, completed applications should be received by March 15, 2024.

Questions about the online application process should be directed to Ms. Kelly Crist, SPIA Faculty Search Assistant, , phone : (540) 231-2291.

Appointment Type

Regular

Review Date

March 15, 2024

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About the Urban Affairs and Planning Program (UAP)

UAP is one of three academic units in the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) in Virginia Tech’s College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

The other programs are Public Administration and Policy (CPAP) and Government and International Affairs (GIA). The academic programs are accompanied by the Institute of Policy and Governance (IPG).

UAP operates at the main campus in Blacksburg and at the National Capital Region campus in Arlington, Virginia. This position will be located at the Blacksburg campus, in-person.

For more information on SPIA and UAP see , and .

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers.

A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity.

The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight , a , a college, , and .

The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke;

sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous and . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Kelly Crist at