Multiple Searches for Open Rank Positions Environmental Science and Resource Stewardship Faculty
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) will emerge in 2015 by combining the existing University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) and University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB), and adding a new school of medicine. This transformation will elevate our strong intellectual and research foundation in the environmental sciences into a self-sustained, world-class research enterprise integrating environmental, water, and energy components across the lower Rio Grande Valley. To further develop this program, the University of Texas System has implemented the Rio Grande Valley Initiative, which seeks to fill multiple open-rank faculty positions (Job Vacancy F13:14-066). This cluster of faculty, supported through the STAR (Science and Technology Acquisition and Retention) program, will focus on the ecologically and economically important water systems of the Rio Grande, the Lower Laguna Madre, and the Texas Gulf of Mexico coast. The subtropical Rio Grande Valley and delta region encompass a remarkable resource that includes coastal, climatological, geological, transborder political, and socioeconomic interfaces. We wish to establish a collaborative consortium of research-intensive faculty to model and understand the complex interactions between human elements and natural environments that affect population growth and available resources of this unique semi-tropical setting. This is an open-rank search for candidates with exceptional research track records. Applicants should have established vigorous research programs in a relevant field and experience in securing nationally competitive external research funding. We are dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment and strongly encourage applications from minorities, women, and dual-career couples. Highly competitive salary and start-up funds will be provided commensurate with experience and research potential. We are especially interested in faculty with expertise in one or more of the disciplines detailed below. 1. Hydrology and Resources Management - Apply numerical modeling, GIS, and multi-scale sensor networks for hydro-environmental analysis. Experience with surface water issues and hydrologic modeling in semi-arid and water-stressed regions is preferred, including methods to augment drinking water supplies such as seawater and brackish groundwater desalination, water reuse, and/or water conservation/efficiency; 2. Ecosystem Services Valuation - Develop a research program focused on the integration and valuation of ecosystem function, products, and services into the decision-making processes of conservation, water management, balanced growth, energy conservation, and policy development. Areas of specialization may include natural resource damage assessment, cost-benefit analyses of environmental restoration, applied policy research, and impacts of energy production and urbanization on coastal environments. The successful candidate will develop an integrative research agenda for the Lower Rio Grande delta region of South Texas and northeast Mexico; 3. Ecosystem Process Modeling - Conduct marine, terrestrial, and freshwater ecological process analyses, provide statistical and analytical support to cluster activities, and develop and maintain a database for advanced spatial analyses of ecosystem processes; 4. Coastal Climate Change Modeling - Develop a research program that investigates climate change impacts on coastal systems including regional climate and weather effects on coastal area ecosystems and coastal processes. Research areas could include modeling of hydrodynamics and biogeochemistry of estuary and coastal waters, water quality and harmful algal blooms, human development impacts on coastal wetlands and near-coastal water resources; 5. Environmental Policy Analysis - Research should be focused around conservation and management of natural resources and ecosystem services at local, and/or national, and/or global scales, which are influenced, by the design, recommendation, implementation, and success of policy decisions. Should have an interest in exploring one or more of the following: water conservation and management challenges, resource valuation, trans-boundary issues, climate change, water-energy nexus, and policy analysis; and 6. Geospatial Analysis - Apply remote sensing, GIS and geostatistics to conduct research on the use of novel geospatial technologies in landscape analysis, as well as to support those needs of the cluster. These positions provide unique opportunities for the successful candidates to focus upon developing the impact of their research program, teach advanced undergraduate and graduate courses, and mentor undergraduate and graduate students. The successful candidates will be encouraged to develop courses in their area of interest. The subtropical Lower Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is a region of rapid population growth and unusual physical, chemical and biological diversity. The RGV is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico on the east, the Rio Grande on the south, and includes a variety of unusual and diverse biomes westward. Current combined student enrollment (UTB and UTPA) is over 30,000 students and the System is developing initiatives that will make this the premier research institution in South Texas. Successful candidates will have access to resources and facilities at both universities (which include a coastal laboratory and supercomputing facilities). An extensive coastal campus is in the planning stage and will provide opportunities for research in the Gulf of Mexico, Laguna Madre and Rio Grande delta. To apply, please visit our career portal at http://careers.utpa.edu. Applicants should address their ability to work collaboratively and their commitment to supporting the excellence of all students on campus. Applications require a cover letter of interest stating the Job Vacancy Number, a CV, statement of research interests, description of external funding record, and contact information for three references. Please do not send publication reprints. Evaluations of applications will begin immediately and will continue until filled. Position is pending budget approval. Incomplete applications will not be considered. UTB and UTPA are Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employers. Women, minorities, veterans, and qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. This position is security-sensitive as defined by the Texas Education Code §51.215 (c) and Texas Government Code §411.094 (a) (2). All UTB and UTPA employees are required to have a criminal background check (CBC). CBCs will be conducted of all candidates invited to campus. Texas law requires faculty members whose primary language is not English to demonstrate proficiency in English as determined by a satisfactory paper-based test score of 500 (computer-based of 173 or internet-based of 61) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a satisfactory test score of 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). For more information please see http://www.utsystem.edu/news/topics/project-south-texas/about and http://www.utsystem.edu/offices/academic-affairs/rio-grande-valley-initiative (scroll down about half way to Valley STARs section). The UT System is supporting this effort with generous salaries, start-up packages and light teaching loads. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions. ************************************************************** Christopher M. Taylor, Ph.D. Professor Department of Biology University of Texas-Pan American Edinburg, TX 78539 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 2015 Phone: 956-665-3758 Cell: 806-786-2788
