Research Assistant Professor

Job Title Research Assistant Professor Position Number 600196 Vacancy Open to All Candidates Department AAH Department of Coastal Studies Department Homepage https://coastal.ecu.edu/coastalstudies/ Advertising Department COASTAL STUDIES, DEPT OF Division Academic Affairs Classification Title Research Asst Professor Working Title Research Asst Professor Number of Vacancies 1 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) 1.0 Full Time or Part Time Full Time Anticipated Recruitment Range. Salary offered may be outside of this range as impacted by budget, UNC salary administration, and/or candidate qualifications. $70,000 Position Location (City) Wanchese Position Type Faculty (Research) Job Category Faculty (Teaching) Organizational Unit Overview

The Department of Coastal Studies (DCS) in East Carolina University's Integrated Coastal Programs is looking to hire a research assistant professor into a non-tenure-track faculty position at its Outer Banks campus, with an expected start date in August 2024 for the 2024-2025 Academic Year with an initial 2-year appointment.

This position is part of a major ECU investment in research and teaching programs focused on coastal and marine environments. We seek a creative and rigorous scholar interested in working across disciplinary boundaries to shed light on complex problems resulting from the interaction of people and the natural environment. Although this is a research-focused position, we seek an innovative teacher to participate in the department's interdisciplinary PhD program and act as a student mentor.

The successful candidate will be expected to build a strong externally funded research program. This includes developing research collaborations and synergistic activities with other faculty members of DCS, ECU, partner institutions, and other universities and research agencies and organizations. The position will be located at ECU's Outer Banks Campus on Roanoke Island.

East Carolina University has restructured its coastal enterprise, aligning research on its Greenville, NC campus with the expansion of the Outer Banks campus, the Coastal Studies Institute, near Manteo, NC. These changes result from an expanded institutional recognition that ocean margins are critical coastal regions of the Earth where continents and oceans interact, and they are measurably changing in response to societal impacts and natural variability.

Approximately 40% of the global population lives within 100 km of the shore. The significance of margins to coastal residents and other ecosystems is enormous.

A centerpiece of this coastal commitment is the Department of Coastal Studies (DCS) formation in 2018. DCS coordinates and enhances research communities across ECU's Greenville campuses, the coastal campus, and our partner institutions.

The existing DCS faculty are a mix of scholars with a wide variety of social, natural science, and engineering backgrounds that tackle interdisciplinary coastal problems. DCS also provides ECU a point of contact to expand its leadership role in addressing interdisciplinary coastal and marine issues. Existing DCS faculty are thought leaders across various disciplines, including geography, engineering, geology, oceanography, marine science, human dimensions of fisheries, hydrology, ocean energy, and anthropology.

The Coastal Studies Institute (CSI), where the Outer Banks campus is housed, is a growing inter-institutional research and education enterprise, engaged in innovative and applied coastal and marine research and situated on a scenic new waterfront campus on Roanoke Island. CSI leads the NC Renewable Energy Program and is a partner in the creation of the Atlantic Marine Energy Center, a Department of Energy national center focused on powering the Blue Economy.

CSI has established strong partnerships with the USACE Field Research Facility, National Park Service, and the US Fish & Wildlife Service. CSI also has an ongoing relationship with NC Aquariums' Jennette's Pier, located just five miles apart. CSI and the pier operate a renewable ocean energy testing site with direct access to the nearshore for research and education. The proximity and a set of existing relationships across our partners provide an opportunity to leverage established nearshore and coastal data resources, a real-time coastal processes numerical modeling framework, and data management and dissemination infrastructure.

The Outer Banks is one of the world's premier ocean and water sports locations, and northeastern North Carolina houses a remarkable collection of marine and terrestrial ecosystems and wildlife. This position is an opportunity to be part of an exciting and dynamic new enterprise in a unique environment.

Job Duties

The Department of Coastal Studies (DCS) at East Carolina University invites applications for a full-time (9-month) Research Assistant Professor to work on coastal ecological and sediment studies at the Coastal Studies Institute (CSI). Working closely with DCS and CSI faculty, the Research Assistant Professor will be responsible for conducting research, serving as Principal or Co-Principal Investigator on extramural grants, supervising research and operation staff, publishing findings in peer-reviewed journals, building partnerships, and engaging stakeholders. The candidate will help to support and grow the geographical (i.e., GIS, remote sensing, GPS, UAVs) and eco-geological (i.e., salt marsh/mangrove/estuarine processes) monitoring capabilities within the Integrated Coastal Programs. These include, but are not limited to topographic, bathymetric, and wetland surveying, satellite/drone image processing, wetland ecosystem resilience monitoring, sedimentation, and water quality and nutrient analyses.

Additionally, the candidate will be encouraged to mentor Integrated Coastal Sciences students, involve ICS students in their research, and teach an occasional course should funding and opportunity arise. The successful candidate will have the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, and community partners from diverse backgrounds.

The initial appointment is for two years and supported by extramural grants. After two years, the appointment is renewable in variable increments based on performance and success garnering research grant funding.

The Research Assistant Professor will be expected to develop an extramurally funded research team and fully support their research by the end of the academic year 2026. Contingent upon availability of funds.

Minimum Education/Experience

PhD in environmental science, geosciences, marine science, hydrology, or related field with postdoctoral training

Knowledge of coastal ecosystem processes (i.e., wetlands, dunes, nearshore)

Experience with geographic, remote sensing, and field-based ecological monitoring approaches

Teaching and student mentoring experience

Strong communication, team building, and leadership skills

Demonstration of organizational skills with the ability to work effectively in teams. Additionally, working independently to produce reports and publish research results in peer-reviewed journals is required.

License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation

None

Preferred Experience, Skills, Training/Education

5+ years of related research and professional experience

Demonstrated experience with Atlantic coastal monitoring and processes.

Record of successful grant writing and peer-reviewed publications

Special Instructions to Applicant

Applicants should include the following materials in their applications: A cover letter indicating the reasons for interest in the position, a current Curriculum Vitae, and the names of three references.

Referenced individuals will only be contacted for the applicants who are among the final group of 3 to 4 applicants. Review of applications will begin on June 17, 2024 and continue until the position is filled.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Additional Instructions to Applicant

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must complete a candidate profile online via the PeopleAdmin system and submit any requested documents. Additionally, applicants that possess the preferred education and experience must also possess the minimum education/experience, if applicable.

Job Open Date 05/30/2024 Open Until Filled Yes Job Close Date - Positions will be posted until 11:59 p.m. EST on this date.

If no closing date is indicated, the position may close at any time after the initial screening date.

Initial Screening Begins 06/17/2024 Rank Level Assistant Professor Quick Link for Direct Access to Posting https://ecu.peopleadmin.com/postings/71498 AA/EOE

East Carolina University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer and seeks to create an environment that fosters the recruitment and retention of a more diverse student body, faculty, staff and administration. We encourage qualified applicants from women, minorities, veterans, individuals with a disability, and historically underrepresented groups. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race/ethnicity, color, genetic information, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, political affiliation, or veteran status.

Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) should contact the Department of Human Resources at (252) 737-1018 (Voice/TTY) or ADA-Coordinator@ecu.edu.

Eligibility for Employment

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks.

ECU participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Office of Human Resources Contact Information

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (252) 328-9847 or toll free at 1-866-489-1740 or send an email to employment@ecu.edu. Our office is available to provide assistance Monday-Friday from 8:00-5:00 EST.