Assistant Professor in Science, Environment, and Risk Communication

Assistant Professor

Focus:
Science, Environment, and Risk Communication Department of Communication, Cornell University

Position:
Assistant Professor, Tenure-track.

Location:

Ithaca, NY. The academic home for this position is the Department of Communication, in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, housed on the Ithaca campus of Cornell University.

The Department of Communication (COMM) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University is seeking a highly collaborative scholar to conduct research and teach in the areas of science and/or risk communication. Our new colleague will join a Cohort Faculty Hire in Creating a Climate-Resilient Future.

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Roadmap to 2050 identifies Transdisciplinary Moonshots - opportunities for the College to collaborate on future-focused, cross-disciplinary scientific breakthroughs and to align research, education, and extension programs for greater impact and stronger connectivity. The Moonshot areas build upon core strengths in CALS, spanning the agricultural, environmental, life, and social sciences, with the goal of recruiting 27 faculty into the College over the next three years.

The CALS Roadmap to 2050 spearheads the "solutions century" by collaborating across the university, our network of partners, and diverse communities to coalesce around the world's leading challenges. We connect across all of New York state and the world to enliven our innovation ecosystem, connecting local to global programs in the form of new collaborations and basic discoveries.

This hiring cohort will advance the CALS Transdisciplinary Moonshot in Creating a Climate Resilient Future. Research in the cohort will unite existing transdisciplinary strengths at Cornell with critical new competencies to help navigate transitions to climate-resilient futures in three interdependent domains: renewable energy, sustainable cities, and agri-food systems. For this position, we are seeking applications for a 9-month, full-time tenure-track position at the assistant professor level for a risk communication scholar.

In addition to this advertised hire, the cohort will include a geospatial analyst, an environmental engineer, a socioecologist, and a landscape architect within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

A track-record of publishing outstanding peer-reviewed scholarship is expected, as is excellence in and commitment to teaching, translation of knowledge, and advising and mentoring of students. We seek a colleague with an outstanding record demonstrating success and promise across all these areas, and who will be supported by and contribute to a vibrant culture of inclusive excellence  successful applicant will conduct research and teach in the areas of risk and/or science communication.

Science and risk communication are related to our environmental and health communication research areas, which are among the Department's core strengths. We welcome innovative and imaginative scholars who approach the study of risk and/or science communication from psychological, sociological, or institutional vantage points using quantitative or mixed methods. Scholars with specific expertise in analysis of public opinion related to scientific, environmental, and health issues are particularly encouraged to apply.

Applicants whose risk communication work also contributes to other core strengths in communication and media studies, information technology, organizations and networks, and/or social justice are similarly encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate will become a part of the inclusive community of scholars y will have the opportunity to join multiple graduate fields across the university, including the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the College of Engineering, and interdisciplinary institutes such as the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability and the Cornell Institute for Digital Agriculture.

Position Responsibilities:

This position has a balanced effort between research (50%) and teaching (50%) on a 9-month academic year basis.

Research (50%):
The successful candidate will be expected to conduct an internationally recognized and externally funded research program to understand risk communication and the holistic impacts of sustainable energy technologies.

Teaching (50%):
The successful candidate will contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching in the department. Communication faculty teach two or three undergraduate and/or graduate courses per academic year (for a total of five courses across four semesters) and advise students in the department's undergraduate and Ph.D. programs. Advising postdocs is also encouraged.

Department Affiliation:
The successful candidate will be a tenure-line faculty member of the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and will be based in the Department of Communication. A mentoring program for new faculty provides guidance and assistance. Mentoring…