Herschel Professorship of Climate Change & Human Health

Clark University School of Climate, Environment, and Society – Hershel Professorship

Location: Worcester, MA
Category: Faculty
Posted On: Fri Dec 12 2025

The newly launched School of Climate, Environment, and Society (CES) at Clark University seeks an academic leader working at the intersection of climate change and human health to enhance and leverage Clark's existing strengths in these areas. As understanding grows of the links between climate change, community vulnerability, and human health, Clark is strengthening its leadership in advancing transdisciplinary research, high‑impact applied work, and experiential learning in climate change, climate resilience, human health, and health equity, with a particular focus on urban areas.

The inaugural Hershel Professorship is an endowed, full‑time, tenure‑eligible Associate or Full Professor appointment, one of two new school‑wide faculty positions associated with the launch of CES. It is designed to foster cross‑departmental collaboration and partnerships that deliver real‑world impact. Disciplinary backgrounds in anthropology, epidemiology, geography, global health, health sciences, public health, and sociology will be considered. The position is meant to foster innovative research, teaching, and community engagement that addresses the complex challenges of the climate and health nexus.

Candidates with a record of applied research that directly informs policy and practice, cross‑disciplinary collaborations, relationships with non‑academic decision makers, and external research and community impacts are particularly desired.

The School of Climate, Environment and Society, launched this year, underscores Clark's deep commitment to preparing societal changemakers and creating innovative learning models that advance a sustainable future. The school builds upon long‑standing expertise and is home to three academic units (Economics, Geography, Sustainability and Social Justice) and two research institutes (the George Perkins Marsh Institute and the Center for Geospatial Analytics).

It houses two Ph.D. programs, five Master's programs, and five undergraduate majors. Comprised of over 50 faculty members in the core departments and a dozen affiliated faculty in Biology and the Environmental Humanities, our robust research portfolio includes funding from a broad spectrum of federal agencies (e.g., NOAA, NIH, NSF), foundations, and non‑profit organizations. The school and university provide a strong collaborative environment for cross‑disciplinary team research and teaching.

All applicants must hold a terminal degree in a relevant field.

Candidates should demonstrate:

• A strong record of scholarly achievement, including top‑tier publications and competitive grant funding.
• A proven track record of mentoring undergraduate and/or graduate students.
• Evidence of leadership in cross‑disciplinary or interdisciplinary collaboration.

We welcome applicants with traditional academic trajectories as well as those with distinguished professional experience in policy, applied research, or related non‑academic settings. Candidates from non‑academic backgrounds should have a professional record commensurate with senior academic rank and may be considered for a Professor of Practice appointment.

The successful candidate will:

• Maintain an active research program in climate change and health.
• Collaborate with cross‑disciplinary research teams on the social, economic, and political dimensions of climate change.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in areas aligned with their expertise.

Expected Hiring Range: $140,000 to $160,000

Pay Transparency Disclosure:
The compensation for this position will be determined based on factors that include available budget, internal equity, and the selected candidate's qualifications, experience, education, and other job‑related credentials. This range represents Clark University's good‑faith estimate of the expected hiring range at the time of posting consistent with Clark's compensation philosophy and internal alignment.

At Clark University we believe that diversity of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds leads to a more innovative and productive work environment. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to join our team and contribute their unique ideas to help us achieve our goals.

Clark University offers a generous benefit package for full- and, if applicable, part‑time employees that include paid time off, generous retirement plan, group health and dental insurance, life insurance, and tuition, along with use of many campus amenities. For a complete list of benefits for eligible employees visit here.

Clark University is an equal‑employment‑opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.