Environmental and Climate Science Group (ECS Group)

During the 2022-2023 academic year, CLAS will form the Environmental and Climate Science Group (ECS Group). The ECS Group will be a teaching and research collaborative that builds on the established scholarly work of current CLAS faculty, as well as of faculty across Grand Valley State University, to advance creative, convergent, and adaptive solutions to important multi-dimensional regional and global problems. The driving questions for this collaborative are: 

• What do our students need to know and be able to do to navigate the complex challenges caused by climate change?  

• What do the people of Michigan and the other Great Lakes states need from Grand Valley State University to restore and preserve our freshwater resources?  

• How can GVSU contribute to ongoing restoration and preservation of our regional freshwater resources? 

This collaborative creates increased capacity for community partnerships, innovative curriculum design, and the expansion of high-impact experiences for students. Through engagement with the collaborative, students will develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities to solve the increasingly complex scientific and social justice problems of their generation. This approach aligns with several of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) 10 Big Ideas, which drives external funding for scientific research.  

CLAS Cluster Hire in Environmental and Aquatic Restoration and Sustainability

Within the ECS Group, CLAS seeks to form a teaching and research cluster of faculty with expertise in Environmental and Aquatic Restoration and Sustainability. The cluster’s purpose is to bring diverse faculty from multiple disciplines together to focus on issues in Environmental Science with a particular focus on water systems, water resources and aquatic restoration.  

The cluster builds on current strengths and assets across CLAS, including: the R.B. Annis Water Resources Institute; graduate programs in Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology, and Water Resource Policy; undergraduate programs in Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Ecology, Fisheries and Aquatic Science, Geochemistry and Earth Science, Geography and Sustainable Planning, Geology, Green Chemistry, and Natural Resources Management; and the college’s strong commitment to high-impact teaching and learning through lab-based, field-based, and community-based research experiences. 

Drawing on the EAB’s “A Playbook for Effective Cluster Hiring,” our desired outcomes for the cluster include: 

• Addressing the needs of Michigan and the Great Lakes region. 

• Fostering multidisciplinary collaboration across multiple units. 

• Creating high-impact experiences for undergraduate and graduate students. 

• Attracting a more diverse faculty. 

• Enhancing the visibility and reputation of Grand Valley State University in general, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in particular. 

Call for Applications 

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) and the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies (Brooks) at Grand Valley State University are hiring at least five tenure track faculty with expertise related to Environmental Sciences, Aquatic Restoration, Environmental Studies, and Sustainability.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

CLAS seeks to hire a group of at least four tenure track teacher-scholars for a teaching and research cluster that will focus on Environmental and Aquatic Restoration and Sustainability. The cluster’s purpose is to bring diverse faculty from multiple disciplines together to focus on issues in Environmental Science with a focus on water systems, water resources, and aquatic restoration. Faculty will build on the established scholarly work of current CLAS faculty, as well as of faculty across Grand Valley State University, to advance creative, convergent, and adaptive solutions to important multi-dimensional regional and global problems.

CLAS values a teacher-scholar model that supports success for both undergraduates and graduate students. We are seeking candidates with a strong commitment to equity and inclusion and an interest in project-based, problem-based, experiential and/or interdisciplinary teaching, course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students in research.

Required Qualifications and Education:

• Ph.D. preferred and ABD candidate will be considered for a two-year contract with provision that the Ph.D. must be completed by December 2023;
• Demonstrated potential for successful college-level teaching and research;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, such as the ability to interact with others with respect, empathy, and cultural humility;
• Creativity and flexibility;
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and access. This could include experience with inclusive pedagogies; research relating to marginalized populations or social inequality; engagement with community-based social justice work; and other forms of DEI-infused teaching, scholarship and service.

Responsibilities: Duties each semester typically include a 9-credit hour teaching load, baseline scholarship and service, and a significant focus (equivalent to 3 credit hours) of additional responsibilities in teaching, scholarship, and/or service depending on the candidate's interests and the department’s needs.

How to Apply: A complete application must include: (1) a cover letter addressing qualifications and your interest in and potential contribution to the cluster (2) curriculum vitae, (3) teaching philosophy, (4) a statement that describes ongoing and anticipated activities to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in teaching, research/creative activity, and service, with particular attention to experiences engaging and supporting a diverse student body, (5) contact information of three professional references, and (6) graduate transcripts (unofficial issued to students are acceptable to apply). Apply online at Open Positions - GVSU Jobs - Grand Valley State University and select “Apply now”. The online application will allow applicants to attach these documents electronically. Applicants selected for interviews will be required to submit official transcripts prior to the interview. If you need assistance, call Human Resources at 616331-2215.  Email questions about the position to [email protected].

Application Deadline:  The review process will begin November 15, 2022. Applications received past this date will be considered until the positions are filled. The posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University