California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo, CLA-College of Liberal Arts
Assistant Professor of Science & Risk Communication
Institution Type: | College / University |
Location: | California, United States |
Position: | Assistant Professor |
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS - The College of Liberal Arts, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA seeks applications for a full-time (academic year), tenure-track assistant professor in science and risk communication (SRC). Candidates must demonstrate the ability/potential to collaborate across disciplines and contribute to the curricular and scholarly development of the interdisciplinary area of SRC. Although applications are sought from any traditional liberal arts discipline (arts, communications, humanities, social sciences) or interdisciplinary area, we are particularly interested in applicants with backgrounds in and/or connections to communication studies, journalism, and/or political science. Disciplinary expertise alone is not sufficient; that expertise must intersect in meaningful ways with science and technology.
Consistent with Cal Poly's Learn by Doing philosophy, the college is committed to integrating liberal arts disciplinary knowledge and values into efforts to solve pressing contemporary problems while preparing students for future leadership roles in such efforts. Because much of this work will occur at the intersection of science, technology, and society (STS), the college made hires last year in the STS subareas of: (1) ethics, public policy, and technology; (2) gender, race, culture, science, and technology; and (3) media arts, society, and technology. Along with SRC, these areas will constitute four new minors to begin in 2015. The successful candidate in SRC will complement and work with current and new STS faculty.
Cal Poly operates on a teacher-scholar model in which faculty are expected to be excellent teachers and produce scholarship in their field(s) of interest. Faculty members are also expected to engage in service activities at all levels of the university and provide academic and professional advising to students. In the College of Liberal Arts, the typical teaching assignment is 12 units per quarter with correspondingly reasonable service and research expectations. For this specific position, teaching and service assignments will be divided between SRC and the new faculty member's home department in proportions agreeable to all parties. The successful candidate will be expected to communicate effectively and work cooperatively with students, faculty, staff and administration.
Required Qualifications/Specialized Skills include a completed terminal degree (Ph.D. in most disciplines) by the listed start date and evidence of successful university teaching. Disciplinary expertise must intersect in meaningful ways with science and technology. Candidates must demonstrate the ability/potential to collaborate across disciplines and contribute to the curricular and scholarly development of the interdisciplinary area of SRC.
TO APPLY, visit WWW.CALPOLYJOBS.ORG and submit an online application to Requisition #103411. Please attach to your electronic application (1) a cover letter, (2) resume/curriculum vitae, (3) copy of transcripts, (4) statement of teaching philosophy, (5) evidence of teaching effectiveness (including course materials, syllabi, & teaching evaluations), and (6) a writing sample indicative of area of scholarship. Applicants must be prepared to provide names and email addresses for a minimum of three professional references when completing the online application. Cal Poly will directly solicit letters from the individuals listed by applicants. Questions should be sent to SRC Search Chair, Jane Lehr, STS Director, jlehr@calpoly.edu; 805-756-6442. REVIEW BEGIN DATE: November 15, 2014. Cal Poly's commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring and retention. California Polytechnic State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.
ABOUT THE COLLEGE: California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) is a comprehensive polytechnic university with a strong commitment to its learn-by-doing philosophy. The Cal Poly College of Liberal Arts offers 17 highly selective Bachelor of Arts programs and 5 Master's degree programs with 250 full-time faculty and nearly 3,000 undergraduate majors. Our distinguished faculty is actively engaged in teaching, scholarship, and service.
COMMUNICATION STUDIES: The successful candidate whose home is in the Communication Studies Department will join a growing program with 14 full-time faculty and over 300 undergraduate majors and minors. The Communication Studies major leads to a highly selective Bachelor of Arts degree that prepares students for graduate work or careers in a wide variety of occupations that place a premium on excellent communication skills. The Communication Studies minor is designed to complement other majors in the university through a series of required and elective courses addressing various facets of human communication. The department also sponsors a highly successful forensics program. The department is particularly interested in applicants for this position who approach science and risk communication from a social science perspective.
JOURNALISM: The successful candidate whose home is in the Journalism Department will join a dynamic department with 250 undergraduate students in digital, print and broadcast journalism; public relations; and advertising. The department is seeking a scholar and practitioner in journalism or strategic communication with a background and research interests in one and preferably two of the following fields: science and technology communication; health communication; public engagement with science and technology; risk communication; science policy; and health literacy. Our digital-first student news organization and student-run public relations agency, learn-by-doing philosophy, and interdisciplinary collaborations provide laboratories for elevating community knowledge and opportunities for research about improving the public's understanding of science, risk, and technology.
POLITICAL SCIENCE: The Cal Poly Political Science Department prides itself on its collegiality and commitment to excellence in teaching and scholarship. The department serves approximately 340 majors, 40 minors, and 30 graduate students. It offers concentrations in American Politics, Global Politics, Pre-Law, and Individualized Courses of Study, and minors in Global Politics, Law & Society, and Political Science, as well as a growing Master's in Public Policy Program. Faculty in Science and Risk Communication with their tenure home in Political Science would have the opportunity to contribute to the undergraduate and graduate programs, along with their responsibilities to the minor. The department is highly supportive of the growing interdisciplinary connections within the college and across the university and looks forward to reviewing applications with scholars with terminal degrees in Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration and interdisciplinary disciplines with an emphasis in any of these areas. The department is particularly interested in applicants for this position who approach science and risk communication from a social science perspective.
Contact: |
Dr. Jane Lehr, STS Director |
Website: | http://cla.calpoly.edu |
Primary Category: | Humanities |
Secondary Categories: | Communication Journalism / Media Studies Political Science |
Posting Date: | 09/21/2014 |
Closing Date | 12/17/2014 |